Chapter 4

Lots of people filed in.

Chloe was there with her parents.

They complimented the house—said it was nicely decorated and spacious.

Mom beamed, bustling around with tea and snacks.

"Oh goodness, excuse the mess. Please don't mind it."

Chloe's mom glanced around, eyes landing on the storage room door.

"What's this room? Why's it locked?"

Mom froze, then forced a smile.

"Oh, just a storage closet. Full of old junk we never use."

"It's a mess in there—all dusty. Not worth seeing."

I let out a shaky breath.

Good. Mom was too embarrassed of me.

In this moment, her shame was my protection.

As long as they kept that door closed, everything would be fine.

But Chloe spoke up.

"Aunt Sarah, I thought Lily lived in this room when I visited last time?"

"Is Lily in there? Why isn't she coming out to greet us?"

The room went silent.

Ryan jumped in to smooth things over.

"No, Lily moved out ages ago. Just storage now."

"With her health issues, she couldn't live in such a small space."

He was lying.

To impress his future in-laws, he'd erased me—his own sister.

Chloe looked confused.

"Really? I could swear I smell something weird..."

She sniffed, frowning.

"Smells like something's rotting. Did a mouse die in there?"

My stomach dropped.

It was summer, and the storage room had no vents.

Only a day and night, but the smell must have started.

Mom's face paled.

She smelled it too.

That sickly sweet stench of decay seeped under the door.

Cutting through the fruit and tea smells in the room.

"Probably an old fermented jar that didn't seal right."

Mom laughed nervously, sweat beading on her forehead.

"I'll check it out. Don't want it bothering you."

She hesitated, but Chloe's dad—clearly a man who noticed things—already looked annoyed.

"You should really keep better care of the place."

"With the wedding coming up, you can't have odors like this."

Mom had no choice.

She gritted her teeth and pulled out the key.

Muttering under her breath, probably cursing me.

"You rotten girl! What have you done now? Did you intentionally make this mess to spite me?!"

"Just wait till I get my hands on you!"

She was sure I was misbehaving.

That I was getting back at her for last night—purposely stinking up the place to embarrass them.

She stomped over and jammed the key in the lock.

My spirit trembled.

Mom, don't open it. Please don't.

You'll regret it. You'll have nightmares.

Click. The lock turned.

Mom threw open the door, and a wave of putrid stench hit them.

It was overpowering—like years of bitterness finally breaking free.

Guests in the living room clamped their hands over their noses.

Mom gagged, hit full force by the smell.

"Lily! Did you… did you crap in here?! What is that smell?!"

She cursed, fumbling for the light switch.

Snap.

The dim bulb flickered to life.

The storage room's contents were exposed for all to see.

It wasn't as messy as she'd claimed.

Actually, it was quite neat.

Only the figure on the folding bed lay still.

A blanket pulled tight over it.

And on the concrete floor beside the bed, a dark, dried stain.

What I'd coughed up before I died.

I'd tried wiping it with tissues, but I was too weak. Half remained on the floor.

Mom froze.

She stood in the doorway, hand still on the door, like a statue.

"Li… Lily?"

Her voice shook.

Gone was her earlier frustration, replaced by terror.

"Stop messing around… get up…"

"Guests are here… don't embarrass me…"

She reached out a trembling hand, wanting to pull back the blanket.

But her hand froze halfway, then jerked back.

That smell told her what she couldn't bear to admit.

Ryan came over too, pinching his nose.

"Mom, what's her latest drama?"

"Lily! Get up! Chloe's parents are here!"

When I didn't move, my brother marched over and grabbed the blanket's corner.

"Quit faking! This isn't funny!"

He yanked hard.

Whoosh.

The blanket flew to the floor.

My body lay exposed in the light.

Curled up in pain, now stiff and contorted.

My face was purple, eyes squeezed shut.

Dried blood crusted the corners of my mouth.

Worst of all, the swelling from stopping my meds had warped my features.

Ah!!!

Chloe screamed, diving behind her dad.

The blanket slipped from my brother's hand.

He stumbled back, legs buckling, and collapsed to the floor.

"Lily?"

Mom's eyes nearly popped out of her head.

She stared at me, lips trembling, unable to speak.

Seconds of dead silence passed.

Then a bloodcurdling scream that nearly shattered the bulb above.

"Lily—!!!"

Mom lunged forward like a woman possessed, grabbing my cold, stiff body.

"My baby! My baby, what happened?!"

"Don't scare me like this! Please don't!"

"I'll never scold you again! Just open your eyes! Please!"

She shook me violently, as if trying to jolt me back to life.

But I was already gone.

Completely gone.

No one to hear her words, or wash the dishes piling up on the table.

I hovered near the ceiling, watching the chaos below.

Mom sobbing until she fainted. Dad fumbling with 911. Ryan peeing his pants in terror.

The weight on my heart finally lifted.

Mom, see?

I told you it would scare you.

You insisted on opening that door.

Now Ryan's wedding is really ruined.