22
After my death, my spirit lingered, waiting for the portal that would take me back. Floating above the ocean, I watched Ethan haul my pale, lifeless body to the shore, brushing past my ghostly form, shattered and lost.
Jonah ran to Ethan, grabbing his wet sleeve.
“Uncle Ethan, what happened to Mom?”
Even a child thought to check on me, yet Adrian hadn’t even spared me a glance. He sneered, assuming I was staging a tantrum.
“Vanessa, are you done yet? If so, get up. I don’t have time for your antics.”
But this time, I was really gone. Ethan, barely holding it together, set my body down and turned on Adrian, swinging at him in blind rage.
Adrian, caught off guard, fought back. “Ethan! What’s wrong with you? Do you think I’m just going to let you disrespect me?”
Jonah, trembling, knelt by my body and felt for my breath. Realizing there was none, he broke down, his cries raw and desperate.
“Mom… Mom, don’t leave me. I’ll be good; please don’t go…”
Finally, Adrian turned, his face growing pale as he pushed past Ethan and staggered over to where I lay. For a second, he couldn’t bring himself to check my pulse, his panic paralyzing him.
Frantically, he yelled toward Bella and Ethan.
“What are you standing there for? Call 911! Now!”
I’d never seen Adrian look so frantic, not even when Bella had been in danger. Was this love? No, I didn’t think so. He was just afraid of losing the comfort I’d provided, of the impact my absence would have on his life. In the end, Adrian loved only himself.
11:13 AM
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Ethan, seeing Adrian’s breakdown, laughed darkly, a grim smile spreading across his face.
“Brother, take a good look. She’s dead. What’s the point of calling for help now?”
He broke into harsh, bitter laughter, while Bella, sensing danger, tried to flee. But Ethan caught her, his grip unyielding and menacing.
“Running off already, Bella? We might not need 911, but I think we could use the cops.”
