Chapter 6
Only one person came.
And I knew she wouldn't stick around for long.
Just then, her phone rang. "Oh, hold on, it's Daniel," Ayleen said.
She answered, and I could only hear her side of the conversation.
"I'm at home. Yeah, Nyomi made a lot of food. What? Okay... Okay." She hung up, her smile fading a bit. "Daniel told me not to eat at home."
"Why?" I asked.
"He said he's sending a driver to pick me up. He's got something going on tonight." She glanced at me, looking a little embarrassed. "Sorry, Nyomi. Maybe next time."
Always next time.
There wouldn't be a next time for me.
But I still managed a smile. "It's fine. Go ahead."
She grabbed her bag and, as she reached the door, turned back to look at me. "Nyomi, will you be alright on your own?"
"I'm fine," I answered.
Then the door closed behind her.
The food on the table was untouched, except for the rib with a tiny bite mark left by Ayleen.
The house fell silent again.
I looked down at my palm.
Two hours left.
9:30, 10:00, 10:30.
The food got cold. I didn't reheat it.
I sat frozen in that chair, my fingers going numb, like the warmth was slowly draining from my body.
My phone stayed silent, still no notifications.
Michael still hadn't accepted my request.
I had a feeling he'd probably never accept it.
At eleven, my palm began to sear with heat.
I unfolded my hand to check.
The dark red date had deepened into a fierce crimson, as if it was about to sear right through my flesh.
My heart was pounding so hard that I could hear it thundering in my chest.
My whole body trembled, but it wasn't only from fear. Part of me actually felt a strange sense of anticipation.
I'd been waiting for this day for what felt like forever, since the first time I got locked in the basement, the first night I spent alone at the end of that hallway, and when I watched the bracelet that I made get snipped apart.
I guessed nobody was ever going to remember me.
Maybe once I was gone, this family would finally be better.
My brothers would finally be able to breathe easy, and Ayleen would keep living her life as the little princess.
Olive would tidy up the storage room and pile it up with more junk. No one would ever find any sign that I ever existed in that room.
Thinking about all this, I suddenly wanted to hear one person's voice for the last time.
I picked up my phone and went straight to the top of my contacts, where Michael's number was.
I pressed call.
It rang four times before it connected.
No one said a word, but I could hear someone breathing quietly on the other end.
He was there.
My nose prickled, and my voice was so rough that it startled me. "Michael."
He didn't answer. But he didn't hang up either.
I gripped my phone so tight that my knuckles went white, the heat in my palm slowly spreading up my hand. "Can you guys... come back and eat with me?"
Still, there was only silence on the other end.
My voice started to shake, like the last thread inside me was about to snap. "I cooked your favorite ribs. And the fish Daniel likes. I left out the cilantro, since Trevor can't stand it.
"Ayleen came by, but she left. The food's all cold now. Michael." I paused, swallowing hard. "I'm dying."