Dad bought a cotton candy for me and one for my big sister, Chloe. I took mine happily, but Chloe started wailing. "Why does she get the same as me? See? Now that you have a second kid, I'm not the favorite anymore!" Hearing this, Mom gently pulled the cotton candy out of my hand. "Be a good girl, Ellie. Give this to Chloe. You can eat something else later." But I wanted cotton candy too. I started to cry, feeling wronged. Mom snapped instantly. "Can't you be more mature? You already stole half of Chloe's love! Can't you even let her have a cotton candy?" "Fighting with your sister at this age... what will you become when you grow up?" Scared, I stopped crying and tugged at Mom's coat. "Mommy, don't be mad. Ellie doesn't want it anymore..." Mom froze for a second, then seemed even angrier. She stormed to the stall, bought ten cotton candies, and shoved them into my arms. "Eat! Sit right here and eat! Don't move until you finish them all!" Mom took Chloe's hand and walked away. Dad patted my head, his voice tired. "Ellie, be good. When Mom cools down, Dad will come back for you." I sat alone on the bench in the mall, stuffing cotton candy into my mouth as fast as I could. When I was eating the seventh one, the mall caught fire. Chapter 1 People screamed and ran toward the exits. I sat on the bench, too scared to move. I just ate faster. The cotton candy was so sweet it tasted bitter. Eat faster. Faster. Once I finish, Dad will come back for me. Suddenly, strong arms scooped me up from the chair. It was the Cotton Candy Lady. She ran outside and put me down, gasping for air. "Stay here! Don't move! I'm going to find a police officer to help find your parents. Do you hear me? Don't run off!" Just then, I saw Chloe. I ran over and grabbed her arm. "Chloe! Where are Mom and Dad?" Chloe shook off my hand violently. She looked at me with hate. "Mom and Dad thought you were still inside. They went back in to save you." My brain buzzed. I turned around and sprinted back toward the fire. I had to find Mom and Dad. I had to bring them out. The Cotton Candy Lady was too far away to catch me. She screamed desperately behind me. "Come back! Child! What are you doing! Come back—!" I didn't look back. I waved at her while running. "Thank you, Auntie!" I ran back to the bench against the heatwave. The bench was already blackened by smoke. Flames crackled all around. "Dad! Mom!" I shouted, my voice hoarse. But there was no one. The cotton candy in my arms melted into sticky syrup all over my clothes. If Mom saw this, she would be so mad. I ran desperately, looking for them. Nowhere. I couldn't find them anywhere. I tripped and fell. I didn't have the strength to get up anymore. Fire and thick smoke surrounded me. I curled up on the scorching floor and prayed with my last thought. "Mom, Dad, please make it out..." The pain and suffocation vanished quickly. I seemed to float up. It was magical. I thought of Mom and Dad, and suddenly, I was drifting beside them. On the chaotic street outside the mall, Mom was wrapping a blanket carefully around Chloe. "Don't be scared, Chloe. It's over," Mom soothed her. Dad handed Chloe a cup of hot cocoa. "Chloe, are you shocked? Drink something sweet to calm down." Thank goodness! Mom and Dad are safe! Dad turned to a busy firefighter, gesturing urgently. "Excuse me, have you seen a little girl? About this tall? Two pigtails, wearing a white coat..." Dad was looking for me! I rushed over to hug Dad's leg. But I passed right through his body. "Dad! Ellie is here!" I shouted loud. I tried again and again, but I grabbed nothing but air. Just then, Chloe tugged at Dad's sleeve. "Dad... I think I saw Ellie just now." Dad froze. Mom turned her head sharply. "Really? Where? Is she okay?" Dad's voice trembled with excitement as he grabbed Chloe's shoulders. Chloe flinched, shrinking back. She whispered, "She left with a lady." "A lady? What kind of lady? Which way?" Dad asked urgently. Guilt flashed in Chloe's eyes, but neither Mom nor Dad noticed. "I think it was the Cotton Candy Lady..." "I wanted to scare her a little. I told her you guys thought she was inside and went in to save her." "But... she ignored me. She didn't even ask about you guys. She just left with that lady." The urgency on Dad's face vanished. His face turned gray as he let go. No! It's not like that! I didn't leave you! I was crying, screaming to explain, but they heard nothing. Mom was shaking with rage. "She ignored you and left?!" She hugged Chloe tighter and glared at Dad. "Listen! Just listen! This is the 'good daughter' you spoiled!" "She knew we risked our lives to find her, and she didn't even ask if we were alive? She just left with a stranger selling candy!" Dad hunched his back, staring dead at the mall entrance. He said nothing. In the crowd, I saw the Cotton Candy Lady sitting on the ground, wailing. "That child... I brought her out! But she heard her parents were inside and ran back in!" "Silly child... she could have lived!" I whispered I'm sorry to her. Dad looked in her direction. He took a few steps forward. His eyes flickered. My heart tightened. Dad must recognize her! He must know Chloe is lying! But Dad stopped. He turned back to Mom and sighed. "Did you hear that?" Dad sounded so disappointed. "Someone else's child... heard her parents might be inside. She was safe, but she ran back in." "What a loyal, brave kid." Dad didn't recognize her. Chloe let out a breath of relief. Mom scoffed. "You said it. That's someone else's child." "Ours is an ungrateful white-eyed wolf. Don't compare them." "For a bite of candy, she ignored her own parents' lives. We wasted years raising her!" I stood there, feeling so wronged. It wasn't someone else's child! That was me! I am your child! Dad wiped his face wearily. "Let's go. Let's go home." Chapter 2 My soul followed them home involuntarily. The house was exactly as we left it this morning. The lights on the Christmas tree twinkled quietly. The snowflake stickers I pasted were still on the window. Dad opened the fridge and took out a turkey. Mom rolled her eyes. "Why bother with that bird? None of us like turkey." "We bought it because that ungrateful brat begged for roast turkey on Christmas Eve. It cost fifty bucks!" "And now? She doesn't even care!" Dad sighed. He put the turkey back, thought for a moment, then took it out again. "Let's cook it anyway." "Maybe she's just playing. Maybe she went to a friend's house." "Maybe... she'll come back for dinner." Dad made a feast. The roast turkey was golden, just like on TV. Too bad I couldn't taste it anymore. I tried to grab the turkey, flying through the table. Mom suddenly looked in my direction. My heart jumped. Can Mom see me? I waved, but her eyes didn't move. She was just staring at the dark window behind me. After a while, Mom slammed her chopsticks on the table. "I knew it! She's not coming back!" Mom's voice trembled with rage. She stood up, grabbed the untouched turkey, and threw it in the trash. "If she has the guts, she better never come back! I'll pretend I never gave birth to her!" "Don't..." I tried to stop her, reaching for the turkey. But I touched nothing. Dad patted Mom's back gently. "Okay, okay. Don't be mad at her. We still have Chloe." Chloe immediately threw herself into Mom's arms. "Mommy, don't be mad. Chloe only loves Mommy and Daddy." Mom hugged her tight. "Yes... Mommy isn't mad." "Mommy still has Chloe." Dad stroked Chloe's back too. Under the twinkling Christmas lights, the family of three hugged tightly. The next morning, Dad rushed into my room as soon as he woke up. Seeing the empty bed, his shoulders slumped. Mom stood behind him and sneered. "Checking what? Still fantasizing she'll come back? Ridiculous!" On the TV, the news was reporting on the fire. "The search and rescue operation for the massive mall fire yesterday is coming to an end. Most victims have been identified. However, one young female victim remains unclaimed." "The body was found near the play area on the fourth floor. Height approximately 3 feet 11 inches..." I screamed. That's Ellie! Go bring me home! Dad walked closer to the TV, trying to see clearly. Just then, there was a knock on the door. Dad and Mom froze. "Is Ellie back?" Panic flashed across Chloe's face. She ran to open the door. Standing there was my best friend, Mia. Mia held a beautifully wrapped gift box, eyes sparkling. "Morning, Chloe! Is Ellie up? We promised to exchange gifts today! It's Christmas!" Chloe blocked the door, voice cold. "Ellie? She's not coming back. Don't come looking for her anymore." Mia looked confused. "Why? Where did she go?" Chloe scoffed. "She wanted to eat cotton candy every day, so she adopted the Cotton Candy Lady as her mom. She's never coming back to this house." "No way!" Mia's eyes turned red. "Ellie wouldn't just leave without saying anything! Even if she left, she would say goodbye to me!" I floated next to Mia, feeling warm. Mom sighed. She walked into my room and dragged out two large boxes. They were filled with my favorite toys and books. "Take these. Don't cry. Be careful making friends in the future. Don't play with heartless kids." Mia stepped forward and dug through the box carefully. Soon, she found the Christmas gift I prepared for her. The box had our secret drawing on it. "Found it! This is from Ellie!" Mia put the gift in her bag and looked up at Mom seriously. "Auntie, these toys belong to Ellie. I don't want them. I just want my gift exchange." "I'll wait for Ellie to come back." Mom didn't answer. Mia walked away, then turned back. "Uncle, Auntie, my mom says trust is the most important thing in a family." "Ellie isn't heartless. She will come back." Mom slammed the door. Bang. "A little brat lecturing me! Who does she think she is?" Mom was furious. She dragged the boxes out the door. "What are you doing?" Dad tried to stop her. "Let me go!" Mom shook him off. "Out of sight, out of mind! Just pretend she's dead!" But Mom, I am dead. Chloe "helpfully" assisted Mom in throwing all my things into the community dumpster. Some kids gathered, rummaging roughly through my stuff. The doll Mia gave me was unpacked. A beautiful porcelain doll. "What is this junk?" The doll was thrown on the ground. Shattered. I wanted to stop them, but I was less than a breeze. I could only pass through them. Finally, they got bored and left with their loot. I floated back home silently. Everything related to me was gone. Mom truly didn't want me anymore. Chapter 3 For the next few days, life went back to normal. No one mentioned me. Like I never existed. Until one day, Ms. Baker from preschool called. "Mrs. Lu, Ellie hasn't been to school for days. Is everything okay?" Mom's voice was cold. "Oh, nothing. She's not going anymore. I'll process her withdrawal in a few days." Ms. Baker hesitated. "Is it possible... that the little girl in the viral video is actually Ellie?" "What video?" Mom asked stiffly. Ms. Baker sighed in relief. "If you don't know, then it must not be her." "It's the fire video. A little girl ran back into the fire to find her parents... heartbreaking." "The back looked like her... Good, good that it's not." Mom raised her voice. "Ms. Baker, we heard about that girl. It's not Ellie. She's not that noble." "She fought with her sister over food. I scolded her, and she ran off with a stranger to be her new mom. Haven't seen her since!" Ms. Baker gasped. "So Ellie has been missing for days? Did you call the police?" Mom cut her off. "Police? Her sister saw her leave willingly! Chloe never lies!" Ms. Baker's voice turned serious. "Mrs. Lu, there must be a misunderstanding. I know Ellie." "Besides, for such a young child, even if she left, you as a mother have a duty to find her!" Mom jumped up from the sofa. "Addicted to lecturing? You don't even have kids! Don't tell me how to be a mother!" "I think you're a terrible teacher. Tricked by a kid." "Some kids are just born bad. Two-faced little monsters!" Mom slammed the phone down. At dinner, there was a knock. It was Ms. Baker and two police officers. Mom's face darkened. "Ms. Baker? You brought cops to my house?" "I told you, our family matters don't need outsiders!" Ms. Baker tried to stay calm. "Mrs. Lu, something doesn't feel right. I know Ellie." "For the child's safety, I must verify." Mom glanced at the cops and crossed her arms. "She left on her own. No missing person. No fire." "That kid is spoiled. One cotton candy didn't go her way, and she pulls this stunt. I'm not playing her game!" Chloe, hiding behind Mom, suddenly pointed at Ms. Baker and shouted: "Ellie told me Ms. Baker is the worst!" "She plays favorites and hits Ellie! Ellie hates preschool!" She's lying! I love Ms. Baker! Ms. Baker ignored the slander. She stared at Chloe for a long time. "Officer, this child... please look closely. Is she the one..." The officer looked at Chloe, tapped his phone, and handed it to Mom. "Is the girl in this video your daughter?" Mom looked impatient. "Video again? I said that girl isn't..." She stopped. The screen was paused on Chloe's profile. Mom's hand shook as she pressed play. In the video, Chloe's voice was full of icy malice. "Mom and Dad thought you were still inside. They went back in to save you." Then, my tiny figure sprinted into the black smoke without hesitation. And the Cotton Candy Lady, kneeling on the pavement, screaming. "Silly child... she could have lived!" Mom looked like her soul was sucked out. She stood rigid, knuckles white gripping the phone. Dad swayed violently. He looked up, staring dead at Chloe. "You..." His words choked in his throat, blocked by immense grief and disbelief. Chloe turned pale as a sheet, backing away, shaking her head. The video looped. Even though it was just my back, how could they not recognize me? The "ungrateful wolf" they cursed for days. The child punished alone in the mall for wanting a treat. The child who ran into hell because of one sentence from her sister. The "someone else's kid" they admired. It was their Ellie. "AHHH——!!" Mom let out a scream so piercing it deformed her face. She lunged at Chloe, shaking her shoulders violently. "Why! Chloe! Tell me why! That was your sister! Your own sister!" "How could you say that to her?! How could you watch her run into the fire?! How could you..." Chloe was terrified out of her mind. She just cried, unable to say a word. Ms. Baker teared up and shouted: "Now you blame the daughter? Where were you parents when this happened?!" Mom froze. Her hands dropped from Chloe's shoulders. "Ms. Baker, you're right." She mumbled, then slapped herself hard. "It's my fault. That day... I was in a bad mood. When I saw Chloe cry, I remembered my own childhood. Being the older sister. I was mistreated because of my siblings." "I tried to be fair. I tried to treat them equally. But I couldn't. I was so tired..." Slap! Another blow to her own face. "Experts say, if you can't be fair, prioritize the older one. Because the younger one doesn't understand. They won't remember. You can make it up later." "I thought Ellie didn't understand. She's small. She'd forget." "So every time I lost control, I took it out on Ellie. Because she's small. She doesn't hold grudges..." Mom wept, slapping herself rhythmically. "I actually believed her sister. I thought Ellie was heartless... I'm not human. I don't deserve to be a mother!" Dad stepped up and held Mom's hands. "Don't do this. Blame me... I knew Ellie was wronged. Why did I smooth things over? Why did I walk away? Why did I buy milk tea..." Dad cried like a child. He took Mom's hand and slapped his own face. "Okay, calm down!" The lead officer raised his voice, separating the broken parents from the shivering Chloe. "Based on the video and evidence, we highly suspect the unclaimed child victim is your daughter, Ellie Lu." "Please come to the station to identify the body." Chapter 4 Hearing the officer, Mom's dull eyes suddenly focused with a terrifying light. "Right! We haven't seen her! We haven't seen the body!" She started grabbing her coat, energized by denial. "The video only shows her back! A back doesn't prove anything! Maybe we're wrong? Maybe she ran in and ran out?" "It's definitely not Ellie. She's alive. She went with the lady to eat cotton candy! She loves cotton candy!" "Ellie is just mad at me. She ran away. She must be somewhere!" Dad closed his eyes in despair. He knew. But seeing Mom's hope, he rasped out a lie to himself: "Maybe... maybe there's a miracle?" Even if the miracle meant his daughter hated them and ran off with a stranger. As long as she was alive. Breathing. Somewhere. The police car pulled up to the back of the morgue. Mom and Dad supported each other, stumbling out of the car. Just as they reached the steps, a figure rushed out and blocked them. Mrs. Higgins. The Cotton Candy Lady. Her eyes were swollen. She still wore the coat stained with soot and sugar. "You... you people are actually alive!" "That child risked everything to save you! You killed her!" Mom ignored the accusation. She grabbed Mrs. Higgins' arm, begging incoherently. "Ma'am! Ma'am, tell me! Did Ellie go with you? You took her for cotton candy, right?" "Where is she? Give her back to me! She's alive, right? Please tell me she's alive!" Mrs. Higgins froze. Then, enraged by the absurdity. Slap! A loud slap across Mom's face. "I WISH she went with me!" Mrs. Higgins roared. "I've been squatting here for days, waiting to see if anyone would claim her! I wanted to see if the heartless parents who abandoned her were dead yet!" "Ask your conscience! Are you human?! Leaving a toddler alone! Forcing her to eat so much sugar! When I saved her, she was mumbling 'can't leave until I finish'!" Mom covered her face, lips trembling. "No... I just wanted to punish her a little... I didn't think... I thought she could run..." Mrs. Higgins choked on her tears. "She did run! I brought her out! But then?" "You treated her like that! Yet when she heard you were inside, she didn't hesitate! She ran into hell!" "But you? You animals are alive! Such a good child is... I can't accept this!" Mrs. Higgins broke down, squatting on the ground, wailing. Mom stood there, eyes completely empty. Dad held her up, his own hands shaking uncontrollably. The police officer whispered to Mrs. Higgins and led her aside. Mom and Dad, like two zombies, followed the officer up the steps. My body was burned beyond recognition. Only my teeth and DNA confirmed it was me. They didn't say a word. Mom didn't scream or cry. She just hugged the small box and got in the car. Dad's jaw was clenched so hard it looked like it would snap. He touched the box with a trembling hand. "Ellie, let's go home." "Sorry. Dad said he'd come back for you. Dad is late."
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