There was a time when Hannah had been a proud but soft-hearted young girl as well.

After school, she would watch cartoons with me and play games with me.

My favorite game was Red Light, Green Light. But one day, while we were playing outside, Hannah had just shouted "Red light!" when one of her classmates called her over to ask about homework.

I stood there alone, waiting for ages, and that was when a stranger snatched me up. As I struggled frantically, I banged my head against a sharp corner nearby. The stranger dropped me and ran.

When Mom and Dad found out that I had become a fool, they got a divorce. Hannah was the one who took on the responsibility of taking care of me, even though she was small and weak herself.

But even a fool like me knew that none of this was Hannah's fault.

Hannah should have been free as a bird, able to do whatever she pleased. She shouldn't have been tied down by someone like me, turning her into a person who was too scared to even confess her love to the guy she liked.

I knew that if Blake hadn't made the first move, Hannah would've just spent her whole life admiring him from afar, sincerely wishing him happiness.

My heart ached. I looked up at the wind chimes swaying in the breeze.

Seeing the tear in the corner of Hannah's eye, I reached out to wipe it away, but all I touched was nothing. Thankfully, Blake was here.

"Hannah, I'd love to have a home with you," he said. "As long as I have you, nothing else matters."

"But other things matter to me." Turning around, Hannah buried herself in Blake's arms. "I can't even keep the simplest promise… Oliver will always be the most important person to me… He ended up like this because of me. I have to spend the rest of my life making it up to him."

No! That wasn't true! I shook my head frantically, wanting to scream at her that she was wrong.

I might be slow, but I could take care of myself. And if Hannah just taught me how to use the appliances, I could take care of Grandma, too.

She must not give up on Blake because of me.

Hannah was crying harder now, sounding as though she was going to cry her heart out. "Sometimes I wish I were the one who got snatched that day. Then I wouldn't have had to carry such a heavy burden.

"The last time Oliver snuck out, I actually thought that if he got lost, it would be better if he never came back. Blake, am I a terrible person?"

I froze for a moment, suddenly remembering the last time I had snuck out.

I usually did exactly what Hannah told me to do and never left the yard. But that day, there was a dog outside mauling a stray cat that Blake often fed.

In my mind, if Blake was sad, then Hannah would be sad too. And if Hannah was sad, then I would be sad as well.

So, to keep everyone from being sad, I snuck out and chased the dog away.

I ran a bit too far, though. I had to ask a lot of people to find my way back home. So this was what Hannah had been thinking this whole time.

My chest tightened with pain, but I was quick to console myself.

It was okay. I wouldn't be a burden to her anymore. Now that I was a ghost, I could blow on the wind chimes for her. The tinkling sounded really nice.

Thank goodness Blake managed to cheer her up.

After putting together a delicious meal, they set everything on the table. Hannah wiped away her tears before knocking on my door. "Oliver, dinner's ready."

Oh dear, I was a ghost now. Could ghosts eat?

Hannah didn't get an answer.

Just as she was about to come in, she noticed the lump beneath my blanket through the window and stopped.

Seeing her turn and walk away, I let out a sigh of relief. Good thing I was smart enough to stuff a doll under the covers.

With this, Hannah would think I was sleeping soundly in my room.

Hannah sat down at the table, still looking pretty ticked off.

"Oliver really has no worries at all. Even though he knows we are back, he still won't come out of his room. All he does is sleep, and he sleeps like the dead!

"One of these days, he's going to sleep himself into an early grave! He causes trouble every day, and he still can't do basic math!"

I could now! I floated right up to Hannah, pointing at the pile of empty bottles. "I counted them perfectly! Check if you don't believe me! Big meanie!"

I was never going to talk to her again. With a huff, I floated off to sit on top of the coffin.

When I saw Grandma reaching for the fish with her fork, I rushed over. "Grandma, you can't eat the fish! There are bones in it!"

To my surprise, as if Grandma had actually heard me, she murmured, "No, no. I shouldn't eat this. Oliver should have the fish."

Blake served Grandma a bunch of other food before speaking loudly in her ear. "Janet, Hannah already set aside food for Oliver. Don't worry and just dig in."

Grandma nodded, and only then did she start eating. I looked around when I heard that. Sure enough, there was an untouched plate of food in the kitchen.

Hmph. So Hannah did still care about me. Since I was the bigger person, I should forgive her.

After dinner, Hannah placed the plate in front of my door.

"Oliver, Blake and I are going out. Make sure you and Grandma lock the gate. When we get back, I hope you'll sincerely apologize to Blake. You were the one in the wrong here, you know. A good brother owns up to his mistakes and makes things right."

But Hannah, I had already gone to sleep. Floating in the yard, I watched Hannah and Blake load all the recyclables onto the trike.

They were talking about going stargazing by the river. I watched their figures fade into the distance, then looked at the unlocked front gate.

I let out a sigh. It would seem like it was up to me to protect Grandma in the end.

In the yard, Grandma rocked back and forth in her chair, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at the moon overhead.

"Oliver…"

I was nodding off nearby when I heard Grandma call my name. "What is it, Grandma?"

"Oliver… Oliver…"

Her voice was thick with sorrow as she reached desperately into empty air.

"Grandma, I'm right here!"

Not sure if she could see me or not, I frantically circled her.

Suddenly, I had an idea. I made my way toward the eaves and blew on the wind chimes. The tinkling sounds filled the air. It was as if this was my way of answering her.

While listening to the chimes, Grandma peacefully drifted off to sleep in the yard.

Wouldn't she catch a cold sleeping here?

With a pout, I yanked at the blanket on Grandma's legs like crazy. It took everything I had, but I finally managed to pull it over her.

Good night, Grandma. I floated to her side, my eyes fixed on the front gate.

I was afraid some foolish thief might break in, though I was probably worrying too much. Our house was practically bare. Who would bother stealing from us?

The sun started to rise in the distance, bathing me in warm sunlight.

Hannah and Blake came back hand in hand. The moment they pushed the gate, their faces fell. "Why isn't the gate locked?"

They rushed inside, breathing a sigh of relief when they saw Grandma was okay.

Grandma woke up with a start and grabbed Hannah's hand. "Oliver… Oliver!"

"Don't any of you try to stop me today. I need to make sure Oliver understands how serious this is! If he can't even handle something as easy as watching the house, he'll be useless!"

Rolling up her sleeves, Hannah stormed toward my room.

Grandma grabbed her sleeve. She stared fixedly at the coffin in the distance. Her voice was full of sorrow as she exclaimed, "Oliver… is gone!"