Gone, and Now They Regret It

That night, I slept better than I had in years.

No insomnia, no jarring awakenings in the dead of night, and no heart pounding out of nowhere. For once, it felt like peace.

Early in the morning, Auntie Molly took my hand and walked me home, one slow, steady step at a time. When we finally reached the house, I forced a nervous smile as I pressed my fingerprint against the scanner. But the screen flashed back, “Stranger.”

I tried again, then punched in the passcode, my hands shaking. It failed, too.

Auntie Molly looked at me, stunned. She was probably shocked that my mother would change both the passcode and fingerprint access.

The house was empty, and neither of my parents was home. Auntie Molly kindly dialed my Mom’s number.

“Let her wait,” my mother said curtly before hanging up.

She tried reaching my dad, but he didn’t even pick up.

Auntie Molly was, torn. She had to get to work, but she was hesitant to leave me alone here, locked out. So I put on my bravest face, assured her my parents would be back soon, and gently nudged her toward the elevator.

As she left, the wind whipped around me, cold and unrelenting. I sat there waiting, numb to the chill that settled deep into my bones. It was noon by the time my parents finally arrived.

I scrambled up too quickly, my numb feet stumbling over as I fell sideways.

My head collided with the wall, leaving me dizzy and seeing stars. My parents merely glanced my way before unlocking the door and walking in, ignoring me as if I were invisible.

Inside, my father settled onto the sofa, lighting one cigarette after another, enveloped in smoke, silent. I could feel my mother’s hateful glare boring into me, her eyes filled with disgust.

“So, you think you’re clever now?” Her voice cut through the air. “Just because I scolded you a little, you think you can run away? If you have the guts, don’t ever come back! Since you’re so fond of Sharlene's house, why don’t you just go live there instead? Why did you even come back here?”

She took a step toward me, her intent clear. My heart clenched, and tears spilled over my cheeks as I choked out, “Mom, I’m sorry! I won’t ever do it again.”

Suddenly, my father slammed the ashtray down onto the floor.

Glass shards flew, one grazing my ankle and leaving thin streaks of blood. Terrified, I covered my head as his voice thundered above me, harsh and bitter.

“Look at this daughter you’ve raised—a worthless, selfish brat. Five years ago, she killed Gavin, and now she’s here just to make our lives hell.”

My mother’s fury ignited further. “As if she’s only my daughter! Do you think I wanted this? You’re never home; always out drinking and smoking. You’ve got no right to lecture me.”

“I pay the bills, don’t I? What more do you want? Gavin was perfect—he never made me worry. Why can’t she be like him?”

I pressed my hands over my ears, but their accusations pierced through, stabbing deeper and deeper until my heart felt like it couldn’t bear it. The bile rose in my throat, nausea washing over me.

In the end, it all boiled down to the same thing. I would never measure up to my brother. They hated me for his death, but instead of letting go, they tortured themselves—and me—this way.

Their shouting escalated, and soon anything within reach was flung across the room, shattering against the walls. Finally, my dad stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

Left alone, my mother turned her furious gaze at me. She grabbed my ear, pulling hard as she spat, “If it weren’t for you, I’d have left him long ago. If your brother hadn’t saved you, I wouldn’t be living this miserable life.”

She released me with a shove, her face contorted with pure disdain. “Why did you even come back? Get out! This is my home, not yours.”

Without warning, she yanked open the door and shoved me outside. I stumbled, falling hard against the ground, the impact scraping my cheek and arm, thin cuts stinging as they bled.

Lying there, I looked up at her, hoping for something—an ounce of regret, even a flicker of compassion. But her gaze was cold, her lips pressed into a thin line. It was as though she was staring down at her worst enemy.

It started pouring outside.

A terrifying flash of lightning ripped across the dark sky, casting my face in a ghastly, pale light, like a sheet of paper.

With nowhere else to go, I curled up in the corner of an abandoned balcony near my house, shivering from the cold.

"Meow—"

In my daze, I thought I heard the faint mewl of a kitten.

I looked around, seeing nothing at first. But the sound tugged at me, so I rose, letting the rain drench my face as I searched, vision blurring with every step.

The kitten was nowhere to be seen.

Just as I began to question if it was my imagination, I spotted a small shape perched on the edge of the balcony, huddled silently against the rain. It didn’t move, as if it were already lifeless.

The sight of its frail little body stirred something inside me. I approached carefully, trying not to frighten it, silently praying it wouldn’t run.

But fate had other plans.

Just as I reached out, the kitten leaped from the balcony’s edge.

And without thinking, I jumped after it.