Ashley was sad at the tombstone.
“Mom, we came to see you. Annie is dead.”
Jake wiped the tombstone and said, “Mom, I’m
marrying Ashley.”
“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.
