My Mom Told Me to Die on My Sister’s Celebration Day Chapter 08

My Mom Told Me to Die on My Sister’s Celebration Day Chapter 08

Two lines were written on the envelope.

Corbin, I’m sorry for always making you feel exhausted and frustrated.

I know you’ll become an incredible doctor. Please help the people I couldn’t save.

The money in this envelope is for Sienna.

I know you’ll get into a great college someday.

As your sister, I wasn’t good enough, but at least I could save a little for you to spend when you finally get to enjoy your life.

Corbin picked up the stethoscope. He pressed it against his chest.

He didn’t cry. But the smile I’d always known was gone.

Sienna opened the envelope. Inside were crumpled one-dollar, five-dollar, and ten-dollar bills.

Two thousand dollars. Every cent had been saved over the last three years.

She stared at the money and burst into sobs.

“Eira, why are you so stupid? I don’t want your money—I want you alive!”

“I still remember when those older kids bullied me.”

“You stood in front of me and protected me.”

“You’ve always… always been the best sister.”

The day of my funeral arrived.

The sky hung low and gray. Rain fell without stopping.

A number of relatives and neighbors came.

But their eyes held little grief—more the glint of spectators who’d come to watch a show.

Outside the memorial service, Aunt Doreen stood under the awning, cracking sunflower seeds as she whispered to our neighbor, Bev.

“Well… the poor girl’s finally gone.”

“She turned the Vance family upside down for three years. I heard nobody in that house even slept through the night.”

“Exactly. She spent three years preparing for the test, but barely got any questions right.”

“She was nothing but a waste of money. At least she picked the right time to die.”

“Sienna earned one of the highest SAT scores in the state and ranked among the top students. The Vances finally have something to celebrate.”

“At least they’ve finally dumped that bad-luck burden.”

They weren’t speaking loudly, but every word cut deeper than the last, even through the sound of the rain.

I floated above them, listening in silence.

They were right.

I was nothing but negativity. A bad-luck burden.

My death… it really was better for everyone.

Aunt Doreen opened her mouth to keep talking.

Bang! A deafening crash cut her off.

Corbin charged at her like a wounded animal. His eyes burned red.

“Say that one more time—who the hell are you calling a bad-luck burden?”

His jaw clenched so hard the muscles trembled.

“You don’t know a damn thing about how good she was!”

“She tried so hard… She was just sick—just sick, don’t you get it?”

His voice broke. Tears finally spilled down his face.

He glared at Aunt Doreen and Bev with raw hatred.

“I failed her.”

“But if either of you says one more word about her… I swear I’ll kill you right here!”

Aunt Doreen’s face went ashen.

“W-What’s wrong with you? Have you lost your mind?”

“Get out!” Dad stormed outside with bloodshot eyes.

He grabbed a chair by the door and hurled it at the ground in front of the gossiping relatives.

It exploded into splinters.

His hoarse voice echoed through the rain.

“Get out of my house!”

“Eira was a better person than any of you!”

“We’re the ones who failed her—we owe her a life! She never dragged us down!”

“She doesn’t need fake people like you at her funeral. Get out!”

Mom stumbled after him.

She clutched my memorial photo to her chest, sobbing so hard she could barely stand.

“My Eira suffered enough.”

“Just go! Stay away from my Eira!”

Sienna ran out too, the pink teddy bear barrette still clutched in her hand.

“Eira was the best sister in the world! Don’t you dare talk about her like that!”

I drifted silently above them.

I wanted to cry. But I had no tears left.

—

By the time my urn was lowered into the grave, the rain had finally stopped.

One more small grave now stood at Meadowrest Memorial Gardens.

The headstone read: [Beloved Daughter—Eira Vance.]

No one spoke.

Only the quiet sound of Mom, Dad, and Sienna crying filled the cemetery.

The silence was broken by the sharp ring of a phone.

Mom answered the phone with trembling hands.

A young woman’s voice came through.

“Hello—am I speaking to Eira Vance’s mother?”