14th Excerpt of Ellory

Ellen Effy Su. January 4, 2026.

Hearing and seeing zero response from Vivian, Ellory called her dad and asked to meet next to the Alice in Wonderland statue. She felt a long stroll would calm her down. 

Ellory grew angrier as she thought about her dad cheating on her mum repeatedly. She called him a whore in her mind. She finally let it out when he approached her fifteen minutes later than 3 PM, which was their planned meeting time. He was nearly always late to family outings.

“Why did you have a child if you didn’t want to be a parent? You're always calling me selfish when it's you who abandoned me first. I wanted to be your daughter. You never wanted to be my father.” 

Ellory didn’t intend to sound so harsh, but her years of angst built up a fire.

Surprisingly, her father kept cool. He was getting used to being interrogated by women. The women he slept with never stayed for morning coffee. The woman he married couldn’t bear to look at him anymore. The young woman he watched grow up from a distance looked more and more like the girl he married. He was proud of Ellory for being his equal. 

“I didn't know how to be a good father after losing Sfera. It was easier to leave you with your mother. I am sorry. I know the money doesn't erase the pain, but I wanted you to have everything I didn't have when I was young. I made your life possible because my childhood was painful. You didn't suffer anything that I did. I thought you were happy.”

“I wanted to have a father who held my hand in the park, who laced up my skates, who cared about my recitals, who encouraged my passions, who learned my favorite color, and I wanted my dad to be in love with my mother. Why did you marry Mommy if you couldn't love her forever?” 

“Baby, it's not that simple. I did love your mother. I was in love with her. We were in love once. I supported you in the best way I could. I wasn't there physically, but I always cared. Your favorite color is seafoam blue, and your favorite flower is purple peony. Your favorite color to wear is lilac because it was Sfera's favorite. You wear the same perfume she wore the day she died. You wear her clothes to pretend like she's still around. I see her in you. You two have the same almond-shaped eyes, the same hair, and the same anger. I forgot how to be your father. I wanted to be there for you. I tried. I'm sorry I gave up on you and your mother. I should've tried harder. I shouldn't have left or gotten drunk.” 

“Daddy, do you know the story behind this scar? It's on my left thumb, next to the line across the middle of my finger.” 

“Knife cut?” 

“A glass shard lodged itself there when I tried picking up the broken glass pieces you threw at me. I was 7, Father. I was scared and needed you to sober up.” 

“I didn't know you still remembered your childhood vividly. I wasn't acting right. I haven't drunk in three years. I'm thankful you lied to the doctor in the ER. You protected me even after I hurt you. It was an accident. I thought you were a ghost. I was seeing images of Sfera everywhere. I was going crazy, and nobody could save me. My wife didn't love me. I had no one.” 

“You had me, Dad. I would've protected you innumerable times. You're the only father I have. I never believed Mum when she claimed you were a bastard cheater. I wanted to dislike Mummy for insulting you, but I was never sure of anything. I wanted you two to be normal again. I deserved a happy ending. I dreamed of seeing you in love with Mummy. I thought I could get my family back. I never saw you happy, no matter how I tried to make you smile.” 

“You're not responsible for Mummy and me. We respect each other. We care for each other. We are loyal to each other. So, we don't laugh anymore. That could change. I can change that. I did cheat once, physically. It made me feel searing pain for betraying myself. I never made it up to her. She stayed with me for our child. I guess we didn't make it happy. I want to change us. I need to change us.” 

“I miss our home. I don't think we ever recovered. I miss my sister. I miss our life together. I would do anything to get it back. I think you drank to hallucinate her.” 
“You're smarter than people give you credit for. I'm the only one who ever truly believed in you. Your mother thinks she's an untouchable God. She blamed Sfera’s death on me whenever I brought it up. She said I was too strict to know her secrets. I should've been a better father when I had the chance. I couldn't argue back. I knew I made mistakes. I wanted my daughter to be alive. I never thought I'd see her corpse hanging from our living room ceiling. I never imagined it. I always wanted her to be happy.” 

“It was an accident. You shouldn't have destroyed yourself afterward. I still needed my father. You lived like a zombie, eating wafers, crisps, and instant noodles for months on end at your office. You lost weight. Your cheeks were hollow like your eyes. You scared me. I thought you were going to die, too.” 

“I am sorry. I love you, and I knew that you would forgive me someday because I’m your father. I hope we can become closer. I missed out on years of your life. I’d like to be a better dad.” 

“I love you too, Dad. We will get through this. You’re my hero.”
“Do you want to get sushi tonight? I can make a reservation at Izakaya.”

“Sorry, I can’t! Let’s go tomorrow night. I have to check on a girl who is staying at my apartment for a little while. She hasn’t responded to my messages for hours. I’m getting worried. She doesn’t know anyone else in New York.”

“Oh, sounds urgent. Go ahead and call her.”

Ring. 

“Hi Ellory!” 

“Vivian, where are you? I’m about to come home right now. I’m in Central Park, walking with my dad. I’ll be back in ten minutes, not even.” 

“I am watching TV in the living room. I went for a quick run earlier. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.” 

“Awesome! I am so happy to hear your voice. Make yourself a snack if you’re hungry. I thought something bad had happened. See you soon.” 

“Yeah, I’m fine. Eating an orange now. I’ll text you next time I go out.” 

“All good. Alright, bye.” 

“Bye.” 
“She picked up on the first call. Thank God. I wonder why she didn’t text me or call earlier. Today is only her third day in New York. She came all the way from Tokyo.” 

“Ellory, do you think it’s wise for you to be housing a stranger whom you barely know? Look, it’s only been a couple of days, and there was almost an incident. You shouldn’t be responsible for another adult.”

“Dad, you don’t understand. I’m trying to help her create a new life. It only has to make sense to me. I promise it’s going to work out.” 

“Okay, Ella. I trust you. Maybe let loose a bit. You don’t need to be watching over her every second.” 

“I’m her only friend here. I have to make sure she’s safe.” 

“See you tomorrow. Get home safe, baby.” 

“You too. Are you going back to Mum’s?” 

“Of course. Your mother has decided to forgive me one last time. She let me move back in!” 

“Be good to her,” Ellory whispered as she kissed her father’s right cheek. 

She began the short trek home. She walked for 8 minutes before arriving home. The doorman opened the door for her.
Another doorman pressed the “16” button in the elevator for her. 

She walked a few steps before standing in front of her door. She turned her key and pulled the door open. She wasn’t sure what she would be walking into. 

As she slipped off her On Cloud sneakers, she called out Vivian’s name. 

“Vivian? I’m home. How are you?” 

“Ellory, I’m here. Stop worrying. I’m fine.” 

“Good. You ought to let me know where you’re going. I’m responsible for your safety.”

“How was your walk? Did you have a good talk with your dad?” 

“It went well. Did you eat?” 

“I had the orange. I was waiting for you.”

“I think I said we could get sushi for dinner, but I’m in the mood for noodle soup at home. I don’t feel like walking outside again.” 

“Sure, we have udon, eggs, pork, scallions, garlic, miso paste, chili oil, sesame paste, enoki mushrooms, and we can make a good soup. I’ll get started prepping the ingredients,” Vivian pulled the food from the fridge and placed each ingredient into a small white bowl.

She added a quart of water to a pot, then added one tablespoon of miso paste, another of soy sauce, a half tablespoon of mirin, a teaspoon of sesame and chili oil, one teaspoon of sesame paste, and waited for it to boil. 

She slowly set the udon noodles into the bubbling liquid. She chose to skip salt and pepper. The sauces would provide sufficient seasoning. 

She added sliced scallion, crushed garlic, enoki mushrooms, and cracked two eggs after the mushrooms were ready to eat.

She ladled the poached eggs into a separate bowl before using chopsticks to lift the noodles into two deep bowls. She poured a cup of soup into each bowl. She set the poached egg on top and added scallions and crushed garlic to garnish. 

“It tastes wonderful,” Ellory took a small sip of the hearty broth and chewed on a noodle. 

“Thank you, Vivian. This is really good.”

“I’m happy to hear you like it! I used to cook for myself after my parents died. It was soothing, like part of my mother lived on in me. It feels like a lifetime ago.” 

“I love how noodle soup reminds you of a warm hug. Your mother would want you to be happy.” 

“Let’s go on a jog tomorrow morning. Central Park is beautiful. I’ve never seen New York before. I’m glad you picked me from a list of girls. You are good, and you do good.” 

“Vivian, you belong here. This is a reset. You’ll never be alone again. I’m with you, always.”

“I love you. You’re the best thing that’s happened to me.”

“Haha, I love you, too. Let’s watch The Parent Trap. It’s an American classic.”

“Sure, I might fall asleep, though. Long day.”

Ellory and Vivian were soundly sleeping on the blue couch when the film played halfway.