The Unanswered Call The Ignored Daughter’s Last Words Chapter 07

The Unanswered Call The Ignored Daughter’s Last Words Chapter 07

We had set up a simple memorial at home. 

My picture stood in the center of the living room. I 

was wearing a pink dress, hugging my teddy bear, 

with a big silly grin on my face. 

Mom had laughed when the picture was taken. 

“Nell’s five again! We have to make you look. 

pretty.” 

White flowers and candles surrounded the photo. 

Dad sat on the couch, staring blankly at it. 

He hadn’t slept in three days. 

Celine came home carrying a bag of fruit. 

She set it on the table and stood in front of my 

picture for a long time. 

“Nell, they caught the man who did this. No one 

will ever hurt you again.” 

Her voice was frighteningly calm. 

She went into the kitchen, put a slice of strawberry 

cake on a plate, and set it in front of my picture. 

“Nell, it’s your favorite.” 

“Come on. Eat.” 

No one answered. 

She stood there staring at the cake until she 

suddenly started crying. Her tears fell onto the frosting, leaving tiny dents behind. 

“You promised you’d wait for me at home…” 

“You said you were a big girl and could stay home 

by yourself…” 

“You lied to me…” 

I floated over and stood on my toes, trying to wipe 

away her tears. 

My hand passed right through her. 

“Celine, don’t cry. I’m sorry. I broke my promise.” 

She couldn’t hear me. 

Late that night, Dad finally gave out. 

He stood up from the couch and suddenly 

swayed. 

A second later, he clutched his chest and slid to 

the floor. 

“Grant!” 

Mom screamed in terror. 

Dad couldn’t speak. His lips were turning blue, 

cold sweat beaded across his forehead, and he 

curled in on himself in pain. 

Mom panicked. 

“Call 911!” 

I hovered around them in a panic. 

I tried to hold Dad up, tried to press my hands. 

against his chest, but I passed through him every 

time. 

“Daddy! Daddy!” 

I leaned close to his chest, trying to hear his 

heartbeat. 

“Daddy, don’t scare me! Wake up! Look at me!” 

“I’m right here. I’m sorry, Daddy!” 

“It’s my fault. I was wrong. I’m not a good. 

daughter! I’m always making things hard for you 

and making you worry. Please, Daddy, be okay!” 

Paramedics arrived quickly. 

After examining him, they determined that his 

grief and prolonged lack of sleep had triggered acute angina and said he needed to be taken to 

the hospital immediately for observation. 

Dad refused. 

Once he had stabilized a little, he braced himself. 

on the floor and slowly began crawling toward my 

picture. 

Mom tried to go to him, but Celine held her back. 

Celine shook her head desperately, tears 

streaming down her face. 

She knew Dad had to say goodbye to me one last 

time. No one could stop him. 

At last, Dad reached my picture. 

He dropped to his knees as if he had nothing left in him and pulled the frame into his trembling. 

arms. 

“Nell! Daddy came back to see you. Look at me, Nell!” 

His tears splashed onto the glass until my face 

blurred beneath them. 

“Daddy was wrong. I never should’ve left you.” 

“I’m useless. I couldn’t even protect my own 

daughter.” 

“I didn’t even get to see you one last time… I 

deserve to die!” 

Mom and Celine broke down beside him. 

And I was already crying too. 

I knelt beside them, trying uselessly to wrap my 

arms around Mom and Dad. 

“It was my fault. I shouldn’t have gone near the 

door. I shouldn’t have talked to a stranger.” 

“I’m sorry. In my next life, I’ll be a smart girl. I’ll take good care of myself, and I’ll never make you this 

sad again.” 

The home that had once been so warm seemed 

trapped in that cold night. 

Outside, the sky was pitch black, without a single 

star.