The Unanswered Call The Ignored Daughter’s Last Words Chapter 01

The Unanswered Call The Ignored Daughter’s Last Words Chapter 01

My dad was an undercover cop who brought down a powerful Italian Mafia family.

To get back at him, the remaining members of the family kidnapped my younger sister, Celine, and me.

I did everything I could to help Celine escape, but they injected me with a drug that left me with the mind of a five-year-old for the rest of my life.

For the next twenty years, Mom doted on me.

My quiet dad even learned to tell bedtime stories just to make me smile.

Until Celine got engaged.

Tearfully, she begged my parents, “Can it just be the three of us for dinner with his family?”

My parents caved.

“Just two days, sweetie,” Mom coaxed me before leaving. “Don’t open the door for anyone.”

I nodded obediently.

But that very first night, someone forced the front door open.

Hiding in the closet, I managed to call my family.

On the other end, they were busy raising their glasses in celebration.

Nobody heard my last cry for help.

…

Celine and her boyfriend, Adrian Cole, were planning to get engaged.

At dinner, Celine started to speak several times, then stopped. Finally, she looked at Mom and Dad, her eyes red.

“Mom, Dad… when we meet Adrian’s parents, can it just be the three of us?”

“Just… so we can seem a little more like a normal family to Adrian’s parents.”

I stopped eating and looked at Celine. “Celine, what does getting engaged mean?”

But unlike before, Celine didn’t patiently explain it to me. She tipped back her glass and drained it.

“The last twenty-plus years have been exhausting!”

“Everything is always about Nell. Even I have to build my whole life around her!”

I worked up the courage to hold out a bite of steak to her.

“Don’t cry. Eat.”

Celine swatted my hand away, sending the steak onto the table.

Mom immediately stood and led me into the living room.

“Nell, be good. Why don’t you watch cartoons and eat in here by yourself?”

I nodded hard and wiped away my tears.

The cartoon characters on TV laughed loudly, but I could still hear every word from the dining room.

Dad objected.

“Celine, even if Nell doesn’t understand, you shouldn’t say that in front of her.”

“How could she not understand? Every time she acts up, someone rushes to comfort her. She knows exactly how this works.”

Celine’s voice grew hoarser, and her tone sharpened.

“I know Nell saved me back then. That’s why I’ve spent my whole life putting her first.”

“I went to college close to home, found a job here, and even made sure anyone I dated could accept her. I never complained.”

“All I want this time is one nice dinner with Adrian’s family. Is that really too much to ask?”

“One night. One time! My whole life, all your love has gone to her. What about me? Am I not your daughter too? Can’t I have my parents to myself just once?”

Dad said nothing. Mom wiped at her tears.

Over the years, they had taken me from doctor to doctor all over the country, pouring almost all their time and attention into me.

Somewhere along the way, even Celine had simply become my third caregiver.

Dad was silent for a long time before looking at Mom.

“Honey, maybe we really have been so focused on Nell that we’ve neglected Celine.”

“It’s only one day. We have security cameras at home, and she’ll be wearing her GPS smartwatch. She should be fine.”

Celine jumped in immediately, her voice urgent and confident.

“Mom, Nell can handle it. She knows how to get food from the fridge by herself.”

“We’ll lock the door from the outside. She’ll be perfectly safe.”

Mom sighed, came over, and crouched in front of me.

“Nell, Mommy, Daddy, and Celine have something important to do.”

“You stay home and be good. We’ll be back soon, okay?”

“If Mommy’s going, Nell’s going too!”

Mom shook her head.

“Mommy loves it when you’re independent. You’re a big girl now. You can stay home by yourself, right?”

I nodded hard. “Nell’s a big girl now! Nell can stay home by herself!”

The morning they left, everyone was busy getting ready.

Celine tested the security cameras while Dad stocked the fridge.

Mom came over, sat me on the little stool by the door, and rested her hands on my shoulders.

“Nell, stay home and wait for Mommy. And whatever you do, do not open that door. There are bad people outside who take little girls who don’t listen. If that happens, you’ll never see Mommy again.”

I nodded seriously. “Okay. Nell won’t go outside.”

She kissed my forehead. “Be good. We’ll bring you back a big strawberry cake.”

She looked back at me once before walking out.

I sat on the couch, biting my lip as I waved goodbye.

“Come back soon, Mommy.”