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The Death Timer

The Death Timer

Short Story · Emotional Realism
By:  Rainless DayCompleted
Language: English
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11Chapters
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Synopsis

Family Emotions

Remorse Family

Face Slapping

Bias

Hypocrisy

After Death

Familial Bond

Melodramatic

When our whole family saw the death timer for my sister will end on her sixteenth birthday, she became the most important person in the family. She suddenly took priority in everything, from food to dresses, and even bedtime stories. I felt for her, but I was also jealous that she was given everything. However, a day before her sixteenth birthday, my parents locked me up in the storeroom in fear that I would make a mess of things. I kept hammering the door, crying, "Mom, let me out! I'm having a fever, and my head hurts!" Mom didn't believe me. "Just stop! Your sister will die in just a day, and you're playing sick to gain our sympathy?! Don't you understand anything?!" "No…" I tried my best to argue, only to hear my parents comforting my sister. Eventually, my consciousness blurred, and I heard nothing…

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11 Chapters
Chapter 1
My body was suddenly weightless, and I could glimpse the warm light in the living room through the old door.My mother, Bea Chandler, was patting my sister's back.My father, Gio Fox, was hanging his head, his shoulders slumped.My sister, Stella Fox, was wearing the only new dress they bought—a pale blue gown sewn with tiny sparkling stars.They were sitting closely beside each other, but Stella's face remained deathly pale under the bright lights, her lips drained of all color."Is Tina really alright?" she asked softly and nasally. "I heard her crying that her head hurts…""Don't worry about her." Gio brushed it off nonchalantly."Exactly," Bea agreed, carefully fondling Stella's cheek and tidying her bangs. "She isn't sick—she's always pretending so that we'll worry about her, even though you only have one day left… "She trailed off, choking with tears just then. "You just focus on celebrating your birthday. Don't let her ruin your mood."Stella pursed her lips in silence
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Chapter 2
I was screaming just like those spoiled brats who would freak out at public places, and I still remembered how my parents looked at me.I didn't try to escape when Gio's slaps landed repeatedly, while Bea kept sobbing without stopping him.It was Stella who stopped him, running over and shielding me with her thin, frail body. "Stop, Dad!" she cried, her voice cracking. "It's all my fault… It's all my fault…"Later that night, she sneaked into the room and gave me a piece of candy she was hiding.I saw the red gash on her wrist, which she got when she shielded me."Sorry, Tina," she whispered just then, poking my swollen cheeks. "I'll be gone soon… And then no one will take anything from you.-In the living room, Bea lovingly touched Stella's cheek, her fingers brushing her bangs. "Don't worry about her, Stella," she said wearily. "That child has been jealous of you as soon as she learned to talk. You know that."I was stunned, but it was true.I was jealous of Stella for
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Chapter 3
Springing to his feet, Gio bellowed, "Why can't you understand, Tina?! Don't you know that your sister is sick?! She's going to…"He couldn't finish that sentence, so I still didn't understand.All I knew was that Stella always looked pale and coughed sometimes, and then our parents would look at her miserably.But I just didn't get it!"Why?! Why does Stella get everything?" I wailed, leaping off my chair and pointing at Stella. "Why won't you just die?! Give me everything! Give it back!"Stella's tears were gushing instantly, falling all over her plate.Her mouth was open, but no words came out.Bea then sprang to her feet and slapped me across the face—for the first time and very viciously.Stella ran over to protect me, but Bea caught her and shrieked, "She has to understand! She has to remember! She doesn't get to say anything she likes!"I still didn't understand, until the next day when I overheard our parents talking in the kitchen."Nine years…" Bea was sobbing."I
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Chapter 4
Pausing, Bea absentmindedly picked out the wooden splinters from the door as she continued, "It's Stella's final day. Just let her leave us happy, okay?"I floated in front of her and found her wiping her moist eyes so quickly that it was like she was afraid to get caught."After that, I'll cook your favorite grilled steak, okay? A whole plate, all yours…"She trailed off, her voice no more than a murmur. "I'll get you new dresses with bows—you've always wanted those right? And I'll take you to the amusement park, to ride the carousel and the other rides… You've always complained that your friends have been there but not you, right?"Her tears finally fell at that point, staining the old tiles of the hallway. "You can have anything you want, so just don't make a mess today, okay?"I reached out to wipe her tears but couldn't.As for Bea, she waited for a while, but hearing nothing but her silence, her misery faded and was replaced by rage.She stood up so quickly she wobbled a
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Chapter 5
As Wanda continued, her voice grew louder, "But what about Tina? Doesn't she have it tough too? What has she gotten from you ever since she was a child? Stella's old clothes! Stella's leftovers! Even the family affection she was supposed to have is given to Stella!""We're not…" Bea tried to argue, but her voice was meek and lacked confidence. Wanda continued just then, her voice cracking terribly. "They are both good children! But you two? As her parents, don't you feel like you owe Tina? Or does she not deserve any love? And now, you won't even let the sisters see each other one last time! "Tomorrow, Stella will be… gone, and Tina is supposed to be the baby sister treasured ever since they were kids! How is Stella supposed to leave now? Filled with regrets?!"Bea could only stay in her chair, hiding her face in her palms as her shoulder shook, "I-I just…" she murmured, her voice shuddering even through her fingers. "I just wanted Stella to be happy before she left us… I don't
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Chapter 6
Bemused, Bea released Stella as she blurted, "What do you mean, no?"When she tried to enter the storeroom, Gio suddenly reached out, stopping her."Just wait…" he said very softly, as if worried that he'd wake someone up.His back was against the light so I couldn't see his face, only his trembling shoulders.He stood still at the doorway, staring at the tiny body laying motionless in a corner.Stella craned her necks over Bea's back, her cheeks turning paler in the morning light."Tina?" Stella called out softly, her voice tentative but hopeful. "Do you hear me? I'm alright! I'm not going to die!"But I lay in the corner, motionless and not breathing.Bea's face stiffened, and Gio didn't stop her this time as she rushed inside, crouching beside me."Tina?" she reached out, rocking my shoulder.I swayed with her motion but otherwise remained limp.My eyes were closed, with my face facing the ceiling while my lips stayed purple."Tina?" Bea called out again—louder this time
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Chapter 7
Suddenly, Gio froze for a long while before collapsing to the floor, and he started to bawl like a child."She's gone!!!" he wailed, his voice so hoarse that it was unintelligible. "Tina's gone! Our Tina's gone!!!"Stella was still standing by the door, her whole body shaking as she leaned against the doorframe.She watched as her parents cried themselves hoarse, and then looked at the small cold body lying in a corner."Tina…" she murmured, her lips trembling.Then, her vision turned dark, and she collapsed limply."Stella!" Bea shrieked as she rushed over, managing to catch Stella before she fell.And with that, the entire house erupted in chaos.-It was already noon when Stella woke up. Bea was sitting by her bed, her eyes swollen red as she held her hand, breathing repeatedly, "Oh, you're alright, Stella… That's what matters…"Stella was staring at the ceiling for a long time and asked quietly, "Where's Tina?"Bea's tears were gushing again, falling all over Stella's
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Chapter 8
Wanda said quietly, "Let go, Gio. Let Tina lie down."Gio's hands were shaking, but he didn't let go."Mom…" he sniffed, his voice choking with tears. "Tina's not dead. She's just—""No, she's dead," Wanda said, cutting her short. "She died from a fever after you locked her up the whole night."Gio shuddered as if he was stabbed and was left shaking his head, his tears streaming. "N-No… I just wanted her to keep quiet… So she won't bother Stella… I really didn't know… She was sick…""You know," Wanda said, endlessly disappointed. "She yelled that her head hurt and that she had a fever. You heard her—Bea heard her too, but neither of you believed her."Bea suddenly rushed out of the room, collapsing by Wanda's feet as she grabbed her leg."I'm so sorry!" she cried and yelled. "Just hit me… Yell at me… I killed Tina! It's all my fault!"Wanda looked downward at her bawling daughter-in-law, her devastated son, and her other granddaughter who stayed curled up.Suddenly, she looked
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Chapter 9
Wanda simply sidestepped Bea, watching her with eyes as cold as ice. "How long are you going to keep deceiving yourself? You locked up Tina yourself the whole night, and now, she's dead."Bea could only collapse on the floor, burying her face in her palms as she bawled hysterically. "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry… Mommy made a mistake, Tina! Please, come back…"Thud, thud.Gio was on all fours too, and he was hitting his head repeatedly on the floor audibly."Dad, please…" Stella was sobbing as she tried to pull him to his feet.However, he pushed her away. "It's my fault… It's all my fault."Wanda watched them as they raved and wailed, and closed her eyes.Her eyes once again calm when she opened them, she carried me to the door, saying, "I'm taking Tina to the crematory.""Mom!"Gio suddenly lunged at me and grabbed her leg. "Don't take Tina away from us… Please!!!"Wanda looked down at her son's tear-filled face, and then calmly said, "Let go of me.""Mom—""I said let go!"
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Chapter 10
Wanda laughed icily and bitterly. "Make things right? How, when Tina's dead? Let me give it to you straight—I won't give you her ashes, because none of you has the right!""Mom!!!" Gio cried, still on his knees. "Please leave Tina with us! We now know that we've made a mistake! From now on, we will definitely…""'From now on?" Wanda snapped, cutting him short, her voice cracking. "There's no such thing. Tina died by your hands—the both of you. Neither of you would ever make up for it."With those words, she turned to leave with the urn."Mom!" "Please, stop!"Gio and Bea tried to stop Wanda again, but she pushed them away and bellowed, beady eyed, "Get away from me! Don't touch my granddaughter! You have no right!"And with that, she left with the urn, walking through the drizzle.Her shoulders were slumped, but she never looked back.Gio and Bea could only collapse limply on the ground and keep crying their eyes out.Stella was standing under the awning, watching as our par
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