When I'm Gone

Mom slammed on the brakes. The tires screamed against the pavement.

I flew straight out of the car.

Dad's forehead crashed hard into the dashboard.

I rushed back, wanting to blow gently on the red mark on his forehead, but then Mom's phone rang.

I leaned over to look. The caller was Adrian.

Mom frowned at Dad, then answered. Adrian's soft voice came through.

"Meredith, I miss you so much. I miss the baby in your belly too."

I froze for a moment, and Dad turned to look at her at the same time.

Mom did not notice at all. Her expression turned unusually gentle as she spoke. "Don't be silly. Be good.

"I'll be back soon."

After hanging up, she coldly told Dad to get out. "Stop making a scene, Daniel. You're an adult. Don't throw childish tantrums.

"That's enough. We'll talk when I get back.

"I'll send you the address. Take a cab to the villa yourself. I've already had your things moved there. Pack them up, but don't touch the primary bedroom. I'm pregnant with Adrian's child, and he needs to stay in the primary bedroom to take care of me."

Dad clutched my urn so tightly that his fingers went white.

I knew what hurt him most: I had only just died, and Mom already had another child.

I sighed and reached out to touch his red eyes, but my transparent fingers passed through him.

He choked out, "Meredith, Caleb just... had an accident. Do you even care about him at all?"

Mom's frown deepened. "I didn't do it on purpose.

"Last time Adrian was drugged by someone at a bar by accident, and we... Daniel, be reasonable.

"Adrian is an orphan. This baby is the only blood family he has in the world. You're a father too. You can't expect me to get rid of his child, can you?"

She sighed. "As for Caleb, he's still little. He doesn't understand anything.

"I'll make it up to him. Hasn't he always wanted that robot action figure? When he comes back from the hospital, I'll buy it for him."

My eyes dimmed as I lowered my head.

But Mom, I will never be able to play with the action figure you buy.

She urged Dad out of the car.

Mom's car drove past us. She never looked back, just like the day I was hit.

Dad pressed my urn tightly to his chest. It sounded like he was talking to me, and also to himself.

"Baby, your mom wasn't always like this..."

I floated over and hugged him, nodding softly.

I knew.

Mom used to love us very much.

Many old clothes at home had been sewn by her own hands.

When I was very little, she would come home at night with Dad's favorite irises.

She would also lift me high over her head and proudly tell the neighbors that I was her brightest little treasure.

But that was a long time ago.

Dad's phone rang. It was a man we did not know.

"Come over tonight. We usually don't hire men your age, but we had someone drop out at the private lounge.

"I heard things are hard for you, so we'll make an exception this time."

"Yes, yes, thank you so much for helping me."

Dad hung up with endless gratitude and smiled for the first time in days.

He touched my cold urn and whispered, "Good boy, Caleb.

"After tonight, Dad will have enough money to buy you a burial plot."