I don't remember dying. Just that when I saw my own body, I couldn't look.

It was pathetic. Horrific.

Felt like I'd dropped into the ocean's darkest trench—no light, no clue where I was headed.

I curled up, scared out of my mind—until something yanked me upward.

Jeff and Frank were charging ahead.

Frank behind the wheel. Jeff calling my phone nonstop.

Their faces were grim.

Then—busy signal.

Jeff clenched his jaw, tapping the car door like a metronome.

Frank glanced over. "No answer?"

Jeff shut his eyes, hiding whatever cold was brewing underneath.

Frank floored it. The engine growled.

"She's really going all in, huh? Even faked the ashes. Let's see if they're actually hers."

Ashes?

So my body was already gone—cremated.

Maybe once they saw the urn, they'd believe it. Maybe they'd do the decent thing and bury me right.

Then I could vanish completely.

If not... at least they'd stop acting like I was some threat to Lulu. Forget me. That'd be enough. No more cruel words. No more anything.

Half an hour later, they pulled up to the crematorium.

Jeff and Frank got out.

A staff member approached. "Can I help you?"

Jeff gave a smirk. "Sienna Smith's ashes. We were told to pick 'em up, right?"

The staff nodded, handing over a box. "We checked her records—she was an orphan. The police said you were her fiancé, so they contacted you. These are her ashes. We're sorry for your loss."

My parents died in a car crash when I was thirteen. My aunt took the insurance money and kept me around till I turned eighteen—then kicked me out.

She changed her number, moved cities, just to avoid me.

Without Jeff and Frank, I don't even wanna imagine how bleak things would've been.

They saved me. I never thought losing them would make living feel like some impossible luxury.

Jeff rubbed the urn, lips curled in some weird, unreadable smile. "These really her ashes? Not a trick?"

The staff frowned. "Mr. Blenman, we don't fake something like this. That's a serious offense."

Frank scoffed. "Oh, right. 'Cause you guys care. Sienna's ashes—sure. We believe you. Just curious—how much did she pay to stage this little drama?"

The staff stared at them like they'd lost it. His voice iced over. "If you don't believe us, hand over Ms. Smith's ashes. We'll handle it."

Jeff held out the box. The staff reached for it.

Then—Jeff let out a fake gasp.

The urn slipped. Ashes scattered across the floor.

He laughed, sharp and mean. "Oops. Slipped."

Frank snorted, totally unfazed.

He stepped on my ashes, grinding them in like dirt. "Lulu's birthday's tomorrow. Sienna can skip it. But pulling a stunt like this for attention? Sad. Tell her—if she keeps messing with Princess Lulu, she better stay gone."

I gasped, shaking. Tried to scoop up the ashes, but my hands passed right through them.

Everything blurred. And for the first time, I wondered—what if I'd never met them? How much better would life have been?

The staff stared Jeff down, furious. "Mr. Blenman, this is insane. You're desecrating a body! These really are Ms. Smith's ashes. Haven't you seen what's trending? It's all over the internet."

He pulled up a video.

Jeff glanced at it—lazy at first.

Then his smirk dropped. His face twisted.

Frank leaned in, confused—then his eyes widened. Pupils shrank. Pure disbelief.