Chapter 1

1

Mom said I deliberately tricked Sarah into going to the cemetery, which triggered her heart condition, and she almost died.

She was furious and locked me in a coffin, hammering the lid shut.

"You need to understand the fear Sarah felt!"

"If I don't teach you a lesson, you'll never learn!"

Darkness and terror surrounded me, and I pounded on the coffin, begging and apologizing.

But Mom wouldn't budge.

"So, you're scared now? You can just think about what you did!"

She had them dump the coffin, with me inside, out in the boonies.

I struggled and screamed, desperate, until the air ran out, and I closed my eyes.

A week later, Mom finally remembered me.

"All you have to do is apologize to Sarah, and we can move on."

But she didn't know I'd been dead for days.

...

"Mom, Dad, I had the best time in France! I almost don't want to come back! We should do this every year!"

My sister, Sarah, was clinging to Mom's arm, beaming.

"But next time, we should bring Amy along!"

Hearing my name, Mom flinched, and a clear flicker of annoyance crossed her face.

"Sarah, you're too good. Amy's always bullying you, and you still think about her, even bringing her back gifts from vacation. She doesn't deserve your kindness."

Dad's face darkened, and he scoffed.

"Your mother's right. Amy's a bad seed. If she didn't have my blood, I'd have kicked her out of the house a long time ago."

He got a call from the office and rushed out.

Mom took Sarah's hand and led her toward the walk-in closet.

"Don't even mention that cursed girl. The dress I ordered for your Sweet Sixteen just arrived."

The butler, Mr. Peterson, took Mom's purse, speaking hesitantly.

"Mrs. Thompson, it seems the younger miss is still in that...confined space. She hasn't been home for a week."

Mom stopped walking.

"Then she can stay a few more days. If she doesn't get a lesson, she'll never realize what she did wrong."

Mr. Peterson took a deep breath, his lips trembling.

"Ma'am, it's been a week. No one can go without food or water for that long, and Miss Amy..."

Mom interrupted him, annoyed. She hated when people brought me up.

"Alright, I get it. I'll send someone to let her out later."

"If she really is sorry and sincerely apologizes to Sarah, I might overlook this mistake."

Sarah squealed with excitement from inside the closet.

Mom's eyes softened, and she smiled as she headed inside.

She took photos of Sarah trying on the new dress.

Sarah hugged Mom, playing the generous sister.

"Mom, don't be mad about Amy. I'm sure she was just acting without thinking. She didn't really want to hurt me. And look, I'm fine!"

"If she apologizes, I'll forgive her. We're still family."

Mom stroked Sarah's face, nodding.

"Whatever you want, honey. You're too good."

Watching them, a wave of bitterness washed over me.

My presence couldn't disrupt their joy.

Because I was dead.