Chapter 4

Charlie's POV

Dad turned to Declan, who was sitting there silently in fear, and said gently, "Charlie won't need those injections anymore, Declan. You don't have to keep pretending to be sick. You and Charlie can both put the wheelchairs aside and live like normal kids again. What do you think, Declan?"

Declan's eyes instantly lit up as he nodded eagerly. "Is it true? Do we really not have to stay in wheelchairs anymore?"

Upon seeing how happy Declan was, Mom finally nodded reluctantly and said, "Yes."

She quickly added, "I'm mostly doing this out of pity for Declan. That brat Charlie is completely hopeless, as far as I'm concerned."

Dad smiled helplessly, let the matter drop, and ushered everyone to the dining table. "Let's have dinner now. I'll go get Charlie."

Mom stopped him and snapped, "Why bother calling him? He doesn't deserve to eat since he's learned to deceive people! He should just go hungry tonight!"

Dad let out a sigh, sat back down at the table helplessly, and dropped the subject.

I hovered to the side, watching Mom serve Declan food with care. I watched the relieved smiles on Dad's and Declan's faces and the heartwarming scene of the three of them as a family.

I felt a sharp pang in my chest, leaving it aching and bitter. I wouldn't have to get those injections or use a wheelchair from now on, but it didn't really matter as I was already dead.

I looked down at my translucent hands and squeezed them lightly. I couldn't grip anything at all.

…

Late at night, the living room was entirely dark, and both Mom and Dad had gone back to their rooms.

It was then that my bedroom door was quietly cracked open. It was Declan.

He slid a small piece of cake wrapped in a napkin through the gap and whispered, "You didn't have dinner tonight, so I brought you this, Charlie. It's the blueberry cupcake Mom bought me. It's really good."

There was no response in the room. Declan probably thought I was asleep, so he gently closed the door and returned to his bedroom.

I looked at the cupcake on the floor and whispered to myself, "Thank you, Declan…"

The following morning, just as dawn was breaking, Dad and Mom packed their suitcases, getting ready to head out on a long trip with Declan.

Mom helped Declan into his coat and said gently, "We're going to spend the next few days at Grandma and Grandpa's place. Grandma has even prepared your favorite ham hock soup, Declan."

Declan sensibly tugged Mom's sleeve and asked softly, "I-Is Charlie not coming with us?"

Mom paused what she was doing and said nothing, her expression darkening.

Dad furrowed his brow and asked hesitantly, "Do you really think it's fine for us to leave Charlie alone while we're gone for two days? He's still in a wheelchair. What if something happens to him while he's home alone?"

Mom suddenly raised her voice, speaking with absolute certainty. "Charlie is already ten years old! What could possibly happen to him? You seem to have forgotten something. He's been off his medication for a month now, so his legs healed a long time ago!

"He's been sitting in that wheelchair every day this past month just to put on an act for us! He doesn't pick up good habits at such a young age, and only learned how to deceive people!"

I hovered by their side, anxious to explain myself. "It's not like that, Mom… I wasn't faking it. I didn't receive those injections, but my legs still couldn't move. I-I really wasn't lying…"

My voice was nothing more than a weightless murmur, incapable of disturbing even the slightest ripple in the air.

Mom, Dad, and Declan neither heard me nor saw me.

Dad sighed helplessly, a flicker of worry flashing across his eyes.

Mom, on the other hand, quickly packed everything up and pulled Declan along, preparing to leave.

Dad took a few bills out of his wallet before leaving, set them on the dining table, and weighed them down with a teacup.

He then went over to my bedroom door and knocked gently. "Your mother and I are taking Declan out for a couple of days, Charlie, so be good by yourself at home. There's money on the dining table, and Aunt Jackie will bring you some food in a little while."