Chapter 3

I curled up in the cold corner, my stomach aching with emptiness.

Hunger gnawed at me from the inside, making me shiver and tremble.

What was worse was the itch.

I couldn't help but scratch, my nails leaving red marks on my skin. But the more I scratched, the more it itched, an unbearable itch that made me want to roll on the floor.

"Don't be hungry anymore, Mom doesn't want me anymore..."

I mumbled, digging my fingers hard into my skin.

"A heart transplant will fix it... If I scratch it clean, Mom will come back..."

My nails broke the skin, and warm liquid oozed out. The pain finally overshadowed the itching.

Darkness stole my vision, but it made my other senses incredibly sharp.

I could hear my own heavy breathing, and I could smell the sweet scent of dumplings in the air.

It was New Year's Day; every family must be eating dumplings. I wished I could eat some too.

My consciousness gradually blurred, and I saw that woman again.

On a snowy night, she wore a thin coat, holding a child tightly bundled in her arms.

I couldn't clearly see her face, only remembered that she kept crying, her shoulders shaking violently.

She placed the child on the cold steps and turned to leave.

"Mommy... Mommy..." The child cried out, stretching out tiny hands.

That was me.

One or two years old.

The woman paused for a moment but didn't look back. Snowflakes fell on her head, quickly turning her into a white shadow.

"Mommy, take me with you, I'll be good!"

"Don't leave me... please... don't leave me..."

I cried and chased after her, but her back grew smaller and smaller, finally disappearing into the wind and snow at the street corner.

I knelt in the snow, crying until my throat was hoarse, crying until my whole body was stiff.

Until an auntie from the orphanage came out, dragged me back like garbage, and threw me into that small, windowless dark room.

"What are you crying for? Your mom doesn't want you! Crying won't help!"

The sound of the lock clicking, exactly like tonight.

"No... Mom... don't abandon me..."

I woke up sobbing in my dream, my face wet, unable to tell if it was cold sweat or tears.

It was morning.

I struggled to get up. The scratched wounds had formed thin scabs, tearing with every movement, a ripping pain.

I leaned against the wall, slowly shuffling to the door, and gently pushed it open a crack.

The living room lights were on, and a large plate of white, plump dumplings sat on the dining table.

Ava sat in her special high-backed chair, a few dumplings in a small bowl in front of her. Mom was picking one up, carefully blowing on it to cool it, and putting it to Ava's mouth.

"Here, Ava, open up. These are lucky dumplings. Eat them for a safe and healthy New Year."

Ava obediently opened her mouth, took a bite, and a satisfied smile appeared on her face. "Delicious!"

"If it's delicious, eat more." Dad sat next to her, smiling as he poured Ava a glass of warm milk. "It's New Year's Day today, our Ava needs to eat plenty of fortune."

My gaze was fixed on that plate of dumplings. Hungry, so hungry, I saw black spots before my eyes.

I forgot the pain, forgot last night's punishment, my eyes saw nothing but food.

"Willow?" Dad saw me first, pausing in surprise.

Mom and Ava also turned their heads.

But at that moment, I couldn't care about anything else. All my attention was on the dumpling that had fallen out of Ava's bowl.

Before my fingertips could even touch it, Ava, trying to protect her bowl, accidentally bumped my hand with her arm.

Already weak, I toppled over from her touch, crashing into the dining table and making a mess.

Then, Ava burst into tears, "Wah!" Her eyes instantly flooded.

"My dumplings... my lucky dumplings... they're gone..."

Mom's face turned ashen. She abruptly stood up, and a heavy slap landed on my face.

My head snapped to the side, my ears rang, and half my face was numb with a burning sensation.

"Willow, are you doing this on purpose? You can't stand to see Ava doing well, can you? You even try to snatch Ava's lucky dumplings?"

I cried, shaking my head, my insides clenching with fear.

"I'm so hungry, I want to save Ava, I'll give my heart to Ava, just let me eat something..."

Mom suddenly let out a cold laugh, grabbing me and dragging me towards the door.

"Then let's go to the hospital right now, get the surgery done early! So you won't be an eyesore at home, always thinking about harming Ava!"

The cold morning wind cut like a knife across my face. Dressed in my thin pajamas, I was shoved into the car by Mom.

The car drove towards the hospital.

I was led into a bright room. The doctor, wearing a white coat, looked at me, covered in scratches, and frowned deeply.

"Mr. Marcus, Mrs. Celeste, this child looks at most ten years old, and her body is severely depleted. Do you really want to do a heart compatibility test now?"

"Is the child willing? Have you asked for the child's opinion?"

Mom's face was full of anger. "She's willing."

I found strength from somewhere and dropped to my knees before Mom, tears streaming down my face.

"Dad, Mom, I want to eat lucky dumplings, I want Mom to call me sweetie, I want Mom to love me."

"I want to live past this year too."