Chapter 1
Chapter 1
The cool breeze brushed against Becky’s skin, but although it was winter, she felt no cold. She stared blankly at the pastor as he spoke and offered prayers for the dead, yet his words sounded distant and meaningless to her.
Now she finally understood what death felt like.
It hit hard, leaving her helpless and empty. Becky had always believed the world was a beautiful place, but reality had shown her otherwise. The world was cruel — perhaps the cruelest place anyone could ever live in.
What had her sister done wrong to deserve such an early death?
Linda had a future ahead of her, filled with beautiful dreams and endless possibilities. But no one could control the future, could they?
Her mother, who had left them years ago, was crying uncontrollably beside the grave. She could barely breathe through her sobs. She had lost her first child, and for the first time in a long while, Becky felt sympathy for her.
Becky herself remained absent-minded throughout the funeral. It wasn’t that she couldn’t cry anymore; the tears had simply dried up. There was nothing left to shed.
Soon, it was Becky’s turn to drop flowers onto the grave.
“I wish you a happy life up there. Rest in peace, Linda,” she whispered softly.
She placed the flowers carefully on the grave and hesitated for a moment before stepping away. Many people had gathered to bid Linda farewell on her journey to the other world.
Becky climbed into the truck and waited silently for her father to drive home. Deep down, however, she knew they wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon.
Her parents were arguing.
Again.
The heated voices coming from outside the truck told her it wouldn’t end well, but she listened anyway. Ever since the incident, Becky had barely spoken a word. Listening had become the only thing she was good at.
“How could you let this happen?” Elizabeth, Becky’s mother, demanded angrily.
“How was I supposed to know she’d commit suicide?” Alex fired back. “I came home and she wasn’t there. How was I supposed to know where she went or what happened?”
“You should have paid more attention to your children!” Elizabeth snapped. “I’m not letting this happen again. I’m taking Becky with me.”
“No, you can’t,” Alex replied immediately. “I won’t allow it. You disappeared for God knows how long, and now you suddenly show up after your daughter dies just to take the other one away? Not happening.”
“If you had paid more attention, this wouldn’t have happened,” Elizabeth said bitterly. “I already lost one child. I won’t lose another.”
Alex sighed heavily.
“Just go back to wherever you came from and stop interfering in our lives,” he said coldly before turning away.
Elizabeth stood frozen as Alex walked back toward the truck.
Before entering, he glanced at her one last time. Then he noticed Becky staring silently out the window.
He sighed again.
“You okay?” he asked softly.
Silence.
Becky didn’t want to speak to him — or to anyone. But after a long pause, she finally forced out the first words she had spoken since Linda’s death.
“Let’s go home,” she whispered in a hoarse voice.
Alex looked at her quietly for a moment before starting the engine and driving away.
Linda’s death had shattered the entire family. The police promised they would find the culprit, but friends and relatives were still drowning in shock and grief.
And out of everyone…
Becky seemed to be hurting the most.
