Mom was so furious that she kicked the washing machine. "You're still trying to argue with me?"

"No, Mom!" I thought.

Soon, the water would fill the entire drum. I wouldn't be able to hold on much longer.

Part of me started wishing the water would rise faster so Mom would finally realize something was wrong and let me out.

After the beep sounded, I forced myself to brace my limbs against the walls of the machine. I told myself to hold on a little longer. As soon as Mom opened that door, I would be saved.

However, the washing machine started spinning again, and Dad walked over with Olivia in his arms. "Babe, stop wasting your breath on Sabrina. We have to get to the hospital."

No…

I watched as Mom turned her back on me and left. Then, the front door slammed shut.

A second later, the washing machine began to spin violently. Everything whirled around me. I was tossed around inside like a discarded rag.

When I opened my eyes again, I was floating in mid-air.

My first thought was that I had been rescued, and I wanted to run out and find them.

I was scared I would make them angry again, so I obediently stayed home and fell asleep among my Barbie dolls.

I didn't know how long it had been before the front door finally opened again.

Mom and Dad came back with Olivia in their arms. They were also carrying a huge electric toy car.

"Thank goodness Olivia is okay. Sabrina would've been in huge trouble if anything had happened to her. Our little girl took such a hit today. This car is her reward for being so brave!"

Then, Mom deliberately raised her voice, directing it toward the laundry room. "From now on, whoever gets hurt gets a present! And the bully gets locked away!"

Mom and Dad shared a look, tilting their heads to catch any sound coming from the machine, but all they heard was silence.

They frowned. A cold laugh escaped their lips.

"See? She's still sulking. If she wants to stay in there so badly, let her. The washer isn't even running. It's not like she's going to die."

I hovered right in front of them.

"Mom, Dad, I'm right here. Can't you see me? I'm not sulking. Please, don't talk about me like that anymore."

I spoke to them incessantly, but they acted as though I wasn't there. Not once did their eyes meet mine, not even for a fleeting second.

I wanted to touch them, but my hand passed right through their bodies.

That was when I finally realized I might have died in the washing machine.

I ran over to take a look. A small figure was curled up in the washing machine. Her body was twisted grotesquely.

Was that me?

I turned around and watched as Mom and Dad played with Olivia.

Forget it.

This was their punishment for me. Maybe this was for the better. At least now I wouldn't have to worry about changing Olivia's diapers anymore.

Ever since Olivia was born, Mom and Dad hadn't spent time alone with me in a very long time. Now, I could stay with them forever.

I tamped down the heavy feeling in my chest and forced myself to smile at them.

At dinner, Dad made my favorite steak.

After they fed Olivia, they sat at the table. Their expressions were tense. They were glancing toward the washing machine.

Dad spoke first. "Sabrina, come out and eat."

The house remained quiet, save for Olivia's babbling.

Mom's frustration boiled over, and she set her fork down hard. "Fine, you can starve for all I care. I'm tired of your tantrums. You made a mistake, and now you're the one throwing a fit? If you don't want dinner, then don't eat ever again!

"I might as well have given birth to a monster. Everyone says you can't be perfectly fair once the second baby comes, but I really thought if we treated you well, you'd be good to your sister. Instead, we just raised a spoiled, arrogant brat.

"Just leave her be. It's not like it's comfortable in that machine. She's always been soft. There's no way she'd stay in there that long. She probably ran back to her room already."

I stood right beside them and listened. Her words made my eyes sting.

"Mom, I didn't do it. I only wanted to help you bathe Olivia," I thought.

Mom and Dad stopped paying attention to me after that.

The two of them polished off more than half the plate of steak, and Mom even took the leftovers outside to feed a stray dog.

"I'd have been better off raising a dog than raising her," she muttered.

I didn't dare follow them anymore, so I curled up alone in my room.

Mom and Dad looked so happy when they played with Olivia.

They read picture books to her, and Mom's voice was so gentle, the way it hadn't been with me in a long, long time.

I listened until I fell asleep, but a while later, I heard Mom shout, "Sabrina! Olivia is asking for you again. Get out here and play with her right now!"

I stared silently at my closed bedroom door.

"I'm already dead, Mom," I thought. Even if I wanted to help, I couldn't anymore. "If you just open the washing machine door and look inside, you'll realize that I'm already gone."

The living room fell silent for a moment before Mom stormed over and shoved my door open.

Dad was right on her heels.

They both froze at the sight of the empty room. Dad looked around and even checked under the bed.

"Where's Sabrina?"

I thought they would panic. I thought they would race back to the washing machine and check, but Mom's face only hardened.

"That little brat's got more gall than I thought. Where else could she be? She must've snuck off to her granny's house to tell on us while we were gone. Who taught her to be so stubborn? She wants to play games with me? Fine. Let's play."

Mom turned and stormed over to my Barbie dolls.

She grabbed a pair of scissors and cut off the dolls' hair and heads. Then, she snapped their limbs, threw them onto the floor, and stomped on them.

I cried and tried to push her away, but it didn't do anything.

"Mom, I'm not throwing a tantrum. I want to be with you and Dad, too, but I'm trapped in the washing machine, and I can never get out again…"

Dad let out a weary sigh. "Forget it. We don't have time to deal with her right now. If she went over to your mom's place, at least we'll get some peace. I'm going to wash Olivia's clothes."

Was Dad going to do laundry?

I followed him out. As he walked toward the washing machine with a bundle of clothes, my heart began to race.

Part of me wanted them to find me, but part of me was scared that what they saw would frighten them.

Maybe once he found me, Mom would finally stop thinking I was just being difficult.

I knew it was useless, but I still reached out with my little hands and covered Dad's eyes.

Before Dad could crouch down and open the door, Mom called him away. "Don't put the baby's clothes in there! You have to wash them by hand!"

My hands dropped in defeat. I stole a glance back at the figure inside the machine.

In that closed washing machine, my body had already begun to bloat, and there was a faint odor coming from inside.

I had been missing for two whole days. It wasn't until the next night that Dad finally urged Mom to call Granny. "Check with your mom. See if Sabrina's behaving herself over there. Make sure she's okay."

Mom reluctantly picked up her phone, grumbling as she dialed.

"What could happen to a kid that old? Sometimes, I get so angry just looking at her. Having such a disobedient daughter makes me wish she'd just disappear!"

I lowered my head and picked at my fingers, too sad to speak.

"Mom, you already got your wish."

When the call connected, Mom cut right to the chase."Mom, is Sabrina there? Has she been behaving herself?"

Granny's voice crackled through the speaker, louder than usual. "What did you say?"

I thought Granny was asking out of shock, but then she immediately added, "I didn't hear you. Speak up."

The light in my eyes flickered out again.

Mom was about to say something when Olivia suddenly started crying, and the truth that was so close to coming to light was drowned out once more.

"Forget it. I'm going to check on the baby," Mom said.

Over the next few days, Mom and Dad never looked for me again.

Dad went to work as usual, but Olivia suddenly started throwing up her milk and refusing to eat. Mom was so worried that she took her to several hospitals, but nothing helped.

Then, she heard that Patricia Kane knew a skilled medical practitioner.

Mom called Patricia, and every word out of her mouth sounded eager to please.

"Patricia, it's been ages! Your son hasn't come over to play with Sabrina in so long. Why don't I bring her over in a few days to keep him company?"

A chill ran down my spine the moment I heard that.

I had played with Patricia's son before. He always bullied me.

Back then, he hit me in the head with a chair and forced me to watch as he strangled a litter of newborn kittens. I was so traumatized that I had nightmares about it for an entire month.

Mom and Dad used to be adamant about keeping me away from him. Mom said he had serious behavioral problems. He had even blinded another kid once.

Patricia let out a cold, sharp laugh on the other end of the line. "I thought Sabrina didn't like playing with my son."

Mom humbled herself further. "Patricia, I heard you know a really good medical practitioner. My daughter hasn't been eating well lately, and I'm at my wits' end.

"Could you find a day to take me to see him? I'll bring Sabrina along and leave her at your place to play. It'll be good for the kids to have each other for company."

My heart sank.

For Olivia's sake, Mom was willing to throw me to the wolves.

I wanted to leave this house, but no matter what, I couldn't get out. It was as if I were tethered to my parents.

I started hoping someone would find me.

Then, one day, just as Mom and Dad were about to take Olivia out, both sets of grandparents suddenly came over.

They were all carrying gifts—beautifully wrapped boxes in shades of pink.

Were they for me?

A flicker of hope stirred in my chest, but Mom's brow only furrowed at the sight of them.

"Mom, Dad, how many times have I told you that you need to treat both children fairly? All these gifts are for Sabrina, but what about Olivia?

"She may be young, but she's not stupid. She'll be heartbroken. There are two children in this family. You can't favor one over the other."

Grandma frowned as she brought a strawberry cake in from the hallway. Displeasure flickered across her face. "How can you call yourself a mother and forget your own daughter's birthday? Of course, we brought Sabrina gifts. It's her birthday."

A wave of warmth bloomed in my chest.

My grandparents remembered my birthday. I was still a happy child after all.

The strawberry cake smelled sweet and creamy. It was my favorite.

I circled it, unable to resist leaning in and rubbing my cheek against Grandma's arm.

Grandma scanned the room. "Where's Sabrina?"

Mom and Dad froze. A flash of sheer awkwardness crossed their faces before they turned their gaze toward Granny.

"Mom, we were actually just about to head over to your place to pick her up. Since you were coming for her birthday, why didn't you just bring her with you?"

Granddad's and Granny's brows drew together.

"What are you talking about? When did you drop her off at our place? You two must be so busy you've lost your minds."

Without another word, the four of them headed straight to my room.

"Sabrina, come on out. Come see the birthday present I have for you!"

Mom and Dad exchanged a look. Their bodies were stiff as boards as they stood paralyzed in the doorway.

After searching the house and failing to find me, Grandma came back out. "Where is she? When was the last time you saw her?"

Mom and Dad began trembling uncontrollably.

Neither of them spoke. Instead, their eyes instinctively drifted toward the washing machine.