My parents suddenly told me that we were living in a novel.

I was the frail and favored younger brother destined to get into college, marry my childhood sweetheart, and live an easy life.

My older brother, Daniel Luther, on the other hand, was the expendable one. He was destined to fail his SAT and be beaten to death.

My parents said that if they wanted to save him, they had to make sure he got into college.

They did everything they could to help him, but he still failed his SAT.

Meanwhile, I got into the same college as my childhood sweetheart, Priscilla Grimmie, through my own hard work.

That night, my parents snatched my college acceptance letter and locked me in a cellar under the backyard.

"Let your brother take your place and go to college first. You can retake your exams next year."

My foot slipped, and I hit my head hard against a canning jar.

Warm blood trickled down my neck. I shouted, "Mom, it hurts!"

She didn't even turn around.

"Caleb, stop it! Your brother is one step away from his dreams!"

Their footsteps gradually faded.

I slowly closed my eyes.

The next time I opened my eyes, I was already floating in midair.

I looked down. My body was still on the ground. There was a pool of blood under my head. I had long stopped breathing. I was dead.

My spirit passed through the cellar door and drifted toward the house.

The house was brightly lit.

My parents, Daniel, and Priscilla were all gathered around the table.

My mom was forcing the acceptance letter stamped with 'Staghorn College' into Daniel's hands.

"Daniel, from today on, you will become Caleb. Take this and go to Staghorn City with Priscilla."

Daniel didn't take it. He backed away with tears in his eyes.

"Mom, Caleb is still locked in the cellar. He's always been weak.

"Let Caleb go to college instead. I promise I won't go out on the first day of college. I won't die."

Tears streamed down Mom's face.

"You can stay in for one day, but can you do that for the rest of your life?"

My dad clutched his hair and sighed.

"We've tried. Caleb tutored you for so long. You understand everything normally, but you still failed the SAT.

"And Caleb passed. That's the fate of your contrasting roles!"

Daniel started crying and shaking his head desperately.

"During the test, all I could think about was what you said. If I failed, I'd die. I was so nervous my mind went blank, that's why–"

"That's fate!" Mom cut him off.

Priscilla had been sitting quietly in the corner the whole time.

She finally looked up.

"Daniel, you should go. Caleb is smart. He can get in next year."

I drifted up to her.

She used to cling to me, saying we'd go to college together and live in the city.

But now, there was only conflict in her eyes.

"We grew up together. I can't watch you die. Caleb will understand."

I cried right in front of her.

'Priscilla, of course I would understand, but Mom and Dad already think I'd make a fuss.

'I'm dead. I'm in so much pain.'

She couldn't hear me.

Dad latched onto her words like a lifeline.

"Even Priscilla says so! She likes your brother and is still willing to prioritize helping you!"

Daniel looked at her and trembled as he cried. "But this is stealing his life–"

Priscilla stood up and walked over to him.

"It's borrowing, and it's only for a year. We'll wait for Caleb at college."

My parents exchanged a look and nodded at him.

I floated between them. Memories came flooding back.

After my parents awakened to the truth, everything changed.

In the past, they favored me because I was frail.

Later, they became worried that my life would turn out too good.

During winter, they only bought a new puffer jacket for Daniel.

I had to wear his old one from two years ago. The cotton batting was starting to poke out through the worn-out cuffs.

The summer before ninth grade, I won a competition and received a prize of 30 dollars.

Dad said, "Use it to buy your brother reference books. He needs them. You're smart, and you don't need them."

Three days before the SAT test, they even locked me in my room so I wouldn't take it.

It was Daniel who stole the key in the middle of the night and let me out.

Now that I got in, they wanted to take my college spot too.

Daniel suddenly looked up and ran toward the cellar in the backyard.

"I'm going to ask Caleb. If he doesn't agree, I won't go!"

Mom grabbed him. Dad pressed hard on his shoulders.

"You ungrateful child!"

Daniel was forced into the chair. He bawled his eyes out and constantly looked in the cellar's direction.

I floated beside him and reached out to wipe his tears away, but my hand passed right through him.

'Don't cry, Daniel. I don't blame you.'

Priscilla sighed and stood up.

"I'll go talk to Caleb. He's always listened to me."

She walked to the backyard.

I followed her.

She crouched down and placed her hand on the cellar entrance. Her voice was gentle.

"Caleb, I'll open the door. Come out and talk to us."

Just before the door opened, a clatter came from inside the cellar. It was the sound of a jar falling.

I drifted in to look. It was just two rats.

Priscilla thought I was throwing a tantrum. She pulled away and said helplessly, "I know you're upset, but Daniel really will die."

I floated in front of her and crouched down to look into her eyes. 'Priscilla, I'm already dead. Daniel won't die.'

She couldn't hear me.

"We grew up together. I do like you, but you need to bear with us on this."

She paused.

"You can take the test next year. Daniel and I will be waiting for you at college.

"Calm down."

She waited for a while. After not hearing a response, she sighed softly and turned around to leave.

I followed behind her and laughed through my tears.

'Priscilla, I'm not sulking. I'm already dead.'

Soon, Daniel came over with a plate of warm pasta. There were two fried eggs on top. It was my favorite food.

Mom frowned behind him. "He's throwing a tantrum. He won't eat. Don't waste your effort."

"If he doesn't eat, he'll get a stomachache," Daniel said with a trembling voice.

He crouched at the cellar entrance and knocked gently.

"Caleb, I'm sorry. Won't you eat something?"

Even after a long time, he didn't get any response.

He frowned. Sensing something was wrong, he reached forward to unlock the cellar entrance.

I floated over anxiously. "Don't open it, Daniel! You'll be terrified!"

Just then, Mom shouted from the front yard.

"Daniel! Come try on the new clothes I made! You need to look presentable for college!"

Daniel's hand froze.

He set the plate down by the door.

"The food's here. Don't forget to eat."

He looked back repeatedly as he walked away.

I stared at the plate of pasta.

The steam slowly faded. The oil congealed into a pale film.

I floated closer and tried to touch it, but my hand went right through.

After a long moment, I sat beside my body and hugged my knees.

'Daniel, I'm dead. I'll never get to eat the pasta you make again.'

Late at night, Mom quietly came to the cellar entrance.

When she saw the untouched pasta, her brows furrowed. She crouched down and lowered her voice.

"Caleb, I know you feel wronged, but I really have no choice.

"Please don't refuse to eat. No matter how upset you are, you have to take care of your body," Mom said.

She pressed her ear to the door and listened for a long time. Inside, there was only silence.

Panic crept into her weeping voice.

"Caleb? Can you answer me?

"Once your brother leaves, I'll let you out right away. I'll make you meatballs."

There was still no sound.

She stood up, wiped the corner of her eyes, and sighed.

"You're a stubborn child."

She left.

I floated in front of her.

'Mom, I'm not being stubborn. I'm dead.'

As she walked back inside, she wiped the corner of her eyes again.

I drifted outside the window and heard my parents talking softly.

"Is he asleep?" Dad asked.

"Yeah. He ignored me," Mom said helplessly.

Dad sighed. "I hope he doesn't starve."

Tears slipped down my face.

In the cellar, my body was beginning to stiffen.

Early next morning, Daniel got up to cook.

He thought about going to the cellar to grab some sweet potatoes, but Dad stopped him.

"We're going to Staghorn City today to eat out! We'll visit Staghorn College while we're at it. You don't have to cook."

Mom came out in the floral dress she only wore during holidays.

"Daniel, hurry up and get changed. Priscilla will be here soon."

Daniel didn't move. He glanced at the backyard.

"Can we take Caleb with us? He's never been to Staghorn City."

Mom's expression changed.

"What if he sees how nice the college is and makes a scene? No way!"

Daniel opened his mouth, but Dad cut him off harshly.

"That's enough! After you and Priscilla register, your mom and I will take him there!"

Daniel's face turned pale. He fell silent.

Mom smoothed things over. "Get changed and call Priscilla. I'll talk to Caleb."

She turned around slowly and walked out into the yard.

She heated up some cornbread and boiled an egg. She then carried them to the backyard.

Seeing that last night's food hadn't been touched, her expression darkened instantly. She pounded on the door.

"Caleb! Who are you starving yourself for? We're doing this to save your brother's life!"

There was no response.

"I'll count to three. Come out! One! Two!"

When she reached three, her voice suddenly softened. She spoke through choked sobs.

"Caleb, I'm begging you. Just take a bite. Your body is weak to begin with."

There was still nothing.

Her hands shook as she reached to lift the hatch.

Just then, Dad's voice came from the front gate.

"The bus is here! Hurry up or we'll be late!"

Mom's hand trembled. The hatch slammed shut with a loud bang.

She set the food down and sighed.

"The food's at the door. Come out and eat it yourself!"

She hurried off.

Inside the cellar, my body had already begun to give off a faint stench.

I stood where she had just been and said to her back, 'Mom, if you opened the door, you'd see that I'm dead.'

The bus rattled along.

I floated above Daniel's head. He sat by the window and stared in the direction of home the entire time.

Priscilla sat beside him and whispered, "Don't worry. Caleb is smart. He'll come around."

Daniel forced a smile.

Once they arrived in Staghorn City, they went to a restaurant first.

Daniel ordered two plates of frittatas.

"Caleb loves this."

He barely ate. He neatly packed the other plate of frittatas along with his leftovers.

They then went to the college.