You're Too Late

Once I land? I let out a wry laugh, uncertain whether I would even make it home alive. Before I could say another word, he hung up.My relationship with Keith had always been one-sided. I was the only one who made any effort in the relationship. He had always remained stationary, almost indifferent. We had been neighbors since childhood, and I had harbored a crush on him for a full decade.In the tenth year, tragedy struck when he was involved in a car accident that nearly left him confined to a wheelchair for life. His ex-girlfriend, Michelle, used studying abroad as an excuse to abandon him, running off to another country.It was I who stayed by his bedside, nursing him back to health, and accompanying him on countless trips to seek medical help and undergo rehabilitation. I kept vigil by his side day and night. Perhaps out of gratitude, Keith finally accepted my affection. Those days, although challenging, brought me a deep sense of happiness. It was obvious I loved

Keith hesitated, ashamed to admit the truth. After much internal struggle, he finally pulled out his phone. “Look, Astrid just sent me this text. She’s upset because I left her behind to skydive and is throwing a tantrum. She even threatened to break up with me.”The supervisor didn’t want to meddle in our personal matters. “Regardless of who it is, you shouldn’t be flying in Zone A. If anything happens, the entire park will be in trouble.” Keith offered a sheepish smile and apologized. Still, the supervisor couldn’t shake his unease. “I get that you’re trying to please your girlfriend, but that’s no excuse for breaking the rules or abusing your position.” It had been Michelle’s sweet pleading that convinced Keith to take her on that dangerous route. She had insisted. “Our bond is unique, unlike anyone else’s. Naturally, we have to take the road less traveled.”After a stern lecture that lasted over half an hour, the supervisor suspended Keith for three days and docke

If it hadn't been for my newfound freedom after death, I would never have known that Keith could serve tea, and show such patience and thoughtfulness. He didn’t even wake up irritated when his sleep was interrupted. My heart, already shattered, sank further into cold despair. Yet that night was destined to be anything but peaceful. The burning hot air balloon crashed into a tree, starting a forest fire. Firefighters sprang into action, and in the course of extinguishing the flames, they discovered my lifeless body.The police promptly contacted my mother and Keith’s sister, Wanda Odell. They had tried Keith first, but as he was immersed in his duties to Michelle, he kept his phone on silent.Wanda accompanied my mother, fearing that she would not be able to withstand the shock. No parent ever wants to live long enough to bury their child, and initially, my mother struggled to accept the truth. It wasn’t until she recognized the necklace around my neck—custom-made for

I watched him in his dazed state, but inside, I felt nothing. If I could send him one final message, it would be:[Even if there was an afterlife, I never want to see you again.]Perhaps it was Michelle's sudden departure, or maybe it was my silence that struck a nerve. Either way, Keith drove straight to the mortuary.The undertaker was preparing my body, while my mother and Wanda stood nearby, weeping quietly. The moment Keith saw my lifeless body, he froze, completely stunned. He tried to move closer, but the police stopped him."Only family members are allowed."Tears welled up in his eyes as he almost lost control as he shouted, "She was my fiancée!" Then… "She is my fiancée," he corrected himself quietly.After my mother gave a nod of approval, the police finally allowed him through.Keith walked over to my body and stared at my deathly pale face. It wasn't a game or a ploy this time. The brutal reality hit him, and he lost all composure, collapsing to his knee

I knew the turmoil raging inside him. He feared that my death would be tied to him, and he dreaded the possibility that the woman he had trusted so deeply—Michelle—might truly be a murderer.The officer patted him on the shoulder and spoke bluntly, "Murders caused by jealousy happen every year. “The root cause is always the same—someone fails to make a firm choice, wavering between two people. In the end, that indecision destroys everyone."The forest fire had amplified the news of my death, drawing public attention to the unfolding murder investigation. Michelle was arrested at the airport and taken into custody. At first, she denied everything, but the evidence against her was irrefutable. Her fingerprints were all over it. She had slashed the parachute, causing the helium to leak, which later triggered the fire.She had deliberately chosen Zone A, ensuring I had no escape. To make matters worse, she had invited a group of her friends to crowd the scenic area, booking