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."