My Parents Neglected Me Until I Died Novel by yueji

How was I still alive?

They had left.

They had tossed me aside like a rag.

I watched as their figures merged with the night.

Just let me die here.

But that didn’t happen.

I was discovered by passersby.

One by one, they took off their clothes and wrapped me in them, helping me to my feet.

They gave me water and food.

But I couldn’t eat.

An older woman held me close, patting my back and comforting me.

In a faint voice, I asked her, “Sister, just let me die here, won’t you?”

She covered my mouth to stop me from speaking nonsense, urgently calling her companions to bring a car.

The warmth in the car was abundant.

But it couldn’t warm my body.

Just a corpse.

How could there be any warmth?

I was taken to the police station, mechanically answering their questions like a zombie.

Replaying the scene over and over.

I provided Janet’s phone number.

She rushed in, frenzied, hugging me and demanding to know who had done this.

The police had no answers and could only tell me that it wasn’t my fault.

How could it not be my fault?

Janet repeatedly thanked the passersby who had helped me, and after confirming I could leave, took me home.

She got me clothes and let me shower.

The warm water poured over my body, my face, my hair.

It couldn’t wash away those stains; they were impossible to remove.

I clawed at my skin in a frenzied state until blood covered the floor.

I threw myself into the water–filled bathtub.

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Too long without coming out led to Janet banging on the door.

Surrounded by water, all sounds echoed like in a valley, muffled and my consciousness hazy.

I awoke again, in Janet’s bed.

My parents stood at the foot of the bed.

Janet explained, “You didn’t come home last night, and your family may be worried.”

Janet told them I had fainted from a fever, so I was staying at her place temporarily.

They didn’t truly care, asking no questions, merely uttering a polite “Thanks for taking care of her” to Janet before turning and leaving.

Not a single word was addressed to me.

Janet noticed their indifference and brushed my hair aside, “I see. From now on, stay with ine, okay? Let’s not go home anymore, alright?”

Her eyes were slightly red, her voice heavy with emotion.

I looked at her.

I nodded.

Janet stayed with me through all of high school.

Oh, and John.

He was the one who helped me capture those hooligans, telling me not to be afraid, that there would be retribution.

I believed him.

He took care of me in ways even Janet couldn’t match.

I thought he would be my hope for life.

But that wasn’t the case.

I would always remember the way he protected Victoria.

The affection in his eyes was so familiar.

Later, I didn’t get into a good university.

Only I knew that their seemingly sunny facade had always been a stormy tempest for me.

I couldn’t forget that day.

I couldn’t forget their gazes.

I couldn’t forget how Victoria had turned her back and walked away.

I would never forget any of it.

I fell ill and saw a therapist, taking antidepressants one mouthful at a time.

Janet paid for the expensive medication.

I would forever owe her.

My parents didn’t react much to my absence, only calling me to come home for Victoria’s birthday party.

It was only after attending one that I realized.

On birthdays, my parents would be there.

The cake could be shared among everyone.

Gifts could be asked for, and love was visible.

I didn’t want to go back.