My Mom Told Me to Die on My Sister’s Celebration Day Chapter 03

My Mom Told Me to Die on My Sister’s Celebration Day Chapter 03

I thought death meant everything would simply end.

But when I came to again, I felt weightless. Like a wisp of mist.

The front door clicked open. The lights came on.

Dad, Mom, Sienna, and Corbin walked inside together.

“Our Sienna really made us proud today.”

Mom slipped off her shoes, grinning as she spoke to Dad.

“The restaurant owner couldn’t stop raving about her.”

There was no trace of the anger she’d shown before they left. Only genuine happiness.

“She sure did.” Dad laughed.

“Honey, you’ve worked so hard all these years.”

“If it weren’t for everything you’ve done, Sienna and Eira…”

The moment he said my name, the room fell silent.

Mom’s smile disappeared.

She scanned the living room, and when she didn’t spot me, her brows furrowed.

She set a paper bag on the coffee table with a heavy thud.

Then she pulled out a bag of hot roasted pecans.

“Sienna, take these to Eira. Otherwise she’ll spiral again.”

Reluctance flickered across Sienna’s face. Still, she nodded.

She carried the warm pecans to my bedroom door and knocked.

“Eira? Mom got you some roasted pecans. They’re still warm.”

“You know how Mom is—all bark and no bite.”

“She even made a special trip to Miller’s just to get your favorite.”

“Can’t you cut them a little slack?”

I hovered there, watching.

Mom acted like she didn’t care.

But every few seconds, she stole another glance at my bedroom door.

My chest ached.

Mom… I do understand. How could I not?

I know how hard it’s been for you.

I know I pushed you to your breaking point.

I wanted to get better too. I just couldn’t.

The room stayed silent.

Sienna looked down, biting her lip.

Corbin let out a quiet sigh.

Holding a bouquet of sunflowers, he walked over beside her and gently ruffled her hair.

Then he knocked on my door himself.

There was guilt in his voice—but even more than guilt, there was exhaustion.

“Eira. I bought these for you.”

“Please, just stop shutting everyone out.”

“I was out of line this afternoon. I was just wiped out.”

“I thought about it at the flower shop, and… it doesn’t matter if you didn’t get into college.”

He raised three fingers toward the closed door.

“I promise I won’t lose my temper with you again.”

When there was still no response, Sienna hurriedly pulled out a small gift box.

“Eira, I bought you a pink teddy bear barrette with my allowance. It’ll look so cute on you.”

“Come out, okay?”

“Please don’t make Mom and Dad upset again.”

Before she could finish, something crashed to the floor in my room.

Sienna and Corbin froze.

Mom and Dad stopped what they were doing in the living room.

I rushed back through the wall.

The curtain had been blown sideways by the wind, knocking the alarm clock off my desk.

But before anyone could see that, Mom exploded.

“Eira! Now you’re throwing things?”

“You spoiled brat! You think the whole world owes you something?”

“So you’re sick—so what? You have depression—so what? Who has it easy?”

“I’m in my fifties and I’m still watching you twenty-four seven.”

“Your father works two jobs just to keep this family afloat.”

“And you—you keep pulling these suicide threats. Look at yourself!”

I floated in front of her.

There were more gray hairs than I’d ever noticed before. A sharp ache twisted in my chest.

Mom… Getting sick was never my choice.

I’m sorry. I’ve made you all so exhausted.

Corbin sighed again. He set the sunflowers on the table and softened his voice.

“Mrs. Vance, please don’t be upset.”

“This was Eira’s third time taking the test, and she still didn’t make it.”

“She’s probably hurting, and that’s why she’s lashing out.”

“But… her temper really does need work.”

As he spoke, he headed toward the front door.

“Mr. and Mrs. Vance, Sienna, I should get going.”

“I’ll come back tomorrow morning.”

“I’ll bring Eira her favorite vanilla rice pudding. Maybe that’ll cheer her up.”

Seeing him leave, Mom forced down her anger and walked him to the door.

“Thank you, Corbin.”

“I’ll make you lunch tomorrow.”

“Eira just gets worse every year. I’m sorry you had to see this.”

Dad lit a cigarette without thinking. He took a long drag before speaking.

“Eira’s become so selfish.”

“And we’re the ones who always have to be the bigger people.”

“If only she were half as thoughtful as Sienna. How did we end up with a kid like this?”

I stared at him, stunned.

The tears he’d cried the night I was diagnosed—had they meant nothing?

Was “selfish” all that was left of me?

Seeing Mom still trembling with anger, Sienna slipped an arm around her.

“It’s not your fault.”

“You know how Eira is. If she weren’t so stubborn, maybe she never would’ve ended up with depression.”

“If it comes down to it, I’ll stay back with her—”

Mom cut her off. “Don’t even think about it.”

“You’re going to college.”

“You’ve already done more than enough for your sister. I won’t let her drag you down anymore.”

She guided Sienna back to the couch, then turned and glared at my bedroom door.

“Eira, you’re bringing this on yourself.”

“One day your father and I won’t be here—then who’s going to put up with you?”

“You’re an adult now. Being sick doesn’t give you a free pass to act out.”

She hurled the bag of hot roasted pecans onto the floor outside my bedroom.

Night settled over the house. The lights went out.

Mom, Dad, and Sienna all went to bed.

Silence filled every room.

I drifted alone in the darkness.

The sunflowers on the table still blazed with color.

The roasted pecans outside my door had long gone cold.

A sharp ache spread through my chest.

I’m glad I chose to leave.

From now on… you won’t have to watch over me anymore.