Chapter 3

The next time I was conscious, I found myself floating in midair.

Looking down, I saw a circle of people gathered on the road.

In the middle lay a little girl wearing a red scarf, her belongings scattered around her.

Her eyes were closed. She looked peaceful.

When I saw her face clearly, I was startled.

That was me.

The ambulance's red lights were flashing. The blue lights rotated, illuminating everyone's faces in flickering brightness and shadow.

Medical personnel crouched beside me, doing something.

Then they shook their heads regretfully and took out a white cloth, gently covering that small body.

The white cloth was quickly stained red at one corner, like plum blossoms blooming in snow.

I finally understood.

So I'd died.

That was fine.

This way, the kids at the orphanage wouldn't have a chance to laugh at me.

The crowd gradually dispersed.

Police arrived, taking photos and setting up police tape.

My suitcase was picked up and placed beside the police car.

But where should I go?

I didn't know.

But before that, I really wanted to see Mom and Dad one more time.

The wind blew, and though I felt no cold, I drifted with it.

Drifting to the intersection, I saw a familiar car—Dad's black sedan, slowly driving past the accident scene.

Like grabbing a lifeline, I chased after it, passing through the closed window and landing in the back seat beside my brother.

Inside the car was warm, the air conditioning humming.

"There were so many people gathered back there," Mom's voice came from the passenger seat. "Did something happen?"

Dad glanced at the rearview mirror. "Looks like a car accident. I saw ambulances and police cars."

My brother sat beside me, concentrating on playing with a new remote-control car. Its lights flashed on and off—so pretty.

"The amusement park was so fun!" My brother suddenly looked up, eyes sparkling. "Mom, can we go again?"

Mom smiled at him gently. "Of course. We'll go again this weekend."

"I want cotton candy too!" My brother swung his little legs.

"We'll buy it, all of it." Dad smiled at him through the rearview mirror. "Did you have fun today?"

"Yes!"

The atmosphere in the car was light and happy.

Mom scrolled through photos on her phone from today, laughing from time to time.

Dad hummed along with the car radio.

My brother continued playing with his new toy.

I watched the three of them, suddenly feeling a sharp ache in my chest.

Sure enough, this family was just fine without me.

"Oh, right," Mom suddenly remembered something and pulled a box from her handbag. "I almost forgot this."

My eyes lit up.

It was a brand-new astronaut model, identical to the one my brother had broken!

"We searched so many stores. Thank goodness we found the last one," Mom carefully inspected the packaging. "It's the same as Lily's, right?"

Dad glanced at it. "Exactly the same. She'll definitely love it."

"You really shouldn't have said that to Lily." Mom's voice carried a gentle reproach. "She's still a child. Evan broke her favorite toy—of course she'd be upset."

"I just got carried away in the moment..." Dad touched his nose. "Okay, okay, my fault."

Mom put the box back carefully. "Lily's probably still sulking right now. When we get home, you take the new toy and make it up to her."

"Got it." Dad's voice softened. "Did we get the strawberry cake?"

"Got it, from Lily's favorite shop." Mom turned to look at the back seat, her gaze tender. "And new hair clips too, the star-shaped ones she likes."

My brother held up the remote-control car. "Does Lily get a new toy too?"

"Of course she does." Mom smiled. "Everyone gets one."

I looked at that brand-new astronaut, at the anticipation on Mom's face, at the hint of apology in Dad's eyes.

Suddenly, I understood everything.

So they weren't abandoning me after all.

So they came back so late not to force me to leave, but because they'd run to several stores just to buy me an identical new model.

So they'd also bought strawberry cake and star hair clips, and had already planned what to say to apologize.

So... they still loved me.

But it was too late.