The Shadow from His Past

My mom came to collect my body.

She brought two coffins with her. Outside, a vehicle stood ready to transport us.

When Pauline appeared, my mom immediately rushed up to her.

She excitedly grasped Pauline’s hand.

“Oh my God! Is that you, Mariah? Did you come back to see me?”

My mom had mistaken Pauline for me.

It was understandable. I had also been shocked when I first saw Pauline. Her resemblance to me was uncanny.

Reflecting on it later, I realized that Chandler must have chosen me for that very reason.

In a sense, I had become Pauline's substitute.

Surprised, Pauline let out a shriek and instinctively pushed my mom away.

My mom fell to the ground, her elbow scraping against the hard concrete. It left a long trail of blood.

She seemed oblivious to the pain and lunged forward to grab Pauline’s leg.

“Oh, Mariah! I can’t bear to lose you!” she sobbed uncontrollably.

My heart ached and I rushed forward to embrace my mom, but my arms passed right through her body.

I couldn’t do anything and helplessly watched as the scene unfolded.

In the struggle, Pauline’s cake fell to the ground.

Enraged, she slapped my mom across the face. “Crazy woman! Are you sick? I’m Pauline!

“That Mariah looking like me is an insult! How dare you mistake me for her?”

My mom snapped to attention after the slap. She trembled as she stood up.

Just as she opened her mouth, Pauline’s expression changed abruptly, and she began to cry with feigned innocence.

“It’s all my fault, Mrs. Corey! I shouldn’t have held onto Chandler as I did, but I haven’t rested in days, and it’s my birthday. I just wanted him to spend time with me…

“If you’re angry, then hit me! Just don’t hurt yourself!”

She turned and fell into Chandler’s embrace.

His face had darkened in anger.

“Look, Mrs. Corey, I’ve tolerated you because I respect you as an elder but bullying Pauline like this is a bit excessive, don’t you think?

“You should know that all of Mariah’s special medication comes from Pauline. She could have cut off her supply at any time!'

At those words, my mom raised her bloodshot eyes and let out a hoarse scream from her throat, “Cut it off! Go ahead!

“It doesn’t matter as Mariah won’t need it anymore—”

She turned to point at the two coffins, her eyes filled with sorrow as she said, “She’s dead!”