10
My case took a major turn when I hadn’t shown up for days, prompting my childhood friend, Kelsey, to contact the police.
She noted the burn scars on my legs while describing my physical characteristics to the officers.
Tony took Kelsey to the morgue to identify the body.
At the entrance to the coroner’s office, Kelsey unexpectedly ran into my dad.
Dad paused for a moment, puzzled, “What are you doing here?”
Seeing Dad, a wave of relief washed over Kelsey, her eyes red from fear and anxiety.
“Mr. Harper, are you handling this case? Have you seen the body yet?”
Dad nodded slowly.
30% 12:36
1/4
10
Relieved, Kelsey breathed out, “Tha…
goodness, then it definitely can’t be Emily.”
She shared Tony’s belief–if it were me, Dad surely would have recognized me immediately.
What father can’t identify his own. daughter, right?
Even ashes are unmistakable to a parent.
Dad scoffed, “Misfortune lingers forever. How could she possibly be dead?”
Kelsey frowned, “But Mr. Harper, Emily has been missing for days now. I’ve searched everywhere, so I had to report it… Captain Smith mentioned there were burn scars on the body’s legs, and Emily had…”
A heavy silence fell as Dad clenched his teeth tightly.
“It can’t be her,” he asserted with certainty.
Tony led Kelsey inside, and the moment they pulled back the sheet, Kelsey nearly collapsed.
30% 12:36
2/4
10
My ruined, grotesque body was la
it,
dissected and stitched back together like a
broken doll.
Emily, always so concerned with her looks -how could she let herself be reduced to
this state?
Overwhelmed, Kelsey tried to hold back her nausea as she gently lifted my wrist.
Upon seeing the familiar scars, she broke down completely.
“It’s Emily… it really is Emily!” she cried out in despair.
Both Tony and Dad stood frozen, shocked.
Tony asked again, “What’s the proof?”
“Six lines,” Kelsey pointed to the scars on my wrist. “Emily tried to end her life six times… I’m sure of it.”
Tony approached and counted the scars on my wrist–exactly six.
No more, no less.
30% 12:36
3/4
10
Kelsey’s tears flowed uncontrollabl
ne
collapsed onto my body, screaming, “Emily, how could it be you? Why is it you? How
could this be?”
I stood right behind Kelsey, wanting to comfort her, but my transparent hand passed right through her.
I wanted to tell her not to cry.
A person as insignificant as me shouldn’t waste anyone’s tears.
Dad just stood there, as if frozen, showing little reaction.
But when Tony touched him, Dad simply
crumbled.
He fell to the ground, eyes rolling back as he passed out.
