Chapter 3

Elliot's POV

"But when Mel heard you'd jumped off the building, she turned back and took you to the hospital," Noah said. "You were lucky. The huge umbrella over the fruit stand below broke your fall, and you landed in the bushes beside it."

He sighed quietly. "But Mel screwed the deals up twice in a row. She got fired."

My breathing stopped, and I began stuttering, "N-Noah, I didn't know—"

How could I convince him that I truly wanted to end it all so I could end their misery?

Noah's eyes were as soulless as a puppet's when he cut me off. "What's the point of saying anything now? Mel's lost everything."

After dropping me home, he needed to head back to school. The SAT was around the corner.

Before leaving, his soulless eyes finally glistened with tears. "Mel gave up her job to save you, while I used my study time to bring you home. The world sure revolves around you, doesn't it, Elliot?"

I lay on the bed. Once he left, I cried until my blanket was wet.

…

I didn't know how to make up for my mistakes. It was Melanie's birthday today, so I spent the little money I had left on a piece of cake. I told the worker to write "Happy Birthday, Mel" on it.

By the time I arrived home, it was dark. Melanie sat on the couch without the lights on. When she saw the cake and the words on it, she looked taken aback.

I looked at her. "Mel, I'm sorry—"

"What's the use of an apology now?"

I was suddenly put in a chokehold, and the next second, I was slammed into the wall. This was the first time Melanie had gotten physical with me. I didn't know she was this strong.

Air was running out of my lungs.

"Why were you such a glutton? Why did you have to have that damn cake? I was doing things that I loved and having a great life with Mom and Dad. Now, I've lost them, my job, and everything I wanted!"

It wasn't until then that I saw the countless photos of Melanie with Mom and Dad since her birth covering the coffee table. The smiles on their faces were contagious.

I couldn't help but think of the last time I saw their faces. They were smiling, saying they would make a U-turn to get me the cake I wanted.

Tears fell onto the back of Melanie's hand. She clenched her jaw. "Just die. Everything will get better if you just die."

I slowly let go of the hands I had been wanting to pry away. At that moment, her arms stiffened. After a long while, she slowly released the grip around my neck.

I plunged to the floor, hacking as I raised my eyes to her. I could barely see her face in the dark, but a few tears dripped onto the floor.

"I'll buy you all the cakes from all around the city," she muttered flatly. "In return, can you give me back Mom and Dad?"

…

After that, Melanie never looked after me again. When Noah came home from school, he had to study and comfort our depressed sister on top of everything else.

Nobody gave me any money. Nobody cooked enough food for me anymore. Even when I wanted to take a shower, someone would turn off the water before it was my turn.

Noah and Melanie stopped responding to what I said. Everyone was quietly shutting me out.

I regretted it so much. That day, I should've picked an angle that wouldn't have landed me on the fruit stand. Melanie was right. Everyone would be happier if I were dead.

But I knew I had to do things right even after my death. Otherwise, once people found out I was Melanie's brother, they would come looking for her. What if I caused her trouble again?

The day I left home, Noah happened to be heading out. Seeing that I was carrying a bundle of my belongings, he simply stared at me and let me go.

From then on, I carried a garbage bag around and rummaged through trash piles wherever I went.

When I was hungry, I ate whatever leftovers other people had thrown away. When I was tired, I slept in abandoned schools and factories or beneath bridges.

After a while, I knew every trash can in the city by heart. Little by little, I learned how not to go starving.

Nevertheless, it still wasn't enough. I needed to save up enough money to pay for a body removal service so professionals would take care of everything once I died.