"Alright," Dad said, his voice softening. "I'll make Willow apologize to you for what she did wrong. Let's eat first. If we starve her, you'll only end up feeling bad about it again."

Mom looked away, but still reached for four sets of plates and cutlery, and even the little cat-shaped spoon I had always wanted. My heart softened a little.

That was just how she was. She could sound harsh, but she meant well.

Dad opened my room door. It was empty. "Hey, Willow isn't in her room. Did she hide somewhere because she's upset?"

He immediately turned and headed toward the laundry room.

"She's gone too far this time. Don't go looking for her!" Mom spat out, fury blazing in her eyes. "Let's see how long she can hide. She barely gets scolded and already throws a tantrum like this."

She slammed the cutlery down onto the table. "She must've gone out to find her friends. Can you imagine? A girl her age, running off to play as if nothing had happened, just after hurting her sister. She's just wicked."

The little cat-shaped spoon snapped when it hit the table.

I lowered my eyes, my transparent hands clenched so tightly they nearly twisted into knots. Mom still hadn't realized that I had long stopped having any friends.

Kids were always realistic like that. They knew exactly whose side adults were on and who had no one backing them up.

Ever since what happened at the birthday party, they had started picking on me, tripping me with their feet, and pushing me down the stairs. When the teacher reprimanded them, they would all put on innocent faces.

But I endured all of that because I didn't want to cause trouble for Mom. However, when I found out they were also bullying Maple, I grabbed them by the hair and fought them hard.

From that day on, the bullying I received doubled. Still, I wasn't afraid. As long as Maple was safe, it didn't matter how badly I got beaten.

To keep Dad from looking for me, Mom took more than a dozen sets of new clothes from a shopping bag. "Hey, Hector, take a look at these. What do you think of them?"

"Did you buy these for the girls? Let Willow try them when she comes home," Dad said with a smile.

I leaned in, too. They were really pretty. Every single piece looked like something I would wear.

Mom's smile faded. She snatched the clothes back from Dad. "These are all for Maple. Willow already has enough clothes. She doesn't deserve to wear anything this nice."

A wave of humiliation suddenly washed over the faint trace of joy I had just felt. I drifted instinctively into the corner, as if I could hide myself there.

What was I even thinking? Maple was so pitiful. Of course, Mom was right to buy things for her. Besides, I was already… dead. Otherwise, it would've been wasted. Mom was really smart like that.

I grinned to myself, but my throat tightened for no reason.

"These clothes still need to be washed first," Mom said. "They can't be given to Maple directly. She might get an allergic reaction. Oh, I can't wait! She'll look like the prettiest little princess in them!"

She folded the clothes in her arms and walked toward the laundry room.

Oh, no. My chest tightened.

I quickly drifted into the washing machine and looked at my curled-up body inside. What could I do? I looked hideous! I would definitely scare Mom—what if she had nightmares because of me?

Back when I was alive, I used to stick around Mom. Now that I was dead, would Maple still get up in the middle of the night to bring her a cup of warm honey water as I did?

Mom's footsteps slowly inched closer…

The moment the door handle turned, I stopped breathing. It felt like even my heart had gone still.

"Hey, why are there wounds on your arm, Maple?" Dad exclaimed in shock.

Footsteps immediately changed direction. Mom shrieked, "It must be Willow. It has to be her! She just can't stand that we treat Maple well, so she's been secretly hurting her!"

No, it wasn't me. It was Billy the Bully!

I circled anxiously around Mom, trying to make her understand. Maple could neither speak nor write. She just cried, shaking her head repeatedly.

Mom held her tight, tears pouring down her face. "This is all my fault. I shouldn't have tried to bring you and your sister closer. I gave that monster the chance to hurt you!

"Don't worry, I'll protect you from now on. I won't ever let her hurt you again!"

I stood there, staring at Mom. Then, I lowered my head and looked at the cuts scattered across my arms and legs. They were older, more numerous, and far worse than Maple's.

It had been a long time since Mom bathed or slept beside me, so she never noticed.

"Willow used to be such a good girl. She wouldn't do something like this," Dad argued, brows furrowed. "Let's not jump to conclusions yet. What if we've misunderstood her? I think we should find her first and ask what really happened."

"Well, I'll definitely apologize to her if I did misunderstand her," Mom said.

My eyes lit up. I knew it! I knew Mom would believe me!

A mocking smile tugged at her lips. "But that'll never happen. Ever since Maple came back, I've treated them fairly. But Willow is always trying to act pitiful and get my attention.

"Now that she's not the only one being doted on, she's taking it out on her sister. She's too young to be this calculating, Hector."

"What are you talking about? Willow's only five. What can she possibly know about being calculating?" Dad snapped, eyes worried as he glanced toward my room. "And she's been gone all day. Aren't you worried at all?"

"Worried for what? The fact that she's ruthless enough to hurt her sister makes me wish that something would just happen to her outside," Mom seethed. "I mean, even if she does come back, I'll still beat her to death."

"You… You're impossible to reason with! I'm going to find her."

Dad turned and strode out. I rushed forward, reaching for the corner of his shirt. "I'm right here, Dad. I'm not outside. And please don't argue with Mom because of me. It's not worth it!"

The moment the sunlight touched me, it burned. I flinched and pulled back.

In Maple's room, Mom held her and cried. "This is all my fault. I failed to protect you. From now on, I promise I'll deal with your sister if she even attempts to hurt you again!"

It felt like something dull was scraping against my chest. A sour ache spread through me. I shook my head hard. No, I shouldn't be affected by this. Mom was just speaking out of anger.

I used to be such a naughty kid. After Maple went missing, Mom was so afraid of losing me, too, that she spoiled me endlessly. This year, I even broke Great-Grandma's heirloom by accident, and Mom still couldn't bring herself to scold me.

Then, I looked at myself in the mirror, at the body that had already turned transparent.

Mom was right. Maple had suffered so much, and it was only right that Mom cared about her more. Even though I was only five, I was still stronger than Maple. I was a grown ghost who could take care of myself.

Mom wiped the tears off her face, then picked up the new clothes and headed for the laundry room.

Wait, no. Dad wasn't here. If Mom witnessed the scene alone, she would be petrified.

I pressed myself hard against the laundry room door, trying to block her from coming in, but she pushed it open so easily, walking straight through me.

I stumbled forward and fell against the washing machine. Was there nothing I could do to make her leave? I didn't want her to see the state I was in…

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door.

Mom set the clothes aside and walked toward the front door. As she went, she opened an app on her phone and started the washing machine remotely for pre-washing.

The washing machine, which had stopped spinning when my severed foot got caught, began filling with water again and resumed its cycle.

Oh, no. This time, Mom's favorite washing machine would actually break because of me.

I slammed hard against the machine, desperately trying to make it stop, but it only spun faster and faster. Slowly, blood-soaked foam began seeping out through the gaps.

"Mrs. Thompson, look at my son! Your deranged daughter did this to him!"

My ears perked up, and I instantly recognized it as Billy the Bully's mother, Mama Bully. She used to complain all the time. Every time, Mom would stand up for me and drive her off with a scolding.

I covered my mouth and giggled, drifting out to see how long it would take before Mom chased her away again.

"That goddamn child! I'm so sorry, truly," Mom said, her face awfully grim. "I know it must be Willow's fault. Don't worry, I'll make her apologize to your son soon."

What was Mom talking about? My chest tightened all at once, a crawling ache like something chewing at me.

Mom knew I would never start a fight. Why should I apologize? Billy the Bully messed with Maple first. I didn't do anything wrong. If anything, I would do the same next time!

I floated over to Billy the Bully and swung my fist at him, but he couldn't see me or fear me. The corners of my mouth slowly collapsed.

I lowered my head and looked at my translucent body. I was already dead. From now on, I wouldn't be able to protect Maple anymore.

"Kids need to be controlled and disciplined. I can easily tell you're the soft type," Mama Bully spat out.

"You're so right. Your son looks like an angel, while all Willow knows is to give me trouble," Mom said with visible disdain. "It's getting harder to handle her nowadays. She lies, attacks, and steals like a little criminal!"

Why did Mom say that about me? I was never like that.

Tears brimmed in my eyes. I clenched my hands into fists, forcing those tears from rolling down.

Mama Bully rolled her eyes, then glared at Mom. "Honestly, you can see how someone's gonna turn out from when they're a kid. Have you seen the news of children killing their parents just for their insurance money?

"I can tell Willow is wicked from the core. And I can't believe you'd let her sister stick around that often. Aren't you scared that she'll quietly kill your daughter one day?"

I would never! I loved Maple the most!

I was so livid that my face turned red.

Mom's gaze darkened. She stared at the wounds on Maple's arm without saying a word, so long that even Mama Bully started to look embarrassed. "Sorry. I shouldn't have—"

"You're right," Mom finally said, her voice low. "I should send Willow away. I can't bear losing Maple again…"

Panic surged through me. I froze, staring at Mom.

Hadn't I already been good? I didn't cry out, didn't make a sound, and didn't disturb Maple, no matter how much it hurt inside the washing machine. Why did I still have to be sent away?

"That's more like it!" Mama Bully cheered. "Here, let me teach you a few ways to discipline a child."

She turned to Billy the Bully. "Billy, go play with Maple."

No! He would only bully her!

There was no room left for sadness. I grabbed Maple's hand with all my strength, trying to stop her from being taken away, but Billy the Bully pulled hard. He forcefully dragged her along, passing straight through me.

I looked up. Outside, the midday sun blazed, harsh and blinding. I clenched my teeth and rushed out anyway. The burning from the sunlight hurt even more than the scalding heat inside the washing machine.

I couldn't hold it in anymore and screamed, "Ouch! It hurts!"

Even if it was agonizing, I still had to bring Maple back.

"G-Ghost! There's a ghost!"

For a moment, my body actually became visible. My twisted, terrifying face scared Billy the Bully so badly that he shoved Maple to the ground and ran off.

At the same time, I could feel myself fading even more. My right arm had already disappeared completely. A feeling crept in—I was about to vanish.

"It's Willow! She pretended to be a ghost to scare Maple and me!" Billy the Bully cried out, panic-stricken, even wetting his pants.

"Now, she's gone too far! How could she terrorize kids like this?" Mama Bully snapped. "If anything happens to Billy, I won't just demand compensation from your family. I'll make sure she pays with her life!"

She scooped Billy the Bully up and hurried out, her voice sharp with fury. "I'm warning you, you must punish Willow severely this time. If you don't, I will. The society will deal with her, too."

Maple was panicking, trying to scream as she flailed her arms desperately. I had once learned a little sign language just for her. What she meant was, "Willow was protecting me. She was the one in trouble. Please save her."

But Mom couldn't understand. Instead, her body trembled with anger as she called Dad.

"Willow has seriously disappointed me this time! She not only bullied Maple but even pretended to be a ghost to scare her… A misunderstanding? How could it be? The kid saw it himself! Why would he lie?

"Oh, so you think everyone's just as much of a liar as Willow is? I'm saying, if she does turn into a ghost one day, I'll find an exorcist to make sure she's destroyed! She won't even be allowed to live peacefully in the afterlife!"

Mom was still shouting into the phone as she stormed into my room, turning everything upside down.

"I can't believe we were worried about a scheming, evil child like her! You'd better come home now and send her to your parents' place!

"I never want to see her again in my life! Even if she dies committing crimes in the future, don't even bother telling me!"

I followed her closely as she grabbed my things and roughly stuffed them into a suitcase. Every word felt like a blunt knife from kindergarten, stabbing into my chest, dull and numbing.

Was I really that bad in Mom's eyes?

Tears fell onto the back of my hand, one after another. I crouched down, trying to pick up the toys Mom had once given me. Now, they were like my heart, broken into dust.

In the meantime, unbeknownst to Mom and me, police cars were already rolling into the neighborhood in formation. A neighbor stood outside our place, waving in panic.

"Officers, over here! It's this unit! There's foam and… bloody water flowing out from inside!"