I froze for a moment.
Then, I told the biggest lie of my life.
“I’ve always loved him.”
+15 Bonus
My dad would be coming to get me soon.
I couldn’t leave Lucas with hope.
I wanted him to let go of me completely after I was gone.
To find someone he loved. To marry. To have children.
And every year, on my death anniversary, he could bring his wife and kids to visit my grave. Talk to me for a while.
Time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, a month had gone by.
My body was failing. I was paralyzed, confined to my bed.
I wanted to leave with dignity. I wanted to wear my most beautiful dress, and have my hair perfectly done. I wanted to put on my makeup and look my best as I left this world.
Early that morning, I lied to Lucas. I told him I was craving shrimp.
Without hesitation, he rushed out to buy it for me.
As soon as he was gone, I tied my legs together. Then, I wheeled myself to the edge of Toben Lake.
The sky stretched wide and blue above me. The lake shimmered, emerald green. Seagulls soared freely over the water.
I opened my phone, found Lucas’s number, and, with stiff fingers, typed a message: [Lucas, after I die, please scatter my ashes into Toben Lake.]
Then, as a joke, I added: [If that’s illegal, just find a nice piece of fertile land and spread them there instead.]
I sent the message. Then, I turned off my phone and left it by the shore.
I wheeled myself into the water.
The lake swallowed me slowly.
Water rushed into my nose, my ears, filling my body.
I struggled instinctively.
Chapter 11
Thankfully, I had tied my legs.
Soon, I stopped struggling.
I sank deeper and deeper.
And then–I saw my father. He smiled gently and waved at me.
