Chapter 2

Mary's panic quickly passed. "Don't get the wrong idea, Ms. Shaw," she said, rubbing her hands together with a practiced smile. "Emily was difficult today. She said she didn't like the food and refused to eat. She's getting so picky."

As she spoke, she went to stand beside Sophie. "Sophie's had it hard, growing up with me. She can't stand to see food go to waste. When she saw Emily wouldn't eat, she offered to finish it."

Mom nodded, her expression softening. "Sophie's so thoughtful." Her praise was unmistakable. "If Emily were half as obedient, I'd have a lot less to worry about."

Mary let out a quiet breath of relief. Her eyes darted as she pasted on another smile. "You just got off a flight, didn't you, Ms. Shaw? Are you hungry? I can make you something."

Mom rubbed her temples and sank into the couch. "Anything's fine. Make me some pasta. Nothing too heavy."

Mary went into the kitchen. Sophie sat at the table, obediently eating the meal that should have been mine.

I circled Mom, jumping and screaming with all my might. "Mom, I'm right here. She's lying to you. I'm hungry. I'm so hungry. Please look at me."

I reached for the hem of Mom's clothes, but my hand passed through her sleeve. I couldn't grab anything.

I looked miserably at my transparent body as Mom opened her eyes and glanced in my direction, then looked away without a flicker of emotion.

She couldn't see me.

After dinner, Mom picked up a pretty gift box and went to my bedroom door. It was large, tied with a pink satin bow.

Mom knocked gently. "Emily, I bought you a doll from overseas. It's a limited edition. Do you want to come see it?"

There was no response from inside, only silence.

Mom patiently tried again. "Come on, Emily. I know you're mad. I'm sorry. Open the door and let me hug you, okay?"

But the door stayed shut.

I thought, 'Mom, it's not that I won't open the door. I can't. I'm right behind it, but I can't reach the handle. My voice can't get through. My body can't move anymore.'

Mom's patience ran out, and her voice turned cold. "Emily, I'm counting to three. If you don't come out, you can forget about this present. Don't expect me to bring you anything ever again."

Mary poked her head out of the kitchen, looking troubled. "Ms. Shaw, maybe she's trying to get your attention. She's young and doesn't know any better. Please don't be mad."

Mom gave a cold laugh. "She's five. She should know better. When I was five, I already knew to help my mother with chores."

Mary tried to soothe her. "Please don't be too upset."

"Emily, I'm telling you one last time. One, two, three," Mom warned.

When she said three, the door didn't budge. Mom's face darkened, the last of her patience gone. She turned and placed the pretty gift box directly in Sophie's hands. "If she doesn't want it, you can have it, Sophie."

Sophie held the present and looked up at her. "Linda, I can't take this. Mom says you work so hard for your money. You should give it to Emily. She's younger than me, so I should let her have it."

Mom looked at Sophie's sweet, obedient face and sighed. "Mary, you've raised her well. Look how considerate she is. Unlike Emily..."

She paused, as if remembering something, and her voice turned colder. "She used to be so good. Why is she getting more disobedient as she grows up? Now she's lying and saying you don't feed her.

"If she won't come out, let her go hungry. One day without food should cure whatever's wrong with her."

Mom went upstairs. I stood there watching Sophie hold the doll that should have been mine. I thought, 'Mom, I'm right beside you. I can't get angry anymore.'

*****

The next morning, Mom came to my bedroom and found the door locked from the inside. She frowned and knocked twice. "Emily, open the door. Come out for breakfast."

There was still no sound from inside. Mom lost patience. "Emily, do you hear me? Stop pretending you can't."

Mary came out of the kitchen, still holding a spatula. "Ms. Shaw, please don't be mad. I called Emily as soon as I got up, but she wouldn't eat."

Sophie stood nearby, looking timid. "Linda, Emily was so mean just now."

Mary sighed. "The girl even locked the door. She said... she said you don't care about her at all." She trailed off, as if she didn't want to repeat it.

Mom was already angry that the door was locked. Her chest rose and fell as she glared at it. "Emily, you're getting more and more out of control."

Her voice was cold. "I work myself to the bone every day. I hired the best nanny for you and bought you the best things. All you do is say you're hungry, and now you won't eat.

"Fine. Keep starving yourself. We'll see how long you can keep this up."

Then she turned and walked away. I floated behind the door, staring at the barrier that had cut me off from the world. Hearing Mom's words, the last of my hope disappeared.

Mom pulled out a chair and sat down. Sophie stood obediently beside her. "Linda, please don't be mad."

Mom's expression remained grim. "She's manipulative. At her age, she already knows how to use a hunger strike to threaten me."

Mary picked up the thread. "Don't take it to heart, Ms. Shaw. Emily gets upset whenever I correct her. She didn't eat yesterday, and now she's pulling this again. I think she knows you'll give in because you're softhearted."

Mom set down her coffee and laughed coldly. "Doesn't she want my attention? Doesn't she say I don't care about her? Then I'll take Sophie out and show her what kind of child deserves to be loved."

She took Sophie's hand. "Sophie, I'll take you to the amusement park."

Sophie couldn't hide her excitement, but she politely tried to refuse. "But Linda, Emily's still mad. Shouldn't I stay with her?"

Mom led Sophie toward the door. "Don't worry about her. She loves to lie, doesn't she? Let her stay in there and think about what she's done."

I floated in the living room, watching them walk away. Mom hadn't taken me to an amusement park in so long. I drifted to the window and saw her bend down to fasten Sophie's seat belt.

Her eyes held a tenderness I hadn't seen in a long time.