Chapter 4When the Number Vanished, So Did My Parents’ Love

I curled up beside the door and waited for a long time.

The only light in the bathroom came through a small window high on the wall.

The light brightened, then faded.

It faded, then brightened again.

I didn’t know how much time had passed.

Then my body became weightless.

I floated out of the house and found Mom and Dad.

Overjoyed, I rushed toward them.

But my hands passed straight through their bodies.

I was already dead.

Maybe this was for the best.

Mom and Dad wouldn’t have to see me again, and Lana wouldn’t have to be upset anymore.

They were at the beach.

Dad was taking pictures of Lana while Mom held her hand and taught her how to swim.

Their laughter filled the air.

“It’s been so long since we took Lana anywhere,” Dad said. “Seeing her this happy makes me happy too. Let’s take more pictures later.”

Mom smiled brightly.

“Exactly. If Cecilia hadn’t lied to us, Lana wouldn’t have been neglected for so long.”

“When we get home, I’m going to print all these pictures and put them in the family album.”

The moment she mentioned me, a flash of disgust crossed her eyes.

I saw it.

Dad nodded.

“The service here is incredible. Someone picked us up as soon as we landed, the hotel is great, and we even have a private tour guide.”

“You planned this trip well.”

Mom froze.

“I thought you planned it.”

Dad paused.

“I only booked the plane tickets.”

Just then, their private guide approached with a survey.

“Are you satisfied with your prize? If you are, please leave us a five-star review.”

My parents stared at him in confusion.

“What prize?”

“The prize from our family challenge. Your daughter, Cecilia, posted online every day for three years to earn this beach vacation for your family.”

“She was the only child who completed the entire challenge and claimed the prize. Sticking with it for three years shows how much she must love you.”

I stood beside them, suddenly feeling a little shy.

“Thank you, sir.”

My parents couldn’t hear me.

They stood frozen.

Only then did they realize the entries on my phone had been real.

“Lana, that’s enough playing,” Mom called.

Dad filled out the survey.

Neither of them was in the mood to continue the vacation.

They immediately booked flights home.

Once they were on the plane, Dad waited until Lana had fallen asleep before voicing his doubts.

“So Cece wasn’t lying. She completed that challenge because she wanted to give us a present.”

“Then what about the number above her head?”

“Who knows?” Mom replied. “Children will say anything when they’re desperate for attention.”

She took out the vacation photos the hotel had printed at checkout and began placing them into the family album one by one.

Dad still wasn’t convinced.

“What about the boy next door?”

“Accidents happen every day. That was just a coincidence.”

“And my mother? After Cece said 180, she came home and lived exactly 180 more days.”

“Will you give it a rest, Daniel Miller?”

“She fooled us for three years. Are we supposed to keep favoring her? Isn’t Lana your daughter too?”

Dad finally fell silent.

I lowered my head beside him.

“You’ll understand soon, Daddy.”

Mom finished arranging the new photos and began flipping through the album.

Suddenly, her gaze stopped on an old family photo.

It had been taken three years ago, on my birthday.

As she stared at it, something seemed to occur to her.

Her face drained of color.

She grabbed Dad’s arm and screamed, “I know what the number above Cece’s head meant! We have to get home!”

The moment their plane landed, they raced home without stopping.

Dad carried Lana through the front door.

Mom abandoned the luggage and rushed inside, nearly in tears.

“Cece! Mommy and Daddy misunderstood you!”

But the moment they opened the bathroom door, all the color drained from their faces.

Their legs gave out beneath them, and they collapsed to the floor.