Chapter 2

My uncle, the police chief, worked in the same department as my brother.

I always liked Uncle Matt. He wasn’t like Jason—he was kind to me, always gentle.

But Jason never let me get close to him.

“You don’t deserve it,” he’d say.

“You killed his little sister, Alex. How dare you stick to him like that?”

“Don’t you think every time he looks at you, he remembers the sister you took from him?”

“Murderer. That’s what you are.”

So, even though I liked Uncle Matt, I tried my best not to bother him.

But Uncle Matt always treated me well, no matter what.

Like now, when Jason insulted me, Uncle Matt just sighed and shook his head.

“Jason, don’t talk about your brother like that.”

“Alex remembered it’s your birthday today. He even asked me to give you this gift.”

Uncle Matt handed Jason a card and a neatly wrapped box.

Jason didn’t even glance at it before tossing it straight into the trash.

Uncle Matt quickly bent down to retrieve it.

“You’re so stubborn,” he muttered. “Alex knows you hate him. That’s why he didn’t give it to you himself—he was afraid you wouldn’t accept it.”

That’s right. Every year, I gave Jason a gift for his birthday, and every year, he would throw it away.

Because Jason’s birthday was also the anniversary of our parents’ death.

It happened on Jason’s 11th birthday.

Mom and Dad had taken us out for dinner, and they’d bought a chocolate cake for the celebration.

But I had thrown a tantrum, insisting I wanted a strawberry cake instead.

So, they went across the street to exchange it.

That’s when the car accident happened.

I still remember Jason’s heart-wrenching cries, the way he screamed for them.

I, on the other hand, didn’t shed a single tear.

Jason called me a monster.

He wouldn’t let me near our parents’ bodies.

He screamed at me until his voice broke.

“This is all your fault! You killed them!”

“Why couldn’t you just let it go? Why couldn’t you have died instead?”

His eyes burned with hatred.

“Go ahead, Alex. Eat all the strawberry cake you want. Eat the whole damn world’s supply.”

Back then, I finally cried. Big, heavy tears.

Because he was right.

It was my selfishness that killed them.

I should’ve been the one to die.

I wasn’t even allowed to attend their funeral—Jason wouldn’t let me.

“You don’t deserve to be there,” he’d said.

For the next ten years, my brother—who once loved me more than anyone else—never cared for me again.

When he became an adult, Jason even adopted a boy my age, Chris, to take my place.

All the love that used to be mine, he gave to Chris.

When Chris grew his hair long, Jason called it stylish.

When I did the same, I was “rebellious” and “unruly.”

Chris moved into my old bedroom while I was sent to live in the basement.

Uncle Matt placed a hand on Jason’s shoulder and said softly, “Jason, ten years is enough. You’ve hated Alex long enough.”

“He’s your brother. You can’t treat him like this.”

“I’m sure he feels guilty. He’s probably been carrying that guilt for years. I know it hasn’t been easy for him either.”

Jason scoffed.

“Guilty? Him?”

“Uncle Matt, don’t you hate him? He killed your little sister. He’s a monster. If he hadn’t thrown that tantrum, they’d still be alive.”

“Mom and Dad died right in front of him, and he didn’t shed a single tear.”

Jason glanced at my corpse then, just for a second.

Had he recognized me?

But in the next moment, his face darkened, and he spat out, “I only wish that body was his.”

“I hate him more than anything in the world.”

Every time he talked about me, his voice was filled with venom.

But now, he could finally be happy.

His wish had come true.

That body was mine.

Just then, a fax came through on Jason’s computer.

It read:

“Do you like my gift, genius sketch artist? Guess who’ll be next.”

Jason and Uncle Matt exchanged a glance, their faces pale.

Jason immediately pulled out his phone and called Chris.

“Chris, are you okay? You’re safe, right?”

“Good. Don’t go anywhere for now, okay?”

Chris was always his first priority.

Jason, I wish you could’ve cared about me like that.

But I know you hated me too much for that.

Uncle Matt told Jason to call me as well, and reluctantly, he did.

But my phone was off.

I didn’t even know where it was. It had disappeared the day I died.

Uncle Matt turned to look at my body, his face pale.

“No… it can’t be…”

I felt a surge of excitement. Were they about to figure it out?

But Jason shook his head, his voice firm.

“Impossible. There’s no way it’s him. He’s too stubborn to die.”

“That reckless idiot. He called me the other day, whining about how mean I was to him.”

“I don’t get it. Why can’t he just grow up and stop being so selfish? Why can’t he be more like Chris?”

Jason hesitated for a moment before muttering, “Still, I can’t shake this bad feeling. Alex said he ordered a cake for me today and wanted me to come pick it up. But now I can’t reach him.”

Uncle Matt sent me a text, his face filled with worry.

“Alex, be good. Don’t run off anywhere for the next few days, okay?”

“By the way, Jason loved your gift.”

Uncle Matt, thank you. But it’s too late.

The body lying behind you is mine.

A few minutes later, Chris arrived.

Jason’s face lit up instantly.

He reached out and ruffled Chris’s hair, his touch so gentle it made me turn away.

Even as a ghost, jealousy burned in my chest.

Jason told Uncle Matt he wasn’t feeling well and left to take Chris out for cake.

Uncle Matt reminded him, “Make sure Alex comes with you. He loves cake, too.”

Uncle Matt was always so kind to me.

But I won’t be able to join them.

Before leaving, Jason left me a voicemail.

“Alex, what’s your problem? Do you think disappearing like this is going to make me worry? You’re dreaming.”

“Even if you died in a ditch somewhere, I wouldn’t blink.”

“Call Uncle Matt back before tomorrow. He’s worried about you. You’re so selfish.”

“Anyway, I’m off to eat cake with Chris.”

I stood right in front of him, watching as his anger burned.

A deep ache spread through my chest.

Jason, you really know how to hurt me.

You’ve told me to die so many times, and now I finally have.

Ten years ago, my selfishness turned you into an orphan.

I hope my death brings you peace.