Halloween Night, He Mistook My Death for a Prank Chapter 09

Sienna was eventually held formally responsible.

She didn’t defend herself.

In her follow-up statement, she admitted to removing the panel and failing to inspect the prop.

“I really didn’t want her to die.”

She looked down at her hands.

“I just… got used to it.”

“Used to everyone making room for me.”

“Used to Nolan soothing Avery whenever she got upset.”

“I thought this time would be the same.”

The officer taking her statement asked if she had any regrets.

She cried for a long time.

“Does regret even help?”

Of course it didn’t.

Nolan also voluntarily submitted the video, admitting to holding me down, accidentally touching the blade, and blocking the medical check afterward.

He would face further consequences too.

On the day of my funeral, it rained hard.

Many classmates came in black to see me off.

The school removed all the jack-o’-lanterns from the auditorium.

But Nolan kept mine.

I’d carved it myself.

The pumpkin’s smile was ugly. He’d teased me about being terrible at carving.

Now he held it, standing in the rain for hours.

My father wouldn’t let him inside.

“When she was alive, you didn’t stand by her.”

“Now don’t you dare mar her final send-off.”

Nolan nodded.

He didn’t argue. He didn’t beg.

He left a manila envelope at the door.

Inside was my planning credit for the Halloween Showcase, my official commendation certificate, and all the event files he’d reorganized.

The school restored my host credit too.

But I couldn’t see it anymore.

I floated under the eaves, watching him get soaked through.

I used to hate it when he got caught in the rain.

When he had late practices, I’d always wait with an umbrella.

Once, I had a 102°F fever, and I still remembered to bring him a jacket.

He held me and said, “Avery, how do you love me this much?”

Back then, I thought being seen by him was enough.

As long as he knew how much I loved him, he’d treasure me more.

Only later did I understand—being seen isn’t the same as being treasured.

He knew I loved him, so he was certain I’d back down, endure, forgive.

It wasn’t that he wasn’t gentle. It’s that his gentleness always required me to get hurt first.

After the funeral, my mother walked out the door.

She tossed the jack-o’-lantern enamel pin into Nolan’s arms.

“This is yours.”

“Avery’s not taking it with her.”

Nolan caught it, his fingers trembling violently.

My mother didn’t look at him again.

The door closed slowly.

He stood in the rain, then suddenly doubled over, sobbing.