Chapter 3

When I opened my eyes again, I was floating right next to the dining table.

David was gently covering Lily's eyes while Helen carefully brought out a fruit cake with lit candles.

"Happy 6th birthday to our sweet Lily!"

Lily opened her eyes, a look of pure joy on her face.

"Mom, Dad, I've never seen such a beautiful cake!"

My eyes welled with tears.

When I first got sick, Lily was still a toddler.

Because of me, she never had a real birthday.

Every single year on her birthday, I would have a severe episode.

Helen and David would have to rush me to the hospital, completely forgetting about her.

This was literally the first time Lily had ever had a birthday cake.

Helen turned her head to wipe away a tear, cutting a large slice for Lily.

"Eat as much as you want, sweetheart."

But Lily grabbed the plate and ran straight to the bathroom.

She knocked softly on the door.

"Maya, come out and eat cake! I saved you the sweetest piece!"

I wrapped my ghostly arms around her tiny body, wishing I could speak to her.

I'm sorry, Lily. I can't eat cake with you anymore.

It's my fault. I ruined your birthday again.

But my hands passed straight through her. I couldn't touch her.

When no one answered, Lily lowered her head, walking back to the table, deflated.

"Mom, is Maya mad at me? She won't talk to me."

Helen pulled Lily into a hug, her voice hardening with anger.

"Ignore her. She's just playing victim. She threatens to kill herself every time, and we always save her. She's doing it for attention again."

"Today is your day, my princess. Let's not let her ruin it."

As Helen spoke, she noticed the plate of food Lily had saved on the table for me.

Frustrated, Helen swept the plate directly into the trash can.

"If she wants to starve, let her. We don't owe her anything. I'm sick of her drama."

I froze, tears pouring down my face.

I'm not faking it.

I was in so much pain every single day.

Lily looked at the trash can, panicked, and tried to defend me.

"Don't say that about Maya! She's just sick. She's really nice to me when she feels better."

David patted Lily's back.

"Lily, your sister is being selfish."

"She only thinks about her own pain. She never thinks about what this family goes through."

"Because of her, Helen and I are exhausted to the bone, and she still pulls these stunts."

Floating in the air, I stared at David in disbelief. This was the dad who used to cherish me more than anything.

It hadn't always been like this. Everything changed when I was seven.