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.