The Disappeared Sister

After my sister disappeared, my dad forced me to eat Beef Bourguignon every day.

1

August 5th, Friday

I dragged my suitcase and wearily returned home.

My dad sat at the dining table, staring at a plate of Beef Bourguignon angrily.

He said my mom was demanding a divorce again, and he made her favorite Beef Bourguignon, but she refused to come out and eat.

I was exhausted after hard work and just wanted to rest. I said that my mom was angry, she would naturally throw a tantrum.

My dad asked me to go and call my mom out for dinner. I half-heartedly knocked on my mom's door, but she didn't respond.

"See, Mom is ignoring me too."

After saying that to my dad, I dragged my suitcase back to my room.

My dad stopped me again and said I made the floor so dirty, and if I didn't clean it, my mom would get angry again.

I looked down.

The bottom of my suitcase was soaked in blood-red liquid and even the floor it passed over had red marks.

I said, "I see. I'll clean it later."

2

August 6th, Saturday

Today was a day off. I didn't need to go to work.

I didn't get up until almost noon, which was rare, and my mom didn't come into my room early in the morning to wake me up.

My dad was still sitting at the dining table sighing. He said my mom didn't talk to him all night.

I asked him where he slept.

He said he went back to his room to sleep. He said my mom agreed to let him sleep on the bed, but she just ignored him and turned her back to him all night.

I advised him to think more positively. I was happy with my mom's state. She wouldn't divorce him or leave us. She just didn't talk.

I was hungry. So, I went into the kitchen to make something to eat.

My dad asked me to make another bowl of Beef Bourguignon. He thought my mom would come out and eat when she was hungry.

I opened the fridge that was filled with raw meat, packed in large pieces.

I was sick of meat and wanted to eat some vegetables.

But my mom hadn't gone grocery shopping these days. Besides meat, there was nothing else in the fridge.

My dad scolded me and said that if we didn't eat the meat, it would go bad. We must finish it quickly. Then he kicked me out of the kitchen and told me not to make trouble.

He made Beef Bourguignon for me.

I ate Beef Bourguignon all day.

I was really sick of it.

3

August 7th, Sunday

I slept until almost noon again.

When I went out of my room, I saw my mom.

The A/C was on, and it was too cold. She was wearing a long shirt, a hat, and a mask, and she was bowing her head without moving. My dad was sitting beside her, asking if she was thirsty or hungry, but my mom completely ignored him.

There was still a plate of Beef Bourguignon on the table.

Its taste today was even stronger. It smelled like it had gone bad, and I really didn't want to eat it.

My dad scolded me for wasting food, asking what I wanted to eat if I didn't eat something so delicious. He got unreasonably angry and smashed a bowl.

Then he was scared first, squatting in front of my mom and coaxing her non-stop.

Mom still ignored him.

I felt the atmosphere was strange and oppressive, so I gave up the idea of ordering takeout, ate some Beef Bourguignon reluctantly, and endured the nausea, wanting to go back to my room.

When I stood up from the chair, I saw bruises on my mom's hand, which was resting on her lap.

My dad was coaxing her, but suddenly, he started scolding me for no reason.

I quickly went back to my room.

Finally, my mom stopped talking, but my dad's temper got worse.

4

August 8th, Monday

I must go to work today, so I woke up at 6:30 a.m.

When I passed by my parents' room, my dad happened to open the door, and the cold air that came out made me think their room had turned into a morgue.

My dad even put on a coat because of that.

My dad closed the door and went to the kitchen to prepare my lunch.

When I arrived at the company, my colleagues looked at me strangely. I didn't know if I was being too sensitive.

But they were enthusiastic about me. They hurried to help me with my work, and I just needed to watch on the side.

At noon, I opened the lunch box prepared by my dad.

Buns with Beef Bourguignon!

I didn't want to eat it, so I planned to give it to my colleague Irene Cook, who was closest to me on weekdays.

Irene smiled awkwardly and didn't accept it.

I felt that she was disgusted with my Beef Bourguignon.

When it was time to get off work, a colleague touched my head and secretly told me I smelt bad and needed to shower.

I guessed my colleague's nose was not working properly.

I took showers regularly, so how could I smell bad?

On the way home, I met a neighbor walking a dog named Benny. We used to play together often, so that dog knew me.

I greeted him, but he just barked at me and tried to pounce on me like a fierce beast.

I was a little scared, so I quickly went back home.

It was an unpleasant day.