Burned at the Stake

My soul quickly left my body and floated around the crematorium. It was a small one with a few staff members slacking off. All of a sudden, my soul was dragged back to my family.Mom sorted through Grandma's belongings and started berating me. "That damn Natalie, looks like all those years of study were totally pointless! I should've sold her off when she was young. At least she'd be of some use!"She pulled out the money Grandma had saved for my tuition from the bottom of a box and handed it to Yvonne like she was a princess."Vonnie, here's some pocket money for you."Dad frowned when he heard this, but in the end, he didn't say a word.Even in death, I was burdened with a crime I didn't commit. I stood nearby, crying with grievance.I wanted to tell everyone that it wasn't me. It really wasn't me! Grandma had heart disease, and every day I made sure she took her medicine properly. But that day, when her heart condition flared up, the pills she usually took had turned into

After smashing my box and shouting threats, Mom still didn't see me. She was on the verge of going crazy and trashed everything in my room in a rage.When Dad walked in and saw the mess, he was startled."I want to see how long she can keep this up!" Mom shouted.She was sure I had no money and would have to come home to steal some. So, she pulled Dad to hide in the corner of the room and wait.Sure enough, in the middle of the night, a shadowy figure crept into the room.Mom flipped on the light, ready to lunge forward. But the moment she saw clearly who it was, her raised hand froze midair.Dad frowned. "Vonnie, why are you stealing money?"Before he could scold her further, Mom wrapped her arms around Yvonne. "Stealing? What stealing? My money is Vonnie's money! She's entitled to it!"My precious girl, if you ever need money, just tell me. Don't follow that little wretch of a sister of yours."Yvonne pouted and snuggled into her arms like she had nothing to fear. "Mom, I'm

"Vonnie, why do you have...""Enough!"Mom cut Dad off and stepped forward, gritting her teeth. "I did it. Everything! I was the one who switched your mother's medicine."Upon hearing that, Dad's vision went black. He had to hold onto the table just to keep himself from collapsing. He was so furious that he couldn't even speak.I was stunned too. I'd considered countless possibilities about Grandma's medicine, but never did I imagine the one who switched it would be Mom.Holding her chin high, Mom spoke with righteous indignation. "Your mother had heart disease. She wasn't going to live long anyway! And those special meds of hers? One bottle costs as much as our monthly expenses!"You're the only breadwinner, and there are six mouths to feed. Do you think it's been easy for me all these years?"Seeing Dad's face grow darker, Mom threw out her classic excuse, "Jonathan, everything I did was for this family!"Every time, no matter the situation, as long as she said those words, D

Seeing Mom remain silent, Yvonne snapped impatiently. "Say something! Didn't you say you'd always protect me?"Disappointment filled Mom's eyes, but she still turned to Dad and pleaded, "Jonathan, everything is my fault. Nat is already gone, but Vonnie is still so young. Her life shouldn't be ruined because of this."Please, beg the police for mercy. If someone has to die, let it be me. Just me, okay?"Dad sighed deeply and slowly pushed her hand away. "If I keep covering for Vonnie, then her life would truly be ruined. People must pay the price for what they've done."As Mom and Yvonne were taken away by the police, Dad and Grandpa began gathering Grandma's ashes and mine.Dad, wiping his tears, picked out a small urn for me. Just a few days ago, I was still sweetly calling him "Dad". But now, here I was—inside this little urn, so small, so light.Before the burial, he wanted to say a few more words to me. But urns couldn't talk back.Dad cried until he passed out and only wo