A Mother's Disappearance
Jiyu couldn't focus on class. Her mind was weighed down by anxiety and worry. Her already quiet nature had grown even quieter, and she barely spoke at all. Chloe had noticed how pale she looked and asked more than once if something had happened that day.
She had been considering telling Chloe the truth when a voice in her head warned her to stop. With almost nothing known herself, the heavy atmosphere made her afraid to mention her father’s connection to that company aloud. It could wait until things calmed down a little.
After a while, Jiyu hurried back to the apartment. In her haste, she didn’t even ring the bell. She used the spare key that always lay in her backpack to open the front door.
“Mom! Mom! Dad still hasn’t called today?”
She threw the front door open as if she were flying in, but the living room was dark and quiet. A strange chill ran down her spine. The shoe cabinet beside the entrance—made specially for Mom—stood wide open. Jiyu swallowed hard, slipped off her shoes, placed them inside, and closed the door.
She called again. “Mom…?”
After checking the living room and opening the bedroom door, she noticed the closet standing open and clothes scattered across the floor. Something was definitely wrong. Mom was always obsessively tidy. Jiyu sank onto the bed, pulled out her phone, and dialed. No answer. After a long time, it went to voicemail.
“Mom, where are you? Did something happen to Dad? Call me back as soon as you hear this. I’m home. Come quickly. I… I’m hungry.”
Even though her stomach wasn’t empty, the words slipped out because she just wanted Mom to come back right away. She tried Alan’s phone too, but it went straight to voicemail.
“Dad, it’s me. Mom’s not home and I can’t reach her. Are you together? Is Dad okay? When will you get home? Call me as soon as you hear this. I’m all alone and I’m scared.”
By evening the apartment was still empty. Jiyu’s heart trembled, but she forced herself to stay calm. She turned on the news and kept checking for updates.
Legal experts were explaining the Ponzi scheme charges and the harsh punishments the main culprits would face—over a hundred years in prison. Jiyu quickly switched the TV off. The news was scarier than any horror movie.
She tried to focus on homework and memorized Latin verb conjugations, but her stomach stayed empty. She forced down a peanut butter and jelly sandwich anyway. By nine o’clock she knew something terrible had happened.
“Something must have happened.”
Her heart dropped, yet she didn’t dare imagine what it could be. She opened a book instead, but she couldn’t concentrate. This was the first time in her life. The clock struck ten. Her phone finally rang. Jiyu jumped up and ran to the couch, checking the screen. It was Mom.
Tears of relief poured down her face as she answered. “Mom! Where are you? It’s already ten o’clock and you haven’t answered my calls… huu, huu…”
A sniffling sound came from the other end, followed by Mom clearing her throat. “Have you eaten? You’re still hungry?”
It sounded like she had heard the voicemail. But Mom’s voice was strangely tight. “No, I made a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. When are you coming home, Mom?”
“I can’t go today. I’ll be home by tomorrow morning.”
The floor dropped out from under her. Jiyu sank onto the sofa. “What’s going on? Is Dad okay?”
Mom was silent for a long moment. Then she cleared her throat again. “Dad isn’t okay.”
Her voice was dry, nothing like the usual soft tone. Jiyu’s hand went numb with cold sweat. She almost dropped the phone. “Why?”
“Alan… your dad… he’s gone.”
Jiyu’s mind went blank. “Where?”
Mom’s breathing sounded heavy on the other end. “He’s in the hospital in Long Island right now. Your dad has high blood pressure. You know that. He passed out after getting up from the bed. A motel worker found him this morning and called 911 immediately, but…” The doctor concluded heart failure, and with the Ponzi scheme charges…” Jiyu heard a sudden silence. Mom had cut herself off.
“What are you talking about? Why does it sound like Dad’s dead…?”
Silence filled the line. “No… no, say something quickly!” But Mom stayed quiet. “Mom, what are we going to do…?”
Jiyu, who had never cried loudly as a child, screamed and wept. The last time she had seen him smiling with bright eyes, she had no idea it would be the last.
“Without Dad… how are we supposed to live?”
It didn’t feel real that Alan—no, Dad—was gone. It was like a buoy floating on a dark sea with its rope cut. Alan had always laughed without a care, done whatever Mom asked, and given Jiyu love without limit. He had been their roof and their anchor. Only now, after he was gone, did the loss sink deep into her chest.
Mom spoke in a choked voice. “People who survive, they always find a way.” Then she cleared her throat. “I’ll ask Hunter’s mom to look after you tonight. Stay put.”
Jiyu shook her head even though no one could see her. She didn’t want to be alone in this house. “Can’t I go there too?”
“It’s too late. And if you come, you’ll only cry. You won’t help anyone. Right now Mom doesn’t have the energy to comfort you. So wait here.” Mom ended the call firmly.
Staring at the phone in confusion, Jiyu tried calling again, but Mom didn’t answer. That’s when she noticed Alan’s old fleece jacket draped over the sofa arm. She reached out and clutched it, burying her face in the fabric. The familiar smell of Dad still lingered. Tears came again.
Just then, the doorbell rang. It couldn’t be Mom from Long Island. Jiyu wiped her tears and slowly got up. When she opened the front door, it was indeed Lauren. She was holding Alan’s fleece jacket, her face blotchy and tear-streaked, unable to speak. Lauren sighed with a heavy heart.
[Ugh, what on earth are we going to do…? ]
She pulled Jiyu close and patted her back. “I got a call from your mom. Olivia, you’ll stay at our house until Mom gets home tomorrow morning.”
“It’s okay, though…” Jiyu answered weakly, head lowered.
“I’m not okay with it. I can’t leave you alone here. Come with me. Just pack a quick backpack with the essentials.” Lauren comforted her with gentle firmness.
***
It was the first time Jiyu had come to the Hamilton Residence so late at night. Lauren had originally planned to take her to the grand guest room with the living area in the penthouse, but after a moment’s hesitation she muttered, “It doesn’t feel right. Especially on a day like this.”
The spacious guest room overlooking the cool floor-to-ceiling windows was too big and too silent. Lauren wrapped an arm around Jiyu’s shoulders and led her down the stairs to the family floor. “There’s a small guest room beside Daisy’s room. That’s where Hunter and Daisy stayed when they were babies. You can sleep there tonight.”