The Girl that No-one See

Call Back

The Competition Hall was slowly emptying.

Families laughed together as they carried paintings and certificates towards the car park. Cameras flashed one last time while teachers congratulated the winners.

Sienna stood quietly by the entrance, her crystal trophy tucked carefully under one arm.

Her phone vibrated.

Dad Calling...

She answered immediately.

"Dad?"

"Sienna."

Relief flooded through her.

"Dad... are you and Mum okay? I've been trying to call you."

"We're fine."

"I'm sorry we couldn't make it."

She closed her eyes briefly.

"What happened?"

Alexander sighed.

"Willow became distressed."

"She said she couldn't cope with the winter."

"So your mother and I decided to take her somewhere warmer."

"We collected Jordan from school and drove straight to the airport."

There was a long silence.

Sienna looked at the four empty seats inside the hall.

"You promised."

"I know."

"You both promised."

"We did."

"I kept looking at the doors."

"I thought you'd walk in."

Alexander remained quiet.

"I'm sorry."

Sienna took a shaky breath.

"Dad...do you even care"

Her voice trembled—not with tears this time, but with hurt.

"I'm your daughter too."

The words hung heavily between them.

"I know you are."

"Do you?"

Another silence.

"Because it doesn't feel like it."

"My grandparents couldn't come because Gramps broke his foot."

"I understood that."

"But you and Mum chose not to come again."

Alexander didn't answer.

"I've won this competition for the fifth year in a row."

"My art teacher was there."

"Kristopher was there."

"His friends were there."

"Even families I'd never met stayed to congratulate me."

She swallowed hard.

"But every time the doors opened..."

"I was hoping it would be you."

Her voice cracked.

"I wasn't asking you to choose between Willow and me."

"I just wanted you to keep your promise. Do you hate me that much."

On the other end of the call, Alexander finally spoke.

"I didn't realise you felt like that."

Sienna gave a quiet, bitter laugh.

"I don't think you've realised how I've felt for a very long time."

There was another long silence.

Then Pearl-May's voice came onto the phone.

"Sienna..."

"I'm so sorry."

"I really thought we'd still make it."

Sienna wiped away a tear.

"Mum, you know you wasn't gonna come if your already at the airport"

"I know Willow was upset."

"I'm not angry that you wanted to help her."

"I'm angry because whenever i have something happen..."

"I'm always the one that's expected to understand."

She took a deep breath.

"I understand when you miss my competitions."

"I understand when work comes first."

"I understand when Willow needs attention."

"I understand when Jordan has appointments."

She looked down at the trophy in her hands.

"But does anyone ever stop and understand me? Am i not important enough to make a priority for once "

Pearl-May couldn't find the words.

"I just..."

Sienna whispered.

"I wanted my mum and dad to see me win."

The silence on the other end was deafening.

Finally, Pearl-May spoke through tears.

"We've let you down."

"Yes."

Sienna's answer was gentle...

...but honest.

"You have.I am used to is"

She closed her eyes.

"I love you both. but i am not gonna stay where i am not wanted."

"Because today really broke my heart more because you promised."

After a few moments, still on the phone

Kristopher had waited nearby without listening.

When she looked up, he could see the tears in her eyes.

"You okay?"

Sienna shook her head.

"No."

Then she looked at the trophy she had worked so hard to earn.

"do not think i will be again"

Kristopher nodded.

"You don't have to carry this on your own anymore."

Without another word, they walked out of the Competition Hall together into the cold December afternoon.

For the first time...

Sienna had finally told her parents how invisible they had made her feel.

She stared at the screen for a moment before taking a deep breath.

"I... I need some time."

Pearl-May's voice came quickly through the phone.

"Sienna, please don't hang up."

"I love you."

"Love is not enough anymore."

Her voice was calm, but heavy with hurt.

"I just need some time to myself."

Before either of her parents could say anything else, she gently ended the call.

For several seconds, she simply stood there, holding her trophy against her chest.

Kristopher walked over quietly.

"Sea?"

She looked at him, her blue eyes red from holding back tears.

"I think I'm going to walk home."

Kristopher frowned.

"I'll drive you."

She shook her head.

"No."

"It's a long walk."

"I know."

"I just..."

She looked towards the sea beyond the school grounds.

"I need to clear my head."

Kristopher hesitated.

"I don't think you should be alone."

She managed a small smile.

"I won't be."

She lifted her trophy slightly.

"I've got five years of hard work keeping me company."

He couldn't help smiling, even though his heart ached for her.

"That wasn't funny enough to hide how upset you are."

She gave a weak laugh.

"I know."

William, Josh and Paul walked over, immediately noticing the change in her expression.

"What happened?" William asked gently.

Sienna shook her head.

"My parents aren't coming."

"They're already on their at the airport."

The three boys exchanged disappointed looks.

Josh muttered quietly,

"They missed this?"

Paul sighed.

"They have no idea what they've just missed."

William stepped forward.

"If you need anything..."

"...anything at all..."

"You call us."

Sienna smiled gratefully.

"Thank you."

Kristopher wasn't ready to let her leave.

"Sea..."

She looked at him.

"I'll walk with you."

She thought for a moment before gently shaking her head.

"No."

"I need to do this by myself."

He could see she had already made up her mind.

"Okay."

"But promise me one thing."

"What?"

"When you get home..."

"Text me."

"So I know you're safe."

She nodded.

"I promise."

Kristopher opened his arms.

Without saying a word, Sienna stepped forward and hugged him tightly.

He hugged her back just as tightly.

"You deserved better today," he whispered.

She closed her eyes.

"Do I?"

After a few moments, she let go.

With her trophy in one hand and her certificate tucked under her arm, Sienna walked slowly out of the Competition Hall.

The winter wind caught her short black hair as she stepped onto the coastal path leading towards Hart Estate.

Behind her, Kristopher remained standing on the school steps, watching until she disappeared from sight.

For the first time since they were children...

He couldn't protect her from the hurt she was carrying.

All he could do...

...was be there when she was ready to let someone in again.

The walk from Windlong Hart Academy to Hart Estate felt much longer than it ever had before.

The winter wind blew in from the sea, cold enough to sting her cheeks.

Sienna barely noticed.

She walked in silence, her crystal trophy tucked carefully under one arm and her certificate clutched in the other.

Tears streamed down her face.

She didn't try to wipe them away.

Every step echoed with the words she had finally said to her parents.

"I'm your daughter too."

She had never spoken to them like that before.

She wondered if she had done the right thing.

As the grand white gates of Hart Estate came into view, covered in climbing red roses, she took a deep breath and tried to compose herself.

Before she could step through the entrance, one of the security guards held up a hand.

"Excuse me, miss."

Sienna stopped.

"I'm sorry, but the estate is closed to visitors."

She blinked in surprise.

"I... I live here."

The guard looked her up and down.

She was wearing her winter coat, carrying a large trophy and looked exhausted from the long walk.

"I'm afraid I don't recognise you."

"My name is Sienna Hart."

"The Hart family are away," the guard replied politely.

"They instructed us not to admit anyone without confirmation."

Another guard stepped over.

"Do you have any identification?"

Sienna searched her pockets.

Her school ID was still in her blazer, which she had left in her locker after the competition.

She looked back up, her voice trembling.

"I forgot it."

The guards exchanged uncertain glances.

"We're sorry, miss."

"But without identification or confirmation from Mr. or Mrs. Hart, we can't let you onto the estate."

Sienna stared at the mansion in the distance.

It was her home.

Her bedroom overlooked the cliffs.

Every path and garden on the estate was familiar.

Yet...

She couldn't even get through the front gate.

She slowly lowered her head.

"It's okay."

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

"I understand."

She sat down on the cold stone step beside the gate, carefully placing her trophy on her lap.

The crystal caught the fading afternoon sunlight, sparkling brilliantly.

A symbol of everything she had achieved.

And yet...

At that moment...

Sienna had never felt so invisible.

Tears rolled silently down her cheeks as she hugged the trophy close, waiting alone outside the gates of the home she wasn't allowed to enter.

Sienna walked away from the estate gates until she reached the grass verge beside the road.

She sat down on the cold kerb, resting her crystal trophy carefully beside her.

The grand white gates, wrapped in red roses, stood only a few metres away.

So close to home...

Yet impossibly far away.

She wrapped her arms around her knees and stared out towards the sea.

The tears she'd been holding back finally came.

Not loud sobs.

Just silent tears that ran steadily down her face.

The afternoon traffic passed by, but no one stopped.

A cold breeze lifted strands of her short black hair.

Then...

Her phone began to ring.

Kristopher Moussaka

She looked at his name on the screen.

She knew why he was calling.

He wanted to make sure she was safe.

She couldn't answer.

Not yet.

Her thumb hovered over the screen before she pressed Decline.

The phone fell silent.

Only for a few seconds.

It rang again.

Kristopher Calling...

Another tear rolled down her cheek.

"I'm sorry, Kris..." she whispered.

"I just can't."

She declined the call again.

Moments later...

It rang for a third time.

She closed her eyes tightly.

"I know you're worried."

"But I need to be on my own."

Once again...

She pressed Decline.

The phone became quiet.

A few seconds later, it vibrated with a message.

«Kristopher: Sea, please just let me know you're safe. You promised you'd text me. I don't care where you are—I'll come and get you.»

Sienna read the message three times.

Fresh tears blurred the words.

She wanted to reply.

She really did.

But right now...

She didn't know what to say.

She locked her phone and placed it beside her on the grass.

The only sounds were the crashing waves below the cliffs...

...and the quiet, heartbreaking silence of a fifteen-year-old girl sitting outside the gates of the place she called home, feeling as though there wasn't anywhere she truly belonged