They Left Me Twice, I Stopped Following Chapter 04

They Left Me Twice, I Stopped Following Chapter 04

When I woke up the next morning, the house was completely silent.

The sounds of Dad coughing and Mom packing last night still echoed in my ears.

I put on my shoes and walked out.

The room where Dad and Mom stayed was empty, and Grandma’s bed was cleared out too.

Unwashed dishes from last night were still stacked on the table.

I stood there for a long time before it finally dawned on me..

All four of them were gone.

Nobody had called for me.

For the next three days, I didn’t ask when they would return.

I woke up at five every morning, walked five miles to school, did practice problems by the river after class, and went home when night fell.

On the third day, I took the New England Prep School Merit & Need-Based Scholarship Exam.

When the results came out, my homeroom teacher ran into the classroom clutching the list.

“Sienna Chen—first in the district!”

“Full scholarship covering tuition, room, and board!”

I stared at my name, my eyes slowly swelling with tears.

In my past life, chasing my parents cost me my competitions, my scholarships, and my chance to even finish high school.

In this life, I finally fought my way back onto this path.

The school hosted a convocation ceremony the next day, with buses taking us directly to the boarding prep campus in the afternoon.

My teacher asked, “This is such a big deal, someone from your family should attend, right?”

After school, I called Grandma Rose.

It rang for a long time before she picked up.

It was chaotic on her end, with Chloe shouting in the background.

“Grandma, I got the top score in the whole district.”

“The school is issuing the formal admission letters tomorrow. Can you come?”

Grandma’s delighted laugh came through quickly.

“Of course! My Sienna did so well, Grandma has to be there.”

Before hanging up, she added, “Wait for me tomorrow.”

I held the phone and stood still for a long time.

It didn’t matter if Mom and Dad didn’t come.

As long as one person sat in the audience and looked at me, that was enough.

The next day, I changed into my cleanest school jacket and tied my hair back neatly.

The auditorium was packed with people.

Next to every student’s seat was a designated chair for family.

I wiped down the chair beside me.

It took over two hours to get here from the city.

Maybe she was just delayed in traffic.

After the ceremony began, every time the heavy doors opened, I turned my head to look.

The first time, it wasn’t her.

The second time, it wasn’t her either.

The doors opened many times after that, and I kept looking every single time.

Until they announced from the stage:

“First place in the Merit Scholarship program: Sienna Chen.”

Applause erupted across the room.

I stood up, turning to glance at the empty chair beside me as I stepped out into the aisle.

Nobody.

The stage lights were blinding, making my eyes ache.

I blinked hard several times before reaching out to accept the admission package.

The principal smiled. “Congratulations.”

I looked down, tracing my fingers over my printed name, unable to stop my mouth from curving into a smile.

I really made it.

Yet the next second, my gaze drifted back down to the audience.

That chair was still empty.

I hugged the admission package tight against my chest.

I was so happy.

Yet at this exact moment, I didn’t know who I was supposed to look at and smile.

After the crowd dispersed, I kept my hand glued to my phone.

Every time the screen lit up, I snapped my head down immediately.

Data usage alert.

Promotional ad.

Class group update.

None of them were Grandma.

I waited by the auditorium doors for a while, then opened Instagram.

I hadn’t scrolled down far before my thumb froze.

Mom had posted a photo just minutes ago.

Chloe stood right in the center of a manicured prep school lawn.

Dad and Mom stood on either side of her.

Grandma was there too.

She was holding a bouquet of flowers, her eyes crinkling with a wide smile.

The four of them huddled close together.

The caption read:

[ Attending the family orientation event at Chloe’s new school. Couldn’t miss a single member of our family. ]

I stared at those words until the screen timed out and went dark.

So Grandma wasn’t late.

She had just gone to a different school.

My teacher walked over.

“The bus leaves for the prep campus this afternoon. Do you want to go home and say goodbye?”

I clicked my phone off.

“I don’t have anyone to say goodbye to.”

I brought only two sets of school clothes, a few review books, and the class notes my teacher had given me.

Packed up, it barely filled a single backpack.

At two in the afternoon, the shuttle engine revved on time.

My phone suddenly vibrated.

Grandma had finally sent a message.

[ Sienna, something came up today and Grandma couldn’t make it.]

[ I’ll head back to the town tonight and bake you fresh sweet rolls.

I stared at the screen for a long time without replying.

The bus had already cleared the town limits.

In my past life, I set out from this town again and again just to chase after them.

In this life.

I finally didn’t have to look back.