Chapter 3
The flames began to rise, and Dad threw the teddy bear Mom was holding straight into the fire.
Mom's face turned pale as a sheet. Her eyes locked onto the suitcase, and she staggered over, clutching it as if her life depended on it.
"Please, just let me stay with Edith a little longer," she begged.
Tears streamed down her face as she pleaded, with a humility that bordered on desperation.
Dad's expression was conflicted, struggling with pain.
Suddenly, guilt washed over me.
If Mom and Dad ever found out my body was in that suitcase, they'd be disgusted and feel cursed.
Of all days, I had to die today and mess up Edith's ceremony.
My soul darted anxiously around Mom and Dad, helpless to do anything.
All I could do was watch as Dad grabbed the suitcase, his face set like he'd made up his mind, and kicked it hard into the fire.
The flames spat and crackled.
"No, that's not Edith's suitcase!" Mom suddenly screamed.
Her hand shook as she pointed at the burning suitcase, absolutely certain.
"Edith loves pink stickers. Her suitcase had a kitty sticker. I'm sure of it!" she insisted.
Dad was stunned, totally caught off guard.
"This is Elaine's suitcase!" Mom shouted.
My heart skipped a beat, nerves stretched tight.
Was she about to realize I'd been locked in there all along, never let out?
But the next second, Mom was yelling, her face twisted with that same old anger and disgust I knew way too well. "Didn't you check when you packed?
"How could you use Elaine's dirty suitcase for Edith's stuff? If you send this to Edith, she's gonna be pissed!"
Dad froze, and I did, too.
Wait, that was what she was mad about?
Mom didn't just forget about me. She even felt my suitcase was disgusting.
"No, you can't give this filthy thing to Edith!" Mom protested angrily.
She charged at the fire like a madwoman.
Dad hurried to block her path.
He gently held Mom, wrapping her in his arms to soothe her frantic state.
He said, "Alright, alright, just calm down.
"It's only a suitcase. It doesn't matter. It won't make any difference."
Dad held her back, and the firelight lit up her pale face. Her eyes were wide, and she clamped her hand over her mouth and nose, looking like she might faint any second.
Realizing Mom was losing it, Dad stared at my suitcase, his expression turning grim.
He was probably cursing me silently, thinking I just couldn't behave, even now.
"Alright, let's go home first," Dad said.
He gently rubbed Mom's back, ignoring the fire that was almost out, and hurried her straight to the car.
After giving her some meds and watching her drift off to sleep, he sent a message to the doctor.
Dad: [Thanks, doctor. Edith's things are all taken care of. Please tell my wife when you can that Edith's soul has rested in peace.]
The reply came back almost instantly. [No problem. I hope this treatment helps your wife move on. Let's meet again soon.]
That was when it hit me that there was never any psychic.
It was all just an act Dad and the doctor put on to help Mom finally move on from this nightmare.
Honestly, it was a genius plan.
Unfortunately, I kinda ruined it.
I stared out the window at my body trapped inside that suitcase, silently praying that no one would ever find me.
Let my body rot away in these ruins, and maybe it'd be the nourishment for Edith's new beginning.
But my hopes were crushed.
As the car pulled up to our house, I saw a bunch of people gathered in the front yard.
When Dad helped Mom, who was still out of it, out of the car, Grace, looking awkward and tense in the crowd, finally felt relieved.
She pointed at my parents and hurried to speak up, "Hey, these are Elaine's parents. They are back, so you can ask them directly."
Dad froze, having no idea what was happening.
But I recognized one of the ladies with glasses.
She was the director of the orphanage I'd inquired about recently.
Back then, she crouched down with a gentle smile and softly asked me why I wanted to come to the orphanage.
I stammered, nervously fidgeting with my hands and staring at the ground. "M-My parents aren't happy with me at home."
She paused, looking like she wanted to ask more about my family.
But I clammed up and bolted, too nervous to say another word.
I never thought she'd actually show up at my house with a group of people.
Another woman stepped forward and flashed her badge.
"Hello, I'm with the local Women's Federation. We'd like to ask you about your child, Elaine Carter," she said.
"What? Elaine?" Mom snapped, her voice cutting through the air.
As soon as she heard my name, she looked like she was about to explode at any time.
She glared at the woman with a mocking smirk on her face.
She said, "The Women's Federation? Elaine thinks she's so clever now, and she even knows how to get others to back her up?
"So, what now? Is she out there telling everyone we mistreat her?"
Mom's sharp tone made the two ladies exchange uneasy glances, both frowning.
What I didn't know was that after I snuck into the orphanage a few times, the director had already sensed something was off. She even went to my school a few times to ask about me.
The teacher paused, thinking back seriously, and then replied, "She's always been a quiet kid, hardly ever talks.
"As for her parents, I barely ever see them. They always have some excuse to skip parent-teacher meetings. Every time, Elaine waits until all the other kids are gone before she drags herself home alone."
So, out of concern, the director contacted the Women's Federation to ask about me.