Becky's room was always full of people who cared about her, but mine was empty unless my family needed something from me.

I watched from a corner as Mom held Becky's hand, fussing over her with loving questions.

"Ellison will take you out for some fun this month to help you relax. You'll feel better in no time."

That was why Ellison had to put off our wedding. Becky's doctor said that traveling could help her feel better, and Ellison was asked to take her on a month-long trip.

They could have gone after the wedding, but Becky would not wait. She even turned the living room upside down until Ellison said yes.

They were leaving tomorrow.

Becky could not stop talking about how much she was looking forward to the trip.

Mom, Dad, and Ellison listened with kind smiles.

Then, Ellison looked at me and said, "Lily, if you want, you can come with us too."

Everything went quiet. It was like I was someone who did not belong there, sticking out like a sore thumb.

I shook my head. "I don't feel good, so I'll pass."

Dad frowned and said, "What's with you, always feeling sick? If you don't want to go, just say so."

Mom scolded me too. "Ellison is being nice by inviting you, and you don't even say thank you?"

I bit my lip so hard that it hurt.

I thought about telling them how sick I was. Actually, I had already tried once before. That day, I coughed up blood, and they saw it happen. They were so worried and asked me what was wrong.

I thought I could finally share the truth with them.

However, Becky came in right then, saw the blood, and started crying and yelling. All of a sudden, it was all about her. She said seeing blood made her think of something scary from before. She even said I knew that and asked why I was pretending to be sick just to frighten her.

After that, no matter how many times I told them I felt sick, my parents did not believe me anymore. They thought I was just faking it.

However, now... I only had a month left.

'If I tell them the truth now, will I still get to feel their care and love for this last month?' I thought to myself.

I took a deep breath, trying to find the courage to tell them the hard truth.

However, Becky spoke up before I could.

"Dad, Mom, don't be mad at her. I know she's never liked me. She'd rather fake being sick than go out and play with me. It's all my fault..."

She started crying again, and Ellison and my parents rushed to comfort her.

Just like that, I was the one faking being sick.

No matter what I said, the people who used to love me most would not believe me anymore.

Becky's crying turned into a painful scream. "Daddy, Mommy, my stomach hurts so bad. Help me..."

Everyone looked worried. Ellison called an ambulance right away, then carried Becky out in a hurry.

I never expected the hospital to say Becky had eaten poisonous mushrooms and needed to have her stomach pumped right away.

Mom slapped me hard across the face. "How could I have raised such a mean daughter?"

I was already weak from being sick, and that slap made my head spin and my ears ring. It took a long time to clear my head. I opened my mouth to say something, but the tears came first.

When I was little, my parents adored me. Even if I just fell down, they would be upset for so long.

However, now, my mom, who used to love me the most, had hit me because of Becky.

The ringing in my ears had not stopped when I heard Dad's voice. "Starting today, you'll be locked in the basement to think about what you've done. You can come out after a week!"

My face went white, and I shook my head. I was scared stiff. "Please, Dad, I'm scared of the dark. Don't lock me in the basement..."

I looked at Ellison, hoping he would help me. However, he just stared back at me, distant and uncaring.

The three people who used to love me did not show any mercy or believe a word I said. They just watched as the bodyguard pulled me away.

The basement was a gloomy, wet place that made me shiver from the cold. I could only wrap my arms around myself to try and stay warm.

At some point, my face started to feel hot. I must have had a fever, but I was too weak to yell for help. I drifted off and had fragmented dreams.

I dreamed about being little again, back before my parents adopted Becky and back when I was their only kid. Dad would laugh and let me ride on his shoulders, spinning me around, while Mom would snap lots of goofy photos.

Suddenly, it was young Becky on Dad's shoulders, and they looked like the perfect family. Meanwhile, I just watched from the side.

I dreamed about Ellison too, about the time he told me he liked me in high school. He was less sure of himself back then but just as serious. He handed me a love letter without a smile on his face.

Then, in a flash, Becky was holding his hand, and all I could see were their backs as I tried to catch up.

When I woke up, my face was wet with tears.

The door to the basement swung open, and the butler gave me a nod. "Ms. Gilbert, Mr. Gilbert says you've been punished enough. You can go now."

I dried my tears, hauled up my heavy body, and went straight to my room to pack. I was not just leaving the basement. I was leaving this house for good.

I did not want my last days to be filled with pain. I just wanted to find a quiet place to be alone and let go.

Mom saw me packing and said in a flat voice, "Ellison and Becky are already on their trip. It's too late for you to catch up with them now."

I stopped for a second, then turned and gave her a weak smile. "Sorry, but I want to go have some fun for a few days."

"Whatever you want. Why didn't you say so sooner? What was with the attitude? Just finish packing and leave quickly. I'm tired of seeing that gloomy face of yours." She did not see the strain in my smile and just teased me like always.

She did not know that her wish was about to come true. She would not have to see me or be bothered by me anymore.

I checked my phone, and there it was—Becky had posted a bunch of updates on her trip with Ellison. They had been to so many places—climbing mountains, watching the ocean, sharing drinks, and walking through forests...

I had been to some of those places with Ellison; others, I had not.

However, looking at those photos, I was not sad anymore. I even felt a little relieved.

Now, Ellison would only have memories with Becky.

As I stepped out with my suitcase, Mom was busy in the kitchen but threw out a, "Be careful and come back soon."

I felt a lump in my throat but managed not to cry.

She always said that when I left. However, she did not know that this time, I was not coming back.

After a lot of thinking, I decided to visit my best friend whom I had not talked to in ages. My last wish was to see her again after all these years.

Janet got a shock when she saw me. "You look so pale! Come in and rest..."

She could tell right away that something was off. Cancer had made me skinnier and my skin yellower.

When I shared that I had late-stage liver cancer, Janet could not hold back her tears, and we cried together for a long time.

Talking about my family and Ellison, I could only give a sad smile and shake my head.

"They've got Becky now. I don't matter to them anymore. Let me go quietly by myself."

Janet's eyes filled with tears again, and she gave me a tight, comforting hug.

"You're not alone. I'll be with you to the very end."

So, I stayed at her place from then on.

The cancer got worse. I could not eat, my stomach hurt like crazy, and I kept coughing up blood.

Eventually, I was stuck in bed, unable to move around.

I looked at a photo of Becky and Ellison on my phone, laughing under a big tree, looking like a perfect couple.

Ellison sent me a message too.

[We'll be home tomorrow. When are you coming back? The wedding's in a few days.]

[Don't worry, Becky's much better. No more delays.]

However, I could not even think about going to the wedding. I could not get out of bed or even type.

I stared at Ellison's picture for the longest time. I wanted to call him, and my parents too, but after a long hesitation, I just turned off my phone.

I never would have guessed that the last time I saw him in the hospital hallway would be our final goodbye.

My head felt fuzzy, and I could barely hear Janet's voice calling out to me. Something warm and wet touched my face like tears.

However, my eyelids were so heavy, and no matter how hard I tried, I just could not keep them open...

...

Ellison stared at his phone. "Lily" had texted him, saying she could not wait for the wedding and told him to get ready. He had gone all out, planning a wedding so fancy it blew the budget. He wanted it to be perfect after putting it off 18 times.

On the big day, Ellison, all dressed up in his suit, welcomed guests with a smile, peeking outside there and then, hoping to see her.

Then, the bride's car rolled up. Ellison's face lit up, and he hurried over.

However, to his shock, a woman he did not know stepped out, her eyes red and puffy. She handed him Lily's hairpin.

She said, "Mr. Perez, Lily's gone. She passed away. I'm sorry for your loss."