The Family Photo That Had Four People And No Me Chapter 01

The Family Photo That Had Four People And No Me Chapter 01

When my parents updated our family records, my name wasn’t on them.

When I asked, Mom simply said, “Families with two daughters qualify for certain assistance programs. You’re staying in the country anyway, so it doesn’t matter where your documents are held.”

I couldn’t speak.

When Mom and Dad decided to move to Chicago for work, they took Madison.

Because Madison was the one they loved most. They couldn’t stand to leave her.

They took Lily too.

Because Lily was young. She couldn’t be away from Mom and Dad.

So I became the best choice to stay behind in Indiana.

But Mom said they would come back for me once they bought a bigger house.

I waited and waited. I didn’t get a family reunion. I got a stack of legal papers with no name for me on them.

I tried to explain. “But I can’t register for the good middle school without my documents.”

Mom didn’t believe me. “What does middle school have to do with paperwork?”

“I think you’re just lazy. You can’t get in, so you blame the paperwork.”

She hung up.

I had a perfect transcript. I got placed in the worst middle school.

Later, I moved to Chicago for high school and lived in Mom and Dad’s house.

My teacher came for a home visit and told Mom and Dad to transfer my records.

They said yes right away. They told me to remind them.

I reminded them ninety nine times.

On the hundredth time, Mom and Dad said they were on their way.

I waited. From eight in the morning until the sun went down.

Finally, two minutes before the records office closed, I saw Mom and Dad.

Dad was holding Madison’s hand. Mom was carrying Lily. They walked toward me slowly.

I ran over and grabbed Mom’s hand and tried to pull her inside.

The door closed.

I looked down and wiped my tears. I heard Mom say:

“We waited in line to get Lily a baked potato. That’s why we’re late.”

“It’s just paperwork. Is it that serious? We’ll come back next time.”

But next time, I didn’t want to come.

***

Madison walked up, annoyed.

“Mom, I’m hungry. When is this gonna be done?”

Mom smiled and said, “It’s closed. We can’t do it today.”

“What do you wanna eat?”

They started walking and picking a restaurant.

They got far away before Dad turned around and looked at me still standing there. “Wren, what are you doing? Hurry up.”

I looked up and smiled at Dad. “No thanks. You guys go eat.”

Mom snorted.

“She’s still sulking. She’s so dramatic.”

“We left the aquarium early for you. We missed the dolphin show. And you’re still giving us attitude.”

Lily ate her baked potato and chimed in. “Yeah, it’s all Wren’s fault. She kept rushing us. We didn’t even get to have fun.”

But Mom promised to do the paperwork today.

They were late. Why was it my fault?

I wanted to say something. But I opened my mouth and nothing came out.

Mom and Dad frowned at me.

Madison rubbed her stomach. “Mom, Dad, if Wren doesn’t wanna come, she doesn’t have to. She can cook anyway.”

“Let’s go. If we don’t leave now, your precious daughter is gonna pass out.”

They turned and kept walking.

Then I lost consciousness. My body fell forward.

A loud bang made Mom and Dad stop.

“What was that?”

“Probably Wren trying to get attention. She’s throwing a tantrum.”

Madison said.

“This Wren. Just because she doesn’t have her paperwork.”

“I gave birth to her. Where her paperwork is doesn’t change that. Why can’t she understand?”

Mom complained.

They walked further and further. Nobody turned around to look at me, bleeding from my head.

A woman passing by helped me up and gave me a piece of chocolate.

I came to and said thank you.

“Sweetie, have you not eaten all day?”

She asked with concern and put a burger in my hand.

“I bought two. If you don’t mind, this one is for you.”

I held the warm burger and tears fell one by one.

Mom and Dad didn’t know. I waited outside the records office from morning until now. I hadn’t eaten a single bite.

Lily wanted a baked potato. They stood in line for her.

Madison said she was hungry. They picked a restaurant right away.

Only me. I said I had no money in my account and couldn’t order takeout. Nobody responded.

The woman wiped the blood off my face with a cloth. She wiped my tears with a tissue.

I soaked up the warmth. I wanted time to stop.

But…

“Mom.” The woman’s daughter ran over.

She stood up and held her daughter’s hand and smiled at me. “I have to go. Do you have a phone? Want me to call your parents?”

I smiled bitterly. “No need.”

Mom and Dad were probably eating a big meal right now.

I picked up my phone and saw Madison’s post. A family of four at a seafood buffet. Caption: [Family. All together.]

A complete family. Without me.

They were used to four people.

Mom and Dad were used to taking two daughters out.

The first year I came home, they lost me thirty times.

I had to stay close to them so I wouldn’t get left behind.

But now, I didn’t want to follow anymore.

I swallowed the last bite of the burger. I got up and went back to my temporary place.