Chapter 3

3

Because of my appearance and the way I dressed as a child, nobody ever wanted to play with me.

Even when it came to using the restroom, I never knew which one to enter―the boys’ or the girls’.

Nobody ever taught me. They only knew how to punish me.

On a bright summer day, I stood frozen in my overalls between the two restrooms, clutching my stomach. Where was I supposed to go?

If I went into the boys’ room, they would mock me and strip off my clothes. I didn’t want that.

I usually managed to hold it until I got home, but today, after eating food that had been tampered with, my stomach was cramping violently. It was clear I was going to have diarrhea.

I didn't know what to do, tears welling in my eyes. My mother had always told me that boys shouldn’t cry so often.

I crouched on the ground, sweat pouring down my face from the pain, nearly fainting.

Then Sterling appeared. He scooped me up and dashed toward the public restroom, throwing me into a stall. “I’ll guard the door for you.”

He couldn't see me, but my panic turned into joy. He was the first person my age to come close and help me. I remembered him.

Although we didn't interact again from that moment until middle school, I never forgot.

Gemma’s voice cut through my memories. “Sterling, take me to see the island today, won’t you?”

I stood listlessly behind the glass wall, swallowing the bitterness. For a moment, I thought I saw Sterling glance in my direction.

I’m already dead, and I still have feelings for him? Silas, you truly are hopeless.

I curled into a ball in the corner like I did when I was a kid, covering my ears. As long as I couldn't hear it, it didn't happen―that was what Sterling had taught me.

I don’t know how much time passed, but when I opened my eyes again, my body was gone from the floor.

Sterling and Gemma hadn't returned!

Who had taken my corpse away?