My daughter called Hudson for help.

"Mommy is about to die. Daddy, please come save her," she said.

Hudson answered the phone impatiently.

"You're just like your mom. Both of you are liars. If she's going to die, let her die sooner," he said.

Hudson didn't know that I was dying.

Later, just as he wished, I never bothered him again. Hudson ended up kneeling at my grave, begging for my forgiveness.

*****

I slumped by the bedside. Blood kept gushing from my mouth. I couldn't stop it.

My three-year-old daughter cried as she wiped my mouth over and over with tissues.

"Mommy, what's wrong? I'm scared," she said.

I wanted to reach out and hug her, but I couldn't muster the strength.

"Mommy, I will go find Daddy. I will get Daddy to save you, okay?" she said.

Leah ran barefoot to the living room to get the phone.

She finally got the phone, but couldn't unlock it.

"Mommy, I can't unlock the phone. I can't call Daddy. Can you help me unlock it?" she said.

Leah pushed the phone into my hand. I lifted my hand with difficulty and slowly entered the password.

Leah saw the phone unlock and quickly called Hudson.

I had taught Leah how to call Hudson before. She found Hudson's number right away and dialed it.

The phone rang for a long time before he answered.

"Hailey, didn't I tell you not to bother me if it's nothing important? I'm very busy," Hudson said impatiently.

Hudson's impatient voice came through the phone. Leah was startled.

Leah glanced at me, too weak to get up. She spoke timidly into the phone.

"Daddy, Mommy is sick. Can you come save her?" she asked.

Hudson was stunned when he heard Leah's voice. Then he sneered.

"Hailey, you've outdone yourself. You're using Leah now. How dare you?" he said mockingly.

Hearing Hudson's mocking words, I felt like a boulder was crushing my chest. I spat out another mouthful of blood. My vision started to blur.

Leah didn't understand what Hudson was saying. She just kept crying.

"Daddy, Mommy is going to die. Please come save her, okay?" she pleaded.

Hudson was completely enraged on the other end of the line.

"You're just like your mom. Both of you are liars. If she's going to die, let her die sooner," he said.

As Hudson finished speaking and was about to hang up, a clear, childish voice came from his end.

"Daddy, hurry up and cut the cake. It's almost midnight," the child said.

Hudson lowered his voice. He spoke gently to the child.

"Alright, I'm coming now," he said.

The last bit of hope in my heart finally disappeared.

So, he was celebrating his dream girl's birthday. No wonder he was angry that Leah and I interrupted him.

Leah stared at the disconnected call, feeling helpless.

I wanted to lift my hand and pat her little head to tell her it was okay, but I had no strength left.

My consciousness slowly faded. My past flashed before my eyes like film strips.

I thought, "I'm going to die."

It had only been two months since my cancer diagnosis. My life had just begun, and now it was ending.

When I opened my eyes again, I had already become a spirit floating in the air.

I looked down. Leah was shaking my body non-stop.

"Mommy, please wake up, okay? I'm so hungry. I want to eat," she said, pleading.

My body was just sitting quietly against the bed. My head was lowered. If it weren't for the blood all over, it would look like I was just asleep.

"Leah, I'm sorry. I should have taken you away sooner," I whispered, full of regret.

Even as a spirit, my heart ached so much. It was hard to breathe.

Leah was still a child. What would happen to her now?

"Mommy, are you sleeping? I won't bother you. I will sleep with you, okay?" she asked softly.

Leah curled up into a circle next to me. She blinked her big eyes. I wasn't sure what she was thinking. Then, she slowly fell asleep next to me.

At 3 a.m., the door creaked open.

Hudson walked in, reeking of alcohol. He didn't turn on the lights.

Leah was woken by the sound of the door opening. She rubbed her eyes. She got up and walked out.

When Hudson saw Leah, a trace of displeasure flashed in his eyes.

"Leah, why are you still up so late? Don't you have school tomorrow?" he asked, irritated.

Leah shook her head. Then she nodded. She stood there, unsure of what to do.

"Where's your mom? It's so late, and she didn't put you to bed. How dare she let you run around on your own," Hudson said, frustrated.

Hudson took Leah's hand and walked toward the master bedroom where I had been sleeping.

I followed them, my heart pounding with nervous anticipation.

Would Hudson feel even a hint of regret or sadness when he realized that I was already dead?

He pushed the door halfway open. He saw my body sitting on the other side of the bed.

Moonlight streamed in from the window. Hudson only saw a figure from behind.

"Hailey, what nonsense are you up to again?" Hudson said, "You're a mom now. Why aren't you putting Leah to bed at this hour? What's with the whole brooding act?"

When I didn't answer, Hudson gently nudged Leah and pushed her into the room.

"Hurry up and put her to bed," Hudson said, "If you're not resting, she still needs to. She has school tomorrow."

I screamed frantically in his ear.

"Hudson, I'm dead! I can't put Leah to bed anymore," I shouted, "Can you please take her out? She'll be scared if she finds out I'm dead."

No matter how much I yelled, Hudson couldn't hear me.

When I didn't respond, Hudson rubbed his temples. A trace of anger was on his face.

"Hailey, what's the point of that expression all day long?" Hudson said, "I can let go of the past, but I hope you can reflect on yourself and not be a bad influence on Leah."

"Hudson, just walk in!" I pleaded, "If you walk in, you'll see I'm already dead."

Anxious, I rushed toward Hudson. I wanted to drag him into the room to see that I was dead. But I just passed right through him.

"Hailey, you should reflect on yourself," Hudson said.

When I still didn't respond, Hudson slammed the door shut, isolating Leah and me in the master bedroom. He then went back to the study.

The small flicker of hope in my heart was extinguished completely.

Leah, probably too tired, came over and lay down beside me. Her small head rested on my legs as she quickly fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning at eight, Hudson got up, washed up, and went to the living room. He saw the empty dining table and frowned.

I used to get up at six to make breakfast. Just so Hudson could have a hot meal as soon as he woke up.

At that moment, the lock on the master bedroom door clicked. Leah walked out of the room barefoot.

Her clothes were covered in bloodstains. Hudson looked over and froze in place.

"Leah, what's that on your clothes?" Hudson asked.