All I Ask—To Be Bathed in Sunlight Chapter 1

My dad suddenly wanted to go on a trip to Blackwood National Forest. He also bought me a life insurance policy.

The payout amount was terrifyingly high.

He said I was the backbone of the family and deserved to be prioritized.

He even made a point of telling my brother to take extra good care of me that day.

I was overwhelmed. I didn't just scout the route and plan the trip in advance; I secretly bought massive policies for him and the rest of the family, too.

One accident, a ten-million-dollar payout.

After all, this was my second time around.

I already knew what it was like to go hiking with them.

I knew exactly how horribly I would die.

…

"See, honey? Who's Dad's favorite?!"

"The whole family got insurance, but yours has the biggest payout by far."

The moment the insurance agent left, my dad started trying to take credit. After all, everyone else's premium was a few hundred dollars. Mine was ten thousand.

Getting him to part with ten grand was like pulling teeth.

I kept my head down, scrolling through my phone without a word.

"What, you're not happy?"

"Come on, have a beer with your old man. Let's talk."

He patted my head, grabbing a couple of beers and a bowl of peanuts, waving me over. Whenever I was troubled, he'd always been a good listener.

This would be our last heart-to-heart.

"Dad, I don't want to go hiking," I said, looking him straight in the eye. "I want to go to the coast."

"We're surrounded by mountains here. There's no need to travel so far just to hike somewhere else."

"I'd rather see the ocean."

"Wouldn't wading in the water and collecting seashells be more relaxing than climbing a mountain?"

My dad's hand paused, the beer glass halfway to his lips. He glanced at me, then looked down and took a long drink.

"What's there to see at the ocean? A rogue wave could sweep you away and no one would ever find you."

"But the mountains... it's a contained space. No matter what happens, they'll always find you."

Find my body, you mean?

A cold laugh echoed in my mind.

In my last life, not only did they fail to find me, they complained that I was useless even in death.

"That's final," my dad said, his guilt giving way to irritation. He stood and walked out of the room.

My heart plunged into an icy abyss, all warmth extinguished.

His plan was just as ruthless as before.

My brother, Kyle, looked at me, exasperated. "Sis, you really don't appreciate anything, do you?"

"Dad spent ten thousand dollars on you, and you can't even say thank you? Now you want to go to the beach?"

"Do you have any idea how much that would cost? You should be grateful we're going hiking at all."

I laughed, a tremor running through my entire body. "You're right. Dad is the best. I should be on my knees, thanking my lucky stars for all of you."

Kyle was speechless, just staring at me.

My mom came out and slapped me hard on the back. "What's that supposed to mean, you ungrateful brat? Everyone knows your father loves you the most."

"Just because you didn't get your way, you're going to throw a tantrum?"

"Have you ever seen him spend money on anyone the way he does on you? That was ten thousand dollars!"

Yes. Ten thousand dollars.

Ten thousand dollars would be a nice contribution to my brother's wedding fund, but it was a drop in the bucket for a house and a car.

So, they decided to make a bigger bet.

They were leveraging ten thousand dollars at a thousand-to-one return, and my life was the price.

With the payout, they'd have a house, a car, a daughter-in-law, even enough for retirement.

What a profitable business. The happiness of an entire family, all for the low cost of one daughter.

He really was so good to me.

I stood up, brushing off non-existent dust, and walked toward the door.

"Where are you going?" my mom yelled after me. "What? Can't handle a little criticism?"

"I'm going to buy Dad some BBQ ribs."

"Can't let that ten thousand go to waste."

I didn't look back.

"That's more like it! And get me some beef brisket, and a couple pounds of chili dogs for my son."

"That's his favorite!"

I agreed to it all.

After all, this would be the last time they'd ever eat anything I bought for them.

Consider it my final offering to the dead.