Chapter 2

My soul slowly drifted out of my body, hovering blankly in midair.

Did I… just die?

So death was this light. I didn't feel the slightest trace of pain.

Right then, the top student in our grade, Rachel White, carefully pushed through the crowd and hurried over to Mom, clutching her own medicine box in her hand.

"Ms. Lodge, we all brought our meds. I don't need mine, so I can give this to Penelope. She seems like she—"

Before she could finish, Mom cut her off, her voice cold.

"Don't indulge her! She's obviously faking it. Ever since she was little, she would start whining about her allergies the moment she felt a bit off—it's just an excuse to get out of chores and things. I saw through her act years ago!"

Rachel didn't want to give up so easily. She stepped a little closer. "But Penelope isn't moving at all, and she's so pale. What if something really has happened to her?"

Mom immediately threw an arm out to block her.

"Don't go over there! There's pollen everywhere. What if you end up having an allergy attack, too?"

With that, she swept a glance over my motionless body on the ground, the corner of her lips curling into a mocking smile.

"Look at her, lying there all still and stiff. It's obvious this is part of her act. Everyone, ignore her. Go back to what you were doing. She'll be fine after lying there for a bit."

Honestly, this was what Mom had always been like.

When I wheezed from allergies so badly I could barely breathe, she acted like she didn't see it. When I actually passed out, she didn't bother to check on me. Only when I finally came around on my own would she look at me frostily and ask if I was done putting on a show.

Around us, my classmates slung their backpacks over their shoulders and headed up the hill in small groups, chatting as they went. Not a single one of them looked down at me lying there on the ground. As they walked past, they even paused just long enough to crack jokes.

"Man, Princess Penny is still lying there. Does she think she's a sleeping beauty or something?"

"She thinks so highly of herself. Newsflash, sweetheart—nobody cares about you!"

I hovered in the air, watching the disdain, gloating, and amusement flicker across their faces. Inside, I felt numb and hollow. Not even the faintest ripple stirred in my heart.

My gaze drifted, almost against my will, to Mom's hand, which clasped Rachel's tightly. That hand looked warm, steady, and protective.

Before, a sight like that might have made me feel bitter or stirred up jealousy. But now, all I felt was a bone-deep chill and a strange sense of relief.