Fake Death, Real Rejection

Synopsis

After running into his first love, who was being abused, my husband left me without a second thought and ran off with her. He vanished from my life, without a single word. The only two things he left me with were: A 300,000-dollar loan, and a death certificate declaring him legally dead after four years of being missing. The bank took our marital home, and I was forced to live in a basement apartment that cost 400 dollars a month. After work, I juggled three side gigs. I scrubbed toilets, donated plasma for cash, and even signed up for medical trials. Every day, I lived off a plain roll and water. It took me ten years to pay off the debt, and finally, I landed a job as a records clerk. The very first application I received was from a man who was legally dead, wanting to have his identity reinstated. He said he was young and foolish back then, ran away from home, and had his records erased. Now, with the factory in his hometown being demolished, he needed his records reinstated to claim over 30 million dollars in compensation. I stared at the name on the application form, one I knew all too well. I couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh. "Your documents are incomplete. Application denied."