The Family Photo That Had Four People And No Me Chapter 02

The Family Photo That Had Four People And No Me Chapter 02

I stood at the door and took out my key. The lock had been changed.

I called Mom and asked when they were coming home.

Mom got angry. “Wren, are you calling to rush me? You rushed me all day. Now you’re rushing me at night?”

I pressed my lips together. I was about to say I couldn’t get in.

Madison snorted. “Wren’s always been like this. She always interrupts us when we’re having the best time.”

Lily chimed in. “Exactly! Remember when Madeline had her graduation party? Wren made Grandma call and lie that Mom was sick. It made Mom worry for nothing.”

I froze.

That day, I really was sick.

I had a fever of 104. Grandma carried me to the old truck. The truck wouldn’t start.

She called Mom.

On the phone, Mom said she would come.

One hour. Two hours.

I opened my eyes and asked Grandma if Mom was coming.

Grandma held me and patted my back and told me Mom would come. Just wait.

I waited until the sun went down. Mom never came.

When we called again, I heard Mom say, “Mom, I’m at Madison’s graduation party. It’s just a small fever. Give Wren some medicine.”

Grandma yelled, “Wren is burning up.”

“It’s not that serious. And why did she have to get sick today? She’s probably mad about her paperwork. She’s throwing a tantrum on purpose.”

“Fine. Tell her I’ll bring her a piece of Madison’s graduation cake.”

The line went dead, and I passed out.

When I woke up, I was in the hospital.

Lying on the hospital bed, I thought to myself that I wanted my illness to go away slowly.

It would be best if the fever was so severe that it made me foolish.

Then when Mom came with the cake, she would regret it.

But days passed. I didn’t get cake. I didn’t get Mom.

After I got out of the hospital, Mom sent me a gift through someone.

I opened it happily. It was a specialty from Hawaii. Coconut candy.

But I’m allergic to coconut.

I snapped back to the present. I gripped my phone and said to Mom:

“Mom, I really had a fever that day. I wasn’t lying. Also, you changed the lock and didn’t give me a key. I can’t get in.”

There was a silence on the other end for a few seconds before Mom suddenly laughed. “It’s a smart lock. You don’t need a key. Just type in the code. The code is Madeline and Chloe’s birthdays.”

I went silent.

After I hung up, I entered Madison’s birthday. 0831.

Five years ago that day, I heard Grandma call Mom and ask why she didn’t come to the hospital to see me.

Mom said Madison wanted to go to Hawaii for her birthday.

0831 was Madison’s birthday. It was also the day I got the coconut candy.

I entered Lily’s birthday. 0702.

Three years ago, the first time I stepped into this house.

Mom and Dad called me over to sing happy birthday to Lily.

I looked at Lily’s princess cake and the pile of gifts. I was so jealous.

I imagined that half a month later, on my birthday, Mom and Dad would get me a cake and gifts too.

When they started cutting the cake, Mom suddenly asked if my birthday was also in July.

I nodded.

Mom took out a candle and stuck it in the cake. Then she rushed me.

“Come on, make a wish. We’ll do it early.”

I closed my eyes awkwardly and made a wish.

When I opened my eyes, the cake was already gone.