"Daddy? When are you coming home? Mommy's on the bed, and she won't wake up." Luca's voice shook, breaking up with tiny, hiccuping sobs.

"If she's not getting up, wake her. She's just being lazy, " Bill barked. "Look, I'm busy. Go ask your mom if you need something, and stop calling me for every little thing!"

Then he hung up, just like that.

He was too busy flirting with his secretary to care. Me? Luca? We weren't even on his radar.

What he didn't know was that I was already dead.

But later, when reality slammed into him like a truck, he clung to my photo, sobbing and begging me not to leave. Too late.

It hit me out of nowhere——a sharp, crushing pain in my chest that stole the air from my lungs.

"Mommy, what's wrong?"

Luca's voice cut through the haze. My three-year-old was sitting right there, eyes wide and terrified.

I tried to smile, keep it together for him, but it felt fake even to me. I wanted to reach out, ruffle his messy hair, but my arm? Useless. Like it didn't belong to me anymore.

Luca's eyes welled up as he took in my pale face.

Then came the sobs, loud and desperate. "Mommy, are you dying? Don't leave me, please!"

Each cry felt like a hammer to my skull, the pain in my chest squeezing tighter, sharper.

"Go... call... Daddy," I gasped.

He didn't understand what was happening, so I could only tell him to call my husband, Bill Clayton, for help.

Luca wiped his face, slid off the bed, and bolted to the living room. Moments later, he was back, clutching my phone.

He held the phone up to my face, unlocking it. But by then, I was already slipping away, my body nothing more than a hollow, immobile shell.

'Luca, you're all I've got.'

At his age, 911 wasn't in his world yet. Bill's number was saved as my emergency contact. All Luca had to do was tap the icon.

Beep. Beep.

The call rang out. No answer. Just a voicemail kicking in.

Luca didn't get it—he kept yelling into the phone, "Daddy! Daddy, help!" over and over.

But my world was shutting down, darkness pulling me under.

Heart disease ran in the family—my dad, my grandfather, both gone because of it. I'd been careful, done all the right things. Regular checkups, healthy living.

And yet, here I was, my heart betraying me, giving out without warning.

When I opened my eyes, I saw myself—just lying there, lifeless.

Luca was still clutching the phone, his finger jabbing the call icon over and over. This time, it actually connected.

"Daddy?" Luca's voice shook, breaking up with tiny, hiccuping sobs. "When are you coming home? Mommy's on the bed, and she won't wake up."

Bill's voice came sharp and annoyed. "If she's not getting up, wake her. She's just being lazy.

"Look, I'm busy. Go ask your mom if you need something, and stop calling me for every little thing!"

Before Luca could reply, a woman's sultry voice cut in. "You promised today was about me. Forget her. Tonight, you're mine."

I let out a bitter laugh.

Marrying Bill had turned me into a stay-at-home mom, buried in endless chores—cooking, cleaning, taking care of Luca. But to him, I was just lazy, living the easy life.

And now, while I was dying on the bed, he was off sleeping with another woman.

I wanted to scream. To shout, 'I'm not lazy! I'm dying!' But no one could hear me.

Bill hung up.

Luca stared at the phone. He looked so lost, so unsure. Then, he climbed up next to me, carefully draping my arm over his tiny shoulders. Like that could somehow keep me here.

Tears spilled down my face.

He was just three. My baby. How was he supposed to make it without me? Would Bill actually take good care of him after I was gone?

As Luca's eyes fluttered shut, I hummed a lullaby, staying right there. His breathing slowed, soft and steady. Asleep.

I glanced at my body—still, empty—and ran a hand over my face. My rough hands, worn from years of scrubbing and cooking. The lines on my face that time and exhaustion had carved.

Maybe that's why Bill turned to his secretary, Ima Pegg.

He'd chosen her over me. Even when I needed him most.

Would he even cry when he found out I was gone? Just one tear—that's all I wondered. Would he even give me that?

"Mommy, wake up! I'm scared!"

The room was pitch dark. Luca was shaking me, his voice trembling.

I tried to scoop him into my arms, but my hands went straight through him. I couldn't touch him.

"Mommy, I'm scared of the dark! Turn on the light!"

When I didn't answer, he sat on the bed and started crying, the sound tearing through me.

Normally, I'd give in right away, rushing to comfort him, but now—no matter how much he cried—I couldn't do anything.

Eventually, he slid off the bed, sniffling, and turned on the light himself.

He hesitated, looking back at me, then shuffled to the kitchen.

I watched him rummage through the cabinets and fridge. I'd always kept snacks out of reach because of his weak teeth, so all he found was a cold apple.

He rinsed it carefully under the tap, then padded back to the bedroom, holding it out.

"Mommy, are you hungry? Here, eat the apple. I washed it for you!"

When I stayed silent, his little face fell. He pulled the apple back and climbed into bed, tossing one of his legs over mine like he always did.

"Mommy, are you just tired? That's okay. You sleep, and we'll play tomorrow."

He kissed my cheek, tugged at my hand, and made a tiny pinky promise with himself.

I covered my mouth, sobbing silently. 'Luca, baby, it's not that I don't want to. I just... I can't.'

Eventually, he fell asleep again.

At dawn, the slam of the front door startled him awake.

Luca sat up, and instinctively buried himself in my side—then froze, realizing I wouldn't move. Heart pounding, he bolted for the door.

Bill stood there, yawning.

"Why are you up so early? Where's your mom? Why hasn't she made breakfast yet?" Bill grumbled, heading to the kitchen and pouring himself a glass of milk. "It's late, and she's still lazing around!"

Luca tugged at his sleeve, his hands moving as he spoke. "Daddy, Mommy's in the room, but she won't move. I'm so hungry. I want fried eggs."

I practically shouted in my head, 'Yes! Luca, take him to the bedroom. Hurry!'

If Bill saw me, he'd know I was gone. At least then Luca wouldn't be stuck like this.

But Bill shrugged Luca off, irritated. "If you're hungry, go ask your mom. Stop bugging me—I need sleep!"

Under his breath, he muttered, "Rhea, seriously. Letting the kid run around barefoot first thing in the morning. Doesn't she care if he gets sick?"

Still complaining, he finally trudged after Luca toward the bedroom.

I held my breath.

Three steps.

Two steps.

One.

Any second now, Bill would see me—and realize I was dead.