Chapter 2

2

Well, screw that. I was on my own here.

The reason I ended up in a coma last time wasn't the crash itself. It was the explosion that followed.

If I could just get out of this car before it blew, I might actually survive.

Pain stabbed through me with every move. I gritted my teeth, fumbled with the seatbelt.

Finally, I crawled out through the broken window.

Tiny shards of glass were everywhere.

Sweat mixed with tears, but I made it. I dragged myself a good forty feet away from the car.

Then, I collapsed, gasping for air.

I'd barely gotten off my 911 call when the explosion ripped through the air.

Meanwhile, Jake was cradling Ashley, who had a little bump on her head, yelling for paramedics.

"If anything happens to her, I'll kill you!"

He didn't even glance my way.

My last thought before blacking out? Just happy to be alive.

I woke up to the sound of chattering.

My head was pounding. I turned over and saw my mom feeding Ashley chicken soup.

Ashley was pouting and batting her eyelashes.

"Mom, this soup is so greasy."

My dad rushed forward to skim the fat off the top of the soup.

I croaked out, "Mom? Dad?"

But my voice was too quiet, drowned out by Ashley's giggles.

They didn't hear me. After the soup, they peeled her an apple.

My throat was burning. It had been so long since I had any water.

I looked at Ashley and my parents and was overwhelmed with jealousy.

The truth was that after Ashley tried to kill me, my parents iced her out for three years.

But once Ashley jumped off the balcony, they instantly forgave her. They couldn't afford to lose another daughter.

When they heard Ashley was in the hospital, they were racked with guilt for being so hard on her.

My dad told my mom that Ashley was their daughter, too.

When Ashley woke up, she was a mess of tears.

"It's all my fault, you guys! I'm so sorry!"

"I should just die! That would make you happy!"

They comforted her and told her how much they loved her.

I, a ghost, could only watch.