5
^
Mom’s grip loosened. Her phone clattered to the floor. Her eyes were vacant. After a long moment, she whispered, “No… they were
together. I moved the rocks off both of them.
She can’t be… She must be playing
somewhere.” Her voice rose, gaining a frantic edge. “Yes! She always wanders off! She’s
always late coming home from school! She’s
just…playing somewhere!”
Mom, oh Mom. I was never late coming home
from school. It was Lily and her friends who’d
corner me and torment me.
Lisa’s voice, faint but clear, came from the phone on the floor. “Susan, she’s dead. We left three days ago. Where would a little girl go? Don’t do this to yourself…‘
وو
L
phone on the floor. “Susan, she’s dead. We
left three days ago. Where would a little girl go? Don’t do this to yourself…”
Mom snatched up the phone. “You and Anna
are in this together! Just tell me where she is!
Lisa, tell me!”
Lisa sighed again, her voice heavy with
sadness. “Susan, she’s gone. I showed you the list of casualties. If you don’t believe me,
go back and look for her name.”
Silence. Mom paced the room, her steps
frantic. Dad came to the door. “What’s taking
so long? Lily’s friends are still here. We need
to be good hosts.”
Mom’s eyes lit up, latching onto him like a
lifeline. “Lisa said… Lisa said Anna’s dead!
Mom’s eyes lit up, latching onto him like a lifeline. “Lisa said… Lisa said Anna’s dead!
Do you think…do you think she’s really…?”
Dad snorted. “That girl’s tougher than nails.
She tried to kill Lily in the womb! She’d
outlive us all! Don’t be ridiculous.” He
softened a bit, adding almost as an
afterthought, “Besides, she was so cold-
hearted. Maybe it’s for the best.
وو
Mom repeated his words, as if trying to
convince herself. “Yes, she’s tough. She can’t
be dead. And she was so cold… maybe
it’s…”
“Mommy? Daddy? What are you doing? My
friends are leaving!” Lily’s voice cut through
the air. My death, instantly forgotten. They
rushed out to entertain Lily.
<
rushed out to entertain Lily.
I knew they favored her. But I never imagined that even in death, I couldn’t compete. They
remembered Lily’s favorite food, her love for
Buster, her preference for floral prints. All they remembered about me was that I was
“tough.” That perceived toughness had cost me their love. And now, even in death, they
still didn’t love me.
A wave of cold washed over my insubstantial
form. The wind rattled the windows, a
mournful cry echoing my own sorrow.
Later that night, their bedroom light still
burned. Mom’s voice, laced with anxiety,
broke the silence. “Honey… maybe we should
go back to the camp tomorrow. I…I can’t
shake this feeling…”
“tough.” That perceived toughness had cost
me their love. And now, even in death, they
still didn’t love me.
A wave of cold washed over my insubstantial
form. The wind rattled the windows, a
mournful cry echoing my own sorrow.
Later that night, their bedroom light still
burned. Mom’s voice, laced with anxiety,
broke the silence. “Honey… maybe we should
go back to the camp tomorrow. I…I can’t
shake this feeling…”
“Why bother?” Dad’s voice was sharp with
irritation. “Good riddance, I say. One less
problem to deal with.”
“I’m going tomorrow. And if she’s not dead, I’ll
kill her myself. Playing these games, trying to
scare us!” Mom was back to her old self, the
<
kin ner mysel. Playing these games, tying lu
scare us!” Mom was back to her old self, the
Mom I knew.
The irony made me want to laugh, even as a ghost. My death, a threat? I should be so lucky.
く
6
