LOGINThat night, Mom packed everything and returned to the basement where we used to live.She retrieved my body from the authorities.After the cremation, the small, fragile version of me became something even smaller, sealed inside a simple urn.She placed it carefully into a sturdy backpack, along with the heavy wish book, and left the city.No one knew where she went.Maybe she found a real forest somewhere far away.Maybe she stood by the edge of a vast ocean.She moved like a wounded bird, carrying scars that would never heal and a promise too heavy to bear, disappearing into the crowd.As for me, my soul didn’t follow her.For some reason, I remained trapped in the rooftop storage room where I had died.A month passed.One quiet night, thick smoke suddenly filled the air.Then came a fierce red glow.Fire.Panic hit me.The house was on fire.I rushed downward.He was inside, holding Lucas, who had already lost consciousness, crawling toward the door through the flames.But the sofa
Mom went with the police to the station.My body was sent for an autopsy.The report came back quickly.“Based on the condition of the pupils, oral cavity, lividity, and the toxicology results, the estimated time of death is around six p.m. the previous day. Cause of death is acute poisoning due to excessive medication intake.”The medical examiner’s voice was calm, almost detached, echoing through the room.Every word landed like heavy ice, slamming into Mom’s already shattered heart.“Poisoning?”She covered her ears, shaking her head, repeating the same phrases over and over.“You little monster. Haven’t I done enough for you? Why would you hurt your brother?“I’ve had enough of this. Why aren’t you dead yet?“I killed my daughter. I’m the murderer. Please, arrest me.”The case wasn’t fully resolved yet, and Mom was still considered a suspect, so she was held overnight.But by the next day, the investigators had pieced everything together.“Sophia, based on your home surveillance fo
The wind on the rooftop was fierce, nearly knocking Mom off balance.She stumbled forward, half-running, half-crawling, until she reached the storage room.I rushed ahead, trying to block the door, shouting desperately, “Mom, don’t open it. It’ll scare you.”“Please, don’t!”The unlocked door was yanked open.Her scream tore through the air.Her eyes locked onto the small figure curled up among the scattered wooden boards.Blue pants with tiny stars.“Chloe!” she screamed, throwing herself forward.But the moment she got close enough to see clearly, she froze.My skin was no longer its usual pale.It had turned a strange grayish blue.My lips were dark purple, slightly parted, with traces of vomit tinged with blood at the corners.The violent spasms from the medication had left my body twisted in an unnatural curl.“That’s not Chloe. You’re not my Chloe…”Mom collapsed backward, her chest heaving.Dad arrived, holding Lucas.He took one look and quickly covered Lucas’s eyes.But Lucas
Mom’s eyes turned sharp as blades as she snapped, “Your kid is the one who’s dead!”The man clearly hadn’t expected that reaction.He froze for a second, then shot back, annoyed, “Who are you cursing?”“Seriously, what’s wrong with you? I only came to ask because it looked like your daughter. I was trying to help.”The moment he said “daughter,” Mom became even more agitated.Usually gentle, she grabbed a chair nearby and was about to storm out to argue with him, but Dad quickly stopped her.“Calm down. He didn’t mean anything by it. He’s just asking.”I rushed over instinctively, trying to wrap my arms around her legs like I used to, hoping my small, desperate cling would calm her down.My hands passed right through her.My chest tightened.Ever since my diagnosis, the word “death” had become her greatest taboo.She had protected me like I was a fragile soap bubble.As if not saying it out loud could keep it from ever happening.A cold snort came from outside.“Fine. My mistake for tr
A loud crash suddenly came from outside the room.Then Lucas burst into tears.Mom immediately turned and rushed back to his room.He had fallen onto the floor. She scooped him up quickly, patting his back.“I’m sorry, Lucas. I shouldn’t have left you alone…”Her voice was full of panic and guilt.Under her soothing, his crying quieted, though he still sniffled.“Mom, sleep with me from now on. Don’t stay with Chloe, okay?”Mom let out a quiet sigh.It sounded like she had made a difficult decision.“She’s grown up. She can sleep on her own now.”My expression dimmed.Every night, after she tucked Lucas in, she would come to my room.She used to say she could only feel at ease when she heard me breathing.I had always selfishly believed her favoritism would last until the very end of my life.The thought made tears fall, but soon I smiled again.Because now, someone else could love her in my place.For a moment, Lucas even seemed a little cuter to me.Lucas, now that I’m gone, you have
He stood outside my door for a moment, listening, then knocked gently.“Chloe, it’s time for your medicine. I brought you some water.”No response.He knocked again.“The doctor said you have to take it on time if you want to get better.“Come on out. The water’s going to get cold.”I stood right beside him, reaching for the edge of his shirt.“Dad, I’m not in there. I can’t open the door. You should go rest.”He frowned slightly, his tone turning stern.“You’ve got quite the temper for someone your age.“Your mom has done so much for you. Try to be a little more understanding, okay?”I’ve always known that.Mom gave up everything for me.To get money for her brother's wedding, she had been forced into a marriage with a man she barely knew.Then I was born, and they discovered my genetic disorder.Everyone told her to give up on me.She refused.My biological father called her a fool. One night, he even tried to strangle me.Mom ran into the kitchen, grabbed a knife, and held it up at







