Chapter 3

"Lily, are you done with your review?"

Dad pushed the door open abruptly. I swiftly hid my piggy bank.

Luckily, the piggy bank wasn't big, so I could tuck it into my oversized sleeve.

Since Dad never bought me extra clothes, I usually just wore my school uniform or hand-me-downs from relatives.

Most didn't fit properly, hanging loose and baggy on my frame.

At least the roomy sleeves were good for hiding things.

When Dad opened the door, he was too engrossed in eating his meat to notice me hiding anything.

The smell of meat filled my nostrils again, and my stomach groaned in protest.

"Your teacher just called me. She said your essay got published in the school newspaper."

"Since we both have tomorrow off, as a reward, I'll take you to the amusement park."

At the mention of "amusement park," my eyes widened. I must be dreaming.

I quickly pinched myself. It hurt, so much that tears welled in my eyes.

I heard my own voice tremble. "Is… is that true?"

Dad nodded, picking a piece of meat from between his teeth with his finger. "It's true. But you still have to finish reviewing all your lessons today!"

"A reward is a reward, and punishment is punishment. They don't mix. Don't think you can get away with anything!"

Even if it meant no dinner tonight, I was ecstatic.

Because Dad was finally going to take me out.

The next day, standing at the amusement park, gazing at the carousel, I realized I wasn't dreaming.

I clutched the hem of my shirt, my eyes fixed on the carousel's colorful, blinking lights.

When the music started, to my surprise, Dad said, "Go on, ride it."

The horses began to spin, and the wind brushed against my face.

The moment I sat on a horse, I couldn't help but look back for Dad.

He stood outside the railing, his worn-out work clothes starkly out of place among the brightly dressed parents.

But his gaze was on me, and in his eyes, there was a softness I'd never seen before.

When I got off the carousel, I saw cotton candy at a nearby stall.

I looked at Dad with pleading eyes, but he refused.

"What's so good about cotton candy? And you've already ridden the carousel today."

"That's enough. Let's go home."

My head had been spinning a little after the carousel, and Dad had only given me a bowl of porridge.

I was feeling a bit low on blood sugar, which was why I wanted cotton candy to steady myself.

But Dad's refusal made me feel even worse.

"Dad, no, I'm just having a low blood sugar episode."

Dad suddenly yelled, "Stop using low blood sugar as an excuse! It's not a real sickness, you're just being dramatic!"

"Let's go home, now!"

Dad's shout attracted many glances. Someone saw my blood-drained face and kindly suggested, "Your child really looks like she has low blood sugar. You should get her something to eat."

Dad got even angrier. "As if I wouldn't know if my own child was sick or not? Don't you dare butt in!"

Dad's voice suddenly turned cold. "Stop your fake sympathy. Go home and do your practice sheets!"

My heart plummeted.

Turns out, that fleeting happiness was just a carefully orchestrated deception, designed to make me more compliant with my studies.

That night, Dad lost his temper again while checking my homework.

He slammed my notebook on the floor and roared, "You made a mistake on such a simple problem! The amusement park was a complete waste!"

I kept my head down, my gaze falling on the piggy bank under my bed.

The slip of paper with the phone number was clutched tightly in my hand.

Later that night, Dad's snoring drifted from the next room.

I tiptoed out of bed, grabbing the piggy bank, and sneaked out of the house.

At the payphone booth on the corner, I stood on my toes, dropping coins in one by one.

The moment the call connected, I choked back tears, unable to speak.

A strange yet familiar female voice came through the receiver. "Hello? Who is this?"

As soon as I opened my mouth, tears streamed down my face. "Mom, it's me, Lily."