After I Died, They Finally Regretted It Chapter 1

On the way to school, Mom and Dad held my sister Jessica’s hands tightly, one on each side.

And I trailed behind them like some stray dog.

I wanted to run up and have them hold my hand too.

But all I got was Jessica snapping impatiently, "I don't want to go to school with Chloe."

So Dad hit the gas, leaving me standing there as they drove off with Jessica. I was left alone to wait for the bus.

If they knew their real daughter was about to die, would they regret it?

* * *

"I don't feel like going to school with Chloe today!"

One sentence from my sister, and Dad floored it, the car shooting away.

Staring at the exhaust fumes fading in the distance, I resigned myself to walking, my own two feet being my transport.

I hadn't gone far when a neighbor called out to me, asking for a little favor.

Remembering he’d helped me out before, I followed him back to his house without a second thought.

And then, the thing I'd regret for the rest of my short life happened.

At the very last moment, I managed to send out a cry for help.

But Dad didn't pick up. The phone rang once, then clicked off. Hung up.

The screen went black. The phone was ripped from my hand and smashed.

Like a moldy, rotten tomato, I was thrown into a dark basement, staring blankly with lifeless eyes.

My spirit pulled away from my body and drifted all the way to school.

I watched Dad and Jessica hug goodbye at the school gate. Dad only left reluctantly after Jessica’s figure disappeared from view.

I was standing right behind him. He turned and walked straight through me.

That's when it hit me. I was really dead.

My name is Chloe. My sister’s name is Jessica. We were supposed to be full sisters, same mom, same dad.

But one day, a while back, Jessica told me, "Chloe, you're not Mom and Dad's real daughter. I am. They only took you in because they felt sorry for you. If you don't want to get kicked out, you have to do what I say."

So that was why they didn't love me.

I was just the adopted one.

"There's only one piece of cake left. Let's save it for your sister."

I stood there holding the plate, waiting for her to finish before I could put it down.

"Your clothes are still wearable. We'll order Jessica's new uniform first this time."

I lowered my head and forced down a tasteless mouthful of food.

Mom was right, they were still wearable. Just a little dirty.

Covered in random doodles and slang words.

All courtesy of Jessica. She wanted Mom and Dad to think I was a troublemaker.

But her efforts were wasted. Mom and Dad definitely never saw it. Or never looked.

The uniform I’d worn for two years was still a bit big on me.

"Malnourished," the nurse told me during my check-up.

"You need to eat more vegetables, get a balanced diet."

Looking at the table loaded with chicken, steak, and fish, the nurse's words felt incredibly ironic.

Vegetables were pretty much all I ever ate. Because that was all that was left.

Jessica's plate was piled high with meat by Mom and Dad.

She'd look at me smugly, chin tilted up.

Every time, I thought she was trying too hard.

Just being their real daughter was enough to beat me. Why bother with anything else?