But I was still ignored countless times.
I was struggling in an abyss of lovelessness.
I had nobody!
The Truth Unfolds
The wedding was over, and Brittany went
home to their new place with Chris.
My parents went home too.
To make room for Brittany’s wedding, my
little room in the hallway was torn down, and
all my stuff was piled in the corner.
Mom got annoyed, and finally, she called me
But the phone just kept ringing, no one
picked up.
Mom looked awful. “She didn’t pick up. She
is still holding a grudge.”
“Mom, calm down, let me try.”
My brother started to dial my number, and to
his surprise, I answered.
“Mandy, where the hell are you? You didn’t
come home for Thanksgiving, and now you
are making my parents miserable. Do you
even consider yourself part of this family?”
“If
you don’t come home, I will throw all your
garbage away.”
There was silence on the other line.
<
“She is here with me. If you want her back,
you will pay me $10,000, or don’t call again!”
My brother was stunned, and then he hastily
hung up.
Of course!
That murderer really knew my family. The
mere mention of spending money on me
would send them running for the hills.
My mother anxiously asked, “What did she
say?”
My brother just said: “Nothing, she hung up.
My mother’s eyes were red. She sat down,
blaming me for being unfilial and rebellious.
وو
She even said that it would have been better
if Brittany had lived.
Hearing that always hurt.
Even as a soul, it still pained me.
I was an unwanted child.
From birth to death.
Even though I had been missing for so long,
they were not worried. They didn’t think that I
might be in danger.
All I received was blame!
Mom, do you know how terrifying it was on
Thanksgiving night?
く
I was pushed into the muddy soil, cold rain
pelting me. I was freezing, as if I’d fallen into
some terrible ice cave, full of thorns.
I was trying to escape, trying to run, but I
kept getting cut, bleeding everywhere.
I was screaming in fear, crying, and
struggling.
I was completely terrified and helpless.
I asked God and the universe for help.
I begged you.
To save me!
The Horrors of That Night
L
Ever since the wedding incident, my
relationship with my family had gotten worse.
They never asked about me, except when
they wanted to borrow money.
I remember that night on Thanksgiving when
my mother called, and it was again about
money.
She said with a sigh, “My in–laws think
Brittany’s dowry is too small, if you have
some money, could you spare another
$5,000?”
I was speechless. “Are you serious? You want
me to pay?”
“Mandy, she’s your sister. You need to help
く
Ivanuy, she s your Sister. You need to neip
her out. If her dowry is too small, she won’t
TUU
be able to hold her head up in her in–laws‘
house.”
I said with a cold laugh, “That has nothing to
do with me. That’s your problem!”
My mother was speechless, and my father on
the other end roared, “We have to save our
money for your brother to find a wife. Don’t
even think about touching our money!”
“I’m telling you, you have to give us the
money. It’s only right that you give money to
your family.”
I was furious. Did they think they could use
me like a chump?
horrible argument Eventually I
We had a horrible argument. Eventually, I
hung up the phone, my heart frozen solid.
The older generation always thought that
working for the government was a big deal,
but it’s not for everyone.
My work was not as easy as they thought.
Office politics were complicated, and because
I was not good at socializing, I was often
targeted for no reason.
Work that was not mine was pushed onto me.
I had to work overtime, and I couldn’t take
days off, even with a fever.
When I finally finished it, I wouldn’t get a
bonus. But when responsibility came, I was
the scapegoat, just because I didn’t have any
connections.
く
I appealed to my boss, but he just gaslighted
me, shouting insults at me, one after another.
I felt dizzy, my heart pounding from the
abuse.
That day was especially bad, I couldn’t take it
anymore, so I quit my job.
It was raining, and there were fewer people
on the street.
I got a taxi. My head was spinning. After
telling the driver my address, I leaned back
and tried to rest.
The driver was wearing a hat and nodded.
I don’t know how long it was, but I woke up.
I realized that the road was becoming more
and more remote. It wasn’t the way back to
my apartment!
I panicked and slammed on the window.
But the windows were locked, there was no
way to get out.
“Who are you? Stop the car, I want to get
out!”
He chuckled softly. He didn’t say anything,
but the car went faster.
I frantically tried to make a call, but the signal
was blocked.
Soon, the car stopped, and I was dragged
It was a hillside, nowhere near any houses or
stores.
The man was strong. He threw me to the
ground.
“What do you want? To rob me?”
But he didn’t want money. He grinned, and
there were two scars on his face, which
looked horrifying in the flash of lightning.
He reached out and grabbed me by the
throat.
“Mandy, why do you have to steal everything
from Brittany?”
“She is so pitiful and you are trying to
<
“She is so pitiful, and you are trying to
seduce her man.‘
99
“You deserve to die, a slut like you!”
His grip tightened, and I could barely breathe.
Brittany?
He was coming to her defense. Was he the crazy ex–boyfriend that I had heard of?
Before she met Chris, Brittany had had a
boyfriend she met online, the man apparently
loved her so much that he took out loans to
fund her spending. During that time, she was
spending money like water!
But she didn’t like him, and she wouldn’t let
her family moot him. She just dumped him.
“You are misunderstanding…”
But he wouldn’t listen to my explanation. He
only believed what he wanted to believe. His
eyes were stubborn and crazy.
I tried to fight back, hitting stones on the
ground, making my head spin.
He suddenly snapped, looked at my face, and
his gaze was obsessed.
“Brittany, my Brittany…‘
وو
99
“Let me have you.‘
My clothes were being ripped off. I was
trembling in fear.
No!
く
I’m not Brittany. I didn’t steal her man.
Why was this happening to me?
I had already suffered enough while I was
alive. Did I have to go through this in my
death too?
I desperately tried to kick him, but he pinned
down my legs.
I couldn’t move.
“Brittany, you need to behave…”
The devil’s voice echoed in my ear.
My fingers, trembling, touched my phone, and
I quickly dialed the first number in my call list.
L
Mom, save me!
I beg you, please save me!
I waited and waited.
But all I heard was the sound of the call being
rejected. So weak under the heavy rain.
The man noticed, smashed my phone, and
then began to punish me more cruelly.
“You went to another man?”
“Why? What’s wrong with me?”
“Slut, slut!”
He went insane. He picked up a stone and
started hitting me.
L
My body was destroyed, blood splattered
everywhere.
So painful!
So painful, Mom!
Blood was everywhere, and I couldn’t make a
sound. My tears mixed with the rain.
Finally, in infinite despair, my life was gone.
The Ghost’s Return
Perhaps it was some blood–based instinct,
my soul went home.
I’d been watching them these last few days,
my heart cold as ice.
Brittany was coming home soon. My mom
was happy as she went out to buy groceries,
planning to cook a delicious meal for her
daughter and son–in–law.
A vendor was enthusiastically introducing his
products and then he mentioned me.
