Chapter 3

Early next morning, the house buzzed with activity.

Today was when they'd finalize the hotel booking and Ryan would formally introduce Chloe's family to his parents.

Mom wore her nicest dress—the one she saved for special occasions.

She even put on makeup, making her look years younger.

Ryan sported a sharp suit with his hair gelled back.

Dad polished his new dress shoes.

The whole family grinned from ear to ear—all except the storage room door, still tightly shut.

Mom laid out breakfast on the dining table.

Boiled eggs, warm milk, Ryan's favorite crispy bacon, and fluffy pancakes.

The smell filled the house.

I hovered by the table, staring at the steaming pancakes. Strangely, I didn't feel hungry anymore.

Normally by now, I would've woken up, mopped the floors twice, hung the laundry, and be sipping leftover rice porridge.

Ryan sat down and bit into a pancake.

"Mom, Lily still isn't up?"

"So lazy. The sun's practically up."

Mom glanced at the storage room door, disgust flickering across her face.

"Ignore her. She's just being dramatic."

"We'll lock the door from the outside when we leave."

"That way she can't sneak out for food or mess up the house while we're gone."

Dad sipped his milk and frowned.

"Isn't that overkill? What if she's actually sick?"

A tiny spark of hope lit in my chest.

Dad still cared.

But his next words doused it cold.

"Chloe's parents are seeing the house today. We don't need her looking all sickly and ruining things."

"Locking her in is for the best. She won't embarrass us that way."

So they were afraid I'd embarrass them.

Right. With my purple-tinged skin and stiff body, I was quite the embarrassment now.

Ryan shoveled food into his mouth, talking with his mouth full.

"Exactly. Last time Chloe was over, she saw Lily taking meds and went home asking if Lily had something contagious."

"I explained forever it was from the kidney donation, but Chloe still got weirded out."

"She said someone that sick would just be a burden later. Suggested we keep our finances separate."

Mom panicked when she heard that.

"Separate finances? No way! Who'll help with grandkids? You'll still need me and your dad!"

"But Chloe's got a point. Lily's health is a real problem…"

Mom paused, staring at the door with a complicated look.

"After you two marry, I'll find her a husband."

"We won't need much for her wedding. Just someone who'll cover her medical bills."

"Even if he's divorced with kids, or older—as long as can cover her medical bills..."

I hovered there, listening to them plan my future.

Marry off a dying woman?

Mom, you overestimate my worth.

In my condition, not even a housecleaning service would hire me.

Besides, I was already dead.

Dead people don't get married.

After breakfast, the family—dressed to impress—got ready to leave.

Before leaving, Mom made a point of walking to the storage room door.

She took out a key and turned it twice in the lock.

Click.

The door locked from the outside.

"Lily, we've got important guests today. Stay put and behave."

"You can wash last night's dishes when you get hungry enough to come out."

"Don't think a hunger strike will work. I'm not falling for it!"

She tucked the key in her pocket, linked arms with Dad, and walked out.

Bang. The front door closed.

The house went quiet again.

Sunlight streamed through the living room window, casting dust motes that danced in the beams.

So warm. So bright.

But it couldn't reach the dark, cramped storage room.

Or the body growing cold inside.

I floated back into the storage room and knelt beside my body.

Staring at the shape under the blanket.

Suddenly, it all seemed ridiculous.

They'd locked up a corpse.

Thinking they were punishing a disobedient daughter.

They thought I was in there pouting, reflectioning.

But I was decomposing.

Minutes dragged by.

The sun crossed the sky.

Light in the house faded.

After an eternity, keys jangled in the lock.

They were home.

With guests laughing behind them.

"Come in, please. This is the house we prepared for the kids."

"It's no mansion, but it's one of the nicest in the neighborhood."

Mom's voice gushed with pride.

My chest ached.

Guests?

They can't open that door!

They can't let guests find a dead body in the house!

That would ruin Ryan's wedding for sure!

I rushed to the door, desperate to block it somehow.

Though I knew it was pointless.