When I had a mental breakdown, my whole family regretted it.
Chapter 1
I was sent back to my biological parents with
nothing but a backpack and my service dog,
Buddy.
Just because the fake daughter said she
wanted dog meat dumplings for the Lantern
Festival, they killed Buddy and threw him in
the pot.
I flipped the table, turning the mansion into a
disaster zone.
Mom looked at me, full of disappointment.
“Don’t you know your sister has depression?
It’s rare for her to be happy, and you’re
Dad gave me a cold stare. “You’re a psycho. I
regret bringing you back.”
The fake daughter, Chloe, with red–rimmed
eyes, pushed the fragrant meat soup towards
- me. “Don’t blame Ashley, Mom and Dad.
Since she liked the dog so much, I’ll give it
back to her.”
I laughed.
They didn’t know Chloe’s depression was
fake, but my crazy was real.
1
Buddy was gone.
My Labrador, who usually bounded over to
great me didn’t come when I called
く
greet me, didn’t come when I called.
I clenched my fists. Buddy was my certified
service dog.
He was the only thing the psych ward found
that could keep my behavior in check.
Without Buddy, I’d be back to the way I was
in the hospital…
I thought about the doctors, nurses, and
patients, their horrified screams when I had
episodes. I covered my ears with my hands,
my whole body trembling uncontrollably.
No… I couldn’t lose Buddy… I didn’t want to
be seen as a monster again. I wanted to be
normal!
I tirelessly searched the mansion, a place I’d
lived in for six months but still felt alien to
- me.
Bedroom, nothing.
Utility room, nothing.
Backyard, nothing…
Slamming the last door shut, I struggled to
control my strength.
I pinched myself, forcing myself to regain
composure, and shakily opened the
surveillance app on my phone.
After leaving the hospital, I had installed a
tracker on Buddy’s collar, just in case.
く
But the live feed was black, and the history
required the memory card to access.
A terrible premonition grew in my heart. I
started biting my nails uncontrollably.
Just as I was about to go out and put up lost
dog posters, Chloe walked in.
She was dressed like the perfect little angel,
a sweet, innocent smile on her face.
But when she looked at me, her eyes were
laced with venom.
I was used to this. I walked past her without
stopping.
Chloe called out to me. “Ashley, where are
L
you going? It’s Lantern Festival, Mom, Dad,
and I are making dumplings.”
“The filling is special. You should join us.”
I replied coldly, “No thanks, I don’t celebrate.”
“It’s a feast, you’ll regret missing it.” Chloe’s
tone was suggestive.
My heart skipped a beat. I felt a sense of
unease.
But the urgency to find Buddy overwhelmed
- me. I quickly left the house.
When I returned after putting up the posters,
the lights were on inside, the windows fogged
with steam.
く
Mom, Dad, and Chloe were sitting at the
dining table, laughing and chatting.
Chloe saw me and waved, her smile bright.
“Ashley, come eat dumplings! They’re
delicious.”
Mom gave me a reproachful look. “Where
have you been? Chloe saved a big portion for
you.”
I frowned, about to refuse, when Chloe held
up a bowl.
“I’ve been busy all afternoon, the dog meat
stew is perfectly tender. Are you sure you
don’t want to try some?”
Dog meat.
く
I froze, wondering if I was hallucinating.
My eyes moved mechanically across the
table, landing on Chloe’s face.
A nightmarish thought took hold.
I tried to find a crack in her expression.
“Where’s Buddy?”
Chloe blinked innocently. “You mean the dog?
He’s right here.”
I stared at the bowl of fragrant, white
dumplings bobbing in the broth, my head
spinning.
“I wanted dog meat dumplings this morning,
so Mom and Dad helped me take care of the
L
“There’s plenty left in the freezer. We can
have dog meat hot pot tomorrow.”
Chloe continued chattering, like a demon
whispering in my ear.
I suddenly knocked the bowl from her hand,
ignoring the cries behind me, and ran to the
kitchen.
Inside the freezer, the only place I hadn’t
checked, lay large chunks of bloody red meat.
Bones and flesh were frosted with ice.
There was even a strand of fur that hadn’t
been removed, Buddy’s color.
I doubled over, vomiting uncontrollably.
