Chapter 4

The car drove into the neighborhood and parked.

Mom carried the cake box. Dad carefully held the astronaut model.

They went upstairs laughing, discussing how to surprise me.

I followed behind them, passing through door after door, returning home.

The living room light came on.

"Lily, we're home!" Mom's voice carried a smile. "Look what Mom and Dad got you!"

No one answered.

Dad placed the astronaut model on the coffee table, right next to the cracked old one.

One old, one new—like twins.

"Is she asleep?" Mom said softly, tiptoeing toward my room.

I followed her.

She gently pushed open the door, speaking softly. "Lily, Mom's coming in..."

The room was quiet, with only the occasional sound of wind rustling the leaves outside.

"Lily? Are you asleep?" Mom called again, her voice even softer.

She waited a few seconds, receiving no response from me, hearing no rustling of blankets.

The room light was turned on.

The bed was neatly made, the blanket folded squarely.

Mom's breathing quickened.

"Nathan! Come here!" Her voice began to tremble. "Lily's gone!"

Dad came over, glanced into the room, and his expression immediately darkened.

"This child is getting more and more out of control!" His voice shook with anger. "Just because I said a few words to her, she's playing runaway with me?!"

"Keep your voice down..." Mom glanced at Evan and tugged at Dad's arm. "Don't scare the child..."

Dad's voice got louder. "To buy her an identical toy, we went to three stores! And she has the nerve to walk out over a little criticism? So inconsiderate!"

Mom collapsed onto my bed, her hand touching the smooth sheets. "It's so late... where could she have gone..."

"Where else? She's just trying to spite us!" Dad paced around the room. "Don't worry, she can't have gone far. When she gets cold and hungry, she'll come back on her own."

Evan stood in the doorway holding his remote-control car, asking timidly, "Where did Lily go?"

"Your sister was naughty and snuck out." Dad said irritably. "Don't worry about her. Let her think things through!"

"But..." Mom wanted to say something.

"No buts!" Dad cut her off. "You spoil her too much! At such a young age, she dares to run away from home? Ridiculous!"

Evan's voice came from the living room. "Mom, I'm hungry. Can I have cake?"

Mom wiped her eyes and stood up. "...Go ahead."

They returned to the living room.

Mom opened the cake box. Bright red strawberries were arranged in a circle on the cream.

She cut the cake into four pieces, giving one to Dad, one to Evan, then looked at the piece with the most strawberries and said softly, "This piece is for Lily."

I watched them sit at the dining table.

Evan ate happily, cream all over his face.

Dad ate his cake in silence, his expression still ugly.

Mom ate in small bites, but her eyes kept fixed on the front door.

"It's so sweet." Evan said. "Is Lily's sweet too?"

"Sweet." Mom touched his head. "We'll save it for when Lily comes back."

But your sister can't come back anymore.

I wanted to say it, but I couldn't make a sound.