Chapter 9
Years passed before Jacob started visiting my grave regularly.
Every time he came, he’d bring my favorite flowers and snacks, but he never said much. Just stood there in awkward silence, like he didn’t know how to talk to
his dead sister.
But today was different. Today, he wouldn’t shut up.
He pulled out his phone and started showing me photos-dozens of them, carefully saved and labeled.
Sunrise over Mount Whitney, golden light breaking through the clouds.
The Pacific Coast Highway, waves crashing against the rocks.
The Eiffel Tower lit up at night. The pyramids at sunset. Venice canals reflecting streetlights.
very single place from my bucket list. All the dreams I’d never gotten to live.
Emma,” his voice cracked a little, “I finished everything on your list. Well, except for that family photo. But I know you’re watching, so… I did it for you.”
le sighed, staring at my headstone. “Mom came to find you, didn’t she? Have you seen her?”
shook my ghostly head. No, I hadn’t seen her. And honestly? I didn’t want to.
faybe when you die, you get to choose who you encounter in whatever comes after.
nd some people… some people you never want to see again.
cob actually smiled at that, like he could somehow sense my response.
Emma, I hope you never forgive her. Don’t forgive Mom and Dad. Don’t forgive me either.”
hat caught me off guard. I’d expected him to beg me to let go of my anger, to find peace or whatever.
You know, I hated you when we were kids,” he continued. “Every toy I wanted, every privilege I craved-you always got half of it just by existing.”
But then Mom started giving me more behind the scenes, and I stopped hating you. I just… got used to treating you like shit. It became habit.”
I’m sorry. Even though I don’t want your forgiveness, I still need to say it. I’m fucking sorry.”
I think about it all the time-what if I’d stood up for you that night? What if I’d defended you when they accused you of sleeping around? What if I’d just… lipped you my phone and some cash before Dad threw you out?”
Maybe you’d still be alive. Maybe none of this would’ve happened.”
he wind picked up, rustling through the cemetery trees and messing up his hair.
le reached into his backpack and pulled out an official-looking document-some kind of insurance policy.
That game we were playing? I never got to finish. There was one more thing I wanted to tell you.”
remembered now. He’d tried to say something else that night, but I’d been too devastated to listen.
acob flipped to the last page of the contract and pointed to a specific line.
When I turned eighteen, the first thing I did was take out a life insurance policy. And you know what? I made you the beneficiary.”
“Mom and Dad made me the beneficiary on all their policies. But on mine? I put your name down.”
“I saved up my allowance and birthday money for months. Didn’t buy a single video game that whole summer just to afford the premiums.”
For the first time since I died, I felt something other than cold emptiness.
Warmth. Just a tiny flicker, but it was there.
The brother who’d spent years telling me to drop dead had been the only person in our family who actually gave a damnn about me.
The wind died down, leaving everything eerily quiet.
Jacob touched my headstone gently, his voice barely a whisper.
“Remember when I told you not to haunt my dreams? I didn’t mean it.”
“Come visit me, Em. I’m not scared anymore.”
