Chapter 6

[Goodbye Life, Part Five — December 31, 2023 — The Last Day of the Year, the Last Day of Life.]

"Nora, what do you want to do on the last day of 2023? I'll make it happen for you."

The scene shifted, I was picking out a nice hat for myself.

Hearing this, I raised an eyebrow and smirked.

"You said it."

I mysteriously pulled her into the car.

In the car, she couldn't help but ask me again:

"Nora, where are we going?"

I replied with a cheeky grin, "To pick a grave."

Fiona almost dropped her camera, her eyes reddening again, "Nora..."

I didn't mind much.

"Fiona, I researched it. Choosing a good good grave is important.

"They say being buried in a good grave ensures a next life without sickness and allows me to be Anderson's daughter again..."

When it was time to get out of the car, my smile froze.

Because I could no longer walk.

With Fiona's help, I sat in a wheelchair.

I picked a cheap grave and pretended to be serious:

"After some calculation, this grave is the best. Being buried here, I'll definitely be born into a good family next life."

Fiona pressed her lips and nodded, looking up at the sky, not at me.

Back at the hospital, I was already hooked up to an oxygen tank.

It was five minutes until the end of 2023.

Fireworks were going off in the sky.

Across from the hospital, a crowd gathered in front of the mall's big screen for the countdown.

The TV on the wall broadcasted the New Year's Eve celebration.

Fiona sat next to my hospital bed, chatting with me.

I spoke first: "Fiona, after I'm gone, will you always remember me?"

Fiona choked up, "Of course."

I shook my head, "No, you must forget me after a year."

Fiona didn't respond, only asked:

"Can you promise me to live well in the new year?"

I smiled, "Rock-paper-scissors? If I win, we do it my way. If you win, we do it your way."

In the end, I lost.

The countdown sounded on the TV.

Outside, the countdown on the big screen started, 10, 9, 8, 7...

Sensing something, I looked straight at Fiona as the clock struck midnight:

"Fiona, Happy New Year."

"Nora, Happy New Year to you too. Remember, a bet's a bet."

My smile widened,

"Okay..."

"Fiona, let me tell you a secret, I really, really miss dad..."

The next moment, the heart rate monitor's alarm went off.

My heartbeat flatlined.