Goodbye, My Father

While Aunt Yvonne continued to berate him for his unreasonable behavior, she left the house and kept trying to call me.

My phone was turned off, so she started sending me text messages, urging me not to wander around outside.

It's no use, Aunt Yvonne. The one inside the body bag was me.

The DNA results would take about two days to come out, and my body was placed in the morgue.

They couldn't even find something proper for me, so they put me in several jars.

I felt so cold.

When would I be able to leave? I missed my mother so much.

A day later, Aunt Yvonne returned to the police station and went straight to find my father.

She saw him still investigating the surveillance footage.

"I couldn't get through to Ann these past two days. Neil, has she called you or sent any messages?"

My father ignored her, and only a few colleagues working on the case shook their heads in response.

She immediately took out her phone, called me in front of him, but it was still turned off.

"Sorry, the number you dialed is turned off..."

Aunt Yvonne muttered to herself, "Why? It has been two days, why is Ann's phone still turned off?"

She had a bad feeling about it.

She pushed the door open and walked out. Aunt Yvonne, where were you going?

As my father was about to pour himself some coffee, he told her to mind her own business.

Aunt Yvonne glanced at my father, feeling a bit nervous. She asked, "Neil, tell me, have the DNA test results come out?"

"Not yet, Yvonne. What's wrong with you? This is a police station, not a place for you to wander around. If you have nothing else, just leave!"

Aunt Yvonne was about to speak when her phone suddenly rang.

She immediately answered it.

"Ann, is that you? Why didn't you call me earlier? Do you know how worried I've been..."

But this call couldn't be mine.

The voice from the other end of the line made Aunt Yvonne's expression grow more and more serious.

After hanging up the phone, she glared at my father with anger.

"Neil, are you still a father? Ann hasn't been to school for three days. Do you have any sense of responsibility as a father? You're still focused on your investigation, and your mind is only filled with solving mysteries. You haven't even noticed the disappearance of your own daughter. What kind of father are you? What kind of man are you?"

My father's tired eyes were bloodshot.

"Is it reasonable for her not to go to school? She stays out all day and hangs out outside. I can't control her anymore. She can do whatever she wants. Skipping school? I wonder what kind of a troublemaker she will become in society if she won't even graduate!"

Dad, I was already a ghost!

Right beside you.

Haven't you noticed yet?

"Neil, that's enough! Ann may not be perfect, but she is your biological daughter. Her mother died giving birth to her, do you think she had an easy life? Would Yara's spirit forgive you in heaven?"

Aunt Yvonne suddenly grabbed my father's shoulder and forcefully pushed him to the ground.

Her eyes were red and gradually became moist.

As soon as my father looked up, he halted whatever he was about to say.

"The body was found at a pig farm near Ann's school. If I remember correctly, from the day the body was discovered, Ann didn't go to school, right?"

Did she finally realized that the body was mine?

My father waved his hand. "Yvonne, why are you being so neurotic? That sinner got away with killing her mother, so what could happen now? She just resents me for never liking her, and now she's hiding intentionally to make us search for her!"

"Well, Neil, you've done such a great job as a father!"

"She just wants attention. This rebellious kid is beyond anyone's control! Why are you looking at me like that? Fine, I'll call her right now!"

Then he started calling me.

But after three or four attempts, they all turned off'!

"Ann's phone has been turned off for a long time, don't you know? What are you pretending here? She is your own daughter. You're known as the Sherlock Holmes of murder cases, and yet you can't even find your own daughter. If anything happens to her, no one will spare you! You not only caused Yara's death but also the death of your own biological daughter. You are the sinner! A complete sinner!"

Aunt Yvonne's voice choked with tears.

Aunt Yvonne, please don't cry. Let me wipe away your tears.

I wanted to comfort her, but I realized that my ghostly hands couldn't touch her.

My only family in this world who still cares about me, please don't cry for me anymore.