Chapter 4

But just as he reached out his hand, Aunt Emma called out to him. "Wesley, hurry up! Our appointment at the photography studio is almost here!"

I watched helplessly as Dad's hand paused in the air for a moment.

In the end, he turned and left.

He was so close! Just one second, and he would have discovered that I wasn't in bed.

I sighed and happily followed after them, wanting to see the outside world. From the day I was born until now, I had barely ever left the house aside from going to the hospital. So, I was full of curiosity about the outside world.

Unfortunately, an invisible barrier stopped me from leaving the house. I couldn't get out.

Oh, well. There were so many cars and people outside. They might knock my soul apart into tiny little pieces.

Pouting helplessly, I floated around the house.

My little music box sat beside my bed. Jas loved it. Every time he saw it, he would reach out for it. I decided I'd give it to him when he came back.

Mom's birthday was coming up soon. Hidden beneath my mattress were a few tiny diamonds I had pried off one of Mom's broken hair clips. I had wanted to make a necklace for her with them. I wondered if she'd like it.

Sighing and shaking my head, I sat on my little wooden horse. Dad had made it for me himself. Now, what should I give Dad as a gift?

My eyes landed on Mom's unfinished cross-stitch embroidery sitting on the table.

Suddenly, an idea struck me.

"I've got it!" I exclaimed excitedly.

I focused as hard as I could and tried to pick up the needle.

Once… Twice…

It worked! It was slow, but I could move it.

Like I was completing some grand project, I crookedly embroidered one extra word beside the "Happy Family" stitch by stitch, thread by thread.

"Quiet."

I floated back a few steps and examined my work carefully. Then, I nodded in satisfaction.

I thought it was not bad. Mom would definitely be happy when she saw it. Then she wouldn't regret giving birth to me anymore, right?

Humming an off-key tune, I floated over to Dad's desk. There was dust on it. I blew and blew to clear it away.

There were cookie crumbs on the floor that Jasper had dropped. Again, I blew and blew.

Finally, I admired my handiwork with satisfaction. How capable I was!

Then, I waited. The sky outside changed from light to dark, and then from dark to light.

Mom and Dad still hadn't returned. Had they abandoned me?

Well, that was okay. I was a burden anyway.

Just as my head started drooping and I was about to fall asleep, the front door finally opened.

Jasper was wearing beautiful new clothes. Dad carried him in his arms. He held a colorful pinwheel while giggling happily.

I didn't care about the colorful pinwheel. I immediately floated around Mom.

I said, "Mom, go look at the cross-stitch! I prepared a surprise for you."

The first thing Mom always did after coming home was collect the laundry from the balcony. To get to the balcony, she had to pass through the living room. She would definitely see my surprise.

"You're amazing, Addie!" I proudly complimented myself.

But all I could do was watch as Mom and Aunt Emma sat on the couch to admire the newly taken photographs.

Aunt Emma commented, "Keira, look at this one of Jas. His smile is so sweet! It's much better than a certain gloomy little downer."

As she spoke, she deliberately glanced toward my photo wall.

Dad wanted to go check on me in the bedroom, but Mom called him back. "Wesley, come look at this. This family portrait turned out so well."

He felt helpless. Knowing that Mom was still angry with me, he walked over and sat down.

My face devoid of any expression, I floated behind them and looked at the family portrait. In the photo, Dad, Mom, Aunt Emma, and Jasper were all smiling brightly.

But I wasn't there. How could it be a family portrait without me?

"When I'm gone, Jas, it'll be your job to cheer Mom and Dad up," I said earnestly while patting Jasper's shoulder.

Now, I finally understood.

I must have died. I just didn't know why I hadn't gone to heaven and was trapped inside this house instead.

Suddenly, Jasper looked up. His big, round eyes stared directly at me.

Could he see me?

I made a silly face at him. He immediately giggled. Then, he pointed at me and turned to look at Mom.

"Look how well-behaved Jas is. He's unlike his brother. Just because of one thing I said, he's been sulking this whole time," Mom said.

Her voice dripped with sarcasm as she added, "He knows we're back, and he's still hiding in his room. Is he waiting for me to beg him to come out? He's not nearly as sensible as Jas, is he?"

Jasper shook his head in confusion. Then, he stretched out his tiny finger and pointed in my direction again.

Mom, Dad, and Aunt Emma all directed their gazes to where he was pointing. Alas, they saw nothing.

"Young children have clear eyes. Sometimes, they can see things they shouldn't. Don't point around randomly," Aunt Emma said superstitiously.

Mom's expression changed slightly, but she still spoke gently to Jasper. "Be good, Jas. Your brother is sleeping in his room. Let's not disturb him."

Tilting his head, Jasper sucked on his finger. His big eyes slowly scanned the room. Finally, his gaze landed on the bed in my room. He looked at the ventilator that had already stopped working.

Suddenly, he let out a loud cry. Stretching out his little hand, he pointed toward where I was standing.