Chapter 8

“Mom, we came to see you. Annie is dead.”

“She will bring you much joy. And Annie, I was wrong about her.”

The sky rumbled and the clouds hung low. Jake’s apology was clearer than the thunder. I followed Jake, watching him open Ashley’s car door and plan their wedding.

They were like soulmates, I was just a trial for them. The trial was over, it was their happy ending.

Jake was giving Ashley the wedding I wanted, and doing everything right this time.

I could leave Jake.

I didn’t follow them when they went on dates. I sat in the car and watched them take wedding photos from kilometers away.

I wandered the streets like a ghost.

“Annie.”

I stopped and turned around. Riley stood under a streetlamp with beers in hand. He was tearing up.

“Annie, it’s you.”

Riley could see me.

He froze, afraid it was a dream. I smiled and nodded. The bottles shattered on the floor.

He cried and opened his arms, but couldn’t feel me.

“Annie, why? Why can’t I feel you?”

I smiled, but couldn’t talk.

He repeated, “Yeah, you’re dead.”

I followed Riley home. His study had a stack of files, about the truth about my mom and Jake. Riley had been investigating my accident since I died.

Ashley was behind the wheel of the car.

“I should’ve stopped you when I had the chance.”

“That’s it, let me give those two a gift at their wedding.”

The day of Jake’s wedding.

Riley wasn’t invited. Jake glanced at him, a hint of emotion on his face.

“Let him in.”

Riley sat in the corner, angry. It was an expensive wedding.

Photos of the bride and groom were on the screen.

Riley blocked my view.

“Don’t look at those trashy people. Annie, they’ll make you sick.”

I nodded and didn’t look.

Soon, the wedding began.