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333words
Mom,Dad,and Ethan's faces gleamed with grim satisfaction.
I thought,without Sophie,maybe I could've been happy.
Even with cancer,it wouldn't have come to this.
Just as Sophie thought she'd die there,police arrived.
They broke in,pulling her out.
Before she could rejoice,they cuffed her.
"What did I do?Let me go!"
At the station,she saw her hired thugs in custody and panicked.
She was convicted of hiring someone to attempt Jake's murder,orchestrating assault,and defamation—sentenced to 20 years.
In prison,Jake visited her.
Clutching the bars,her dark eyes fixed on him,she smirked."I'll get out."
Jake leaned close,whispering,"I'll make sure you don't."
Her hope died.She screamed,"Murder!Jake's planning to kill me!"
No one listened.
Jake's smile widened.
Mom and Dad found a peaceful spot to lay my few remaining photos to rest,treating them as my ashes.
They built a small grave,guarding it day and night,saying things I'd longed to hear.
"I'm sorry,Lily.Mom was wrong to play favorites…"
"You were sick for so long,and I never came to visit…I failed you…"
"I don't expect forgiveness…I just want to see you again…"
Dad stared at my photo,his brow tight,eyes full of regret.
He'd aged overnight,his hair graying,looking like an old man.
Ethan was even worse.He starved himself,kneeling at my grave,apologizing endlessly,ignoring all pleas to stop.
I watched them waste away,knowing their bodies wouldn't last.
But I could only watch in,silence.I was gone.Their regrets meant nothing.
Before long,Ethan collapsed.
His soul left his body and saw me.His dull eyes lit up.
He rushed to hug me.
I stepped back.
Pain flashed in his eyes."Lily…you still won't forgive us?"
I smiled at him."Ethan,I never blamed you…I just want you to live your life, even after I'm gone."
"I don't want regret to consume you."
Ethan sobbed,tears streaming down his face.
I gazed at my fading soul,knowing my obsession was finally gone.I was ready to move on.
"Ethan…In my next life, I hope we won’t be family again."
