- 9.
Two weeks later, the verdict came. Jason got
the death penalty. Mom got life, with no chance
of parole.
My spirit felt lighter, free to roam, no longer
tethered to Mom. Jason, consumed by fear,
refused to eat. He withered away. Mom and
Ashley would have been heartbroken, but no
one visited him.
On his execution day, I watched from above. As
<
12:02
714
he died, his spirit emerged, just like mine. He
looked at me, terrified. “Jason! I’m sorry! Don’t
kill me!”
I smiled. “Aren’t you already dead?”
He looked down at his body, screamed, and vanished. Only I could hear him. Seeing him destroyed felt like a small victory.
In prison, Mom was tormented. She laughed, cried, ranted, raved, lashed out. It took several guards to restrain her. Doctors diagnosed her with trauma–induced psychosis. She was transferred to a psychiatric hospital.
Her condition worsened. She told everyone, “My
son, Jason, he got a scholarship to a top
university. He’s studying abroad.”
“When he comes back, I’ll bring him to visit.
He’s tall and handsome, always so well-
behaved.”
<
Sometimes, she had moments of lucidity. She’d
stare out the window, lost in silent agony. I
could feel her guilt, the weight of lost time.
Before I moved on, Mom saw me. She cupped
my face, tears streaming. “Jason! You’re back!
You came to see me! I’m so sorry! Please
forgive me!” She pulled out two candies. “I
remember you loved candy. I saved these for
you.”
I did love candy as a child. But Mom always
gave it to Jason. He’d taunt me, then pop it in
his mouth. I hadn’t eaten candy in years.
I shook my head, stepping back. Mom wrung
her hands. “Of course. You’re all grown up now.
Silly me.”
I looked at her. “Mom…”
“Yes?” she answered eagerly.
<
12:02
“Mom, I don’t blame you. But I’ll never forgive
you.”
Mom’s shoulders slumped. “Okay. I understand.
I deserve it.”
I turned and left, afraid to break down. That night, Ashley got the call. “Your mother… She took her own life. We found her too late.”
I went to my grave, seeking closure. Olivia was there. “What’s she doing here?” I muttered.
She looked up, tears in her eyes, forcing a smile. “Jason? Is that you? I did it. I avenged you. After you died, I went to your house, pretending to visit Jay–Jay. I got the security footage of him tampering with your car and gave it to the police.”
Then I understood. She’d gone to the scene, her
—
keen eye for cars she loved fixing them up
spotting the tampered brakes. She hadn’t
—
714
<
12:02
betrayed me. She’d gotten close to Jason to
get evidence.
I floated to her. “I’m sorry, Olivia. I misjudged
you. I can’t marry you in this life, but in the
next, I will.”
714
She rolled up her sleeve, revealing a new tattoo
a photo of us together.
“It’s okay,” she said, her voice thick with tears.
“I married you once. I’ll wait for you to marry
me again.”
Free of earthly ties, I felt myself getting lighter,
fading. My time was up. A sense of peace
washed over me. The end wasn’t the end, but a
new beginning.
My mind flashed back to the accident. The
surgery was a success. My miserable life was
over.
