Chapter 6
They definitely remembered calling me loud.
Columbus Day weekend was already packed with traffic, and Universal Studios being such a hot spot made it even worse. We’d left super early but still got stuck in this massive jam.
Jake was throwing a tantrum about wanting to watch cartoons, while Madison demanded her show. So they started screaming at each other.
Mom tried everything to calm them down, but nothing worked.
Dad was driving and getting more pissed off by the second.
It was like lighting a stick of dynamite Mom and Dad started going at it again, right there in the car on the highway.
I was huddled by the door, clutching my bunny and shaking.
When I saw them all fighting, my first thought was to make it stop. So I tried talking to Jake and Madison first.
told them we were supposed to be having fun on our trip.
And then…
got fuzzy for a second, looking at Mom who was completely shell-shocked now.
remembered Mom jabbing her sharp nails into my forehead.
This is all your fault! If you hadn’t been whining and crying about going to Universal, your brother and sister wouldn’t be fighting!”
We wouldn’t be stuck in this traffic! Everything’s your fault!”
o they opened the door and threw me out.
just stood there in the middle of all those cars, totally lost.
hat feeling of being completely helpless is still floating around in my soul.
But then I snapped out of it.
nd I actually felt a little happy for a second.
ecause without me there, Jake and Madison each had a parent all to themselves. Nobody would be taking anything away from them anymore.
tilted my head, staring at Mom and Dad’s faces – all twisted up with hurt, regret, and pain.
lut this was exactly what they’d wanted, wasn’t it?
o why did they look so miserable?
t took Mom like forever to snap out of it and turn to Madison.
She grabbed Madison’s arm, her voice shaking:
‘Madison… honey, tell Mommy where your little sister went.”
Madison went white as a sheet, shaking her head like crazy.
But that reaction pretty much confirmed she remembered them kicking me out of the car too.
Which meant the dead kid on the highway really was me.
Any last hope they had just died.
Mom crumpled to the floor.
From outside, Mrs. Miller’s voice cracked:
“Dear God, how does a perfectly healthy baby just… die like that? Today was her fifth birthday, for Christ’s sake.”
That made me stop cold.
Oh right. My birthday.
Since Mom and Dad literally only remembered Jake and Madison’s birthdays, I’d bought myself a cake this time.
Saved up my allowance doing odd jobs for Mrs. Miller and stuff!
Jake had swiped most of my money, but I managed to hide some.
I thought maybe birthday wishes actually work, you know?
And I had some 1 really wanted to make.
Three whole wishes!
First: Please make Mom and Dad stop screaming at each other.
Second: Please make Jake and Madison stop being such assholes to me.
Third: Please let Emma have just a little bit of love.
My chest felt hollow.
xcept I died before I could blow out the candles.
ooking at that destroyed little cake on the floor, I couldn’t help licking my lips. I almost never got real cake with frosting.
efore I could get too bummed out, Dad’s voice cut through the silence:
We’re going to the hospital. Right now. We need to see…”
le stumbled toward the door like he was drunk.
fom heard that and her dead eyes suddenly came alive. She scrambled up after him.
Yeah, yeah, I gotta see if that’s… if that’s really my baby.”
ut they barely made it two steps before Jake wrapped himself around their legs, whining:
Where are you guys going? I’m starving! You need to make me dinner!”
ad tried to keep his cool:
Buddy, just hang out with Madison for a bit, okay? We’ll be back super quick.”
Hell no! That dumbass Emma croaked, so now nobody’s gonna cook for me! You can’t leave!”
ake started his usual meltdown screaming and thrashing on the floor.
ormally when he pulled this crap, Mom and Dad would drop everything to baby him.
But this time? Nobody moved an inch.
