Chapter 1

My mother, Linda Jones, transferred fifteen dollars to me.

Then came her messages.

Linda: [All you ever do is ask for money. We're already broke. Everyone says children are supposed to be caring. Why can't you think about me for once?]

Linda: [After middle school, you'll get a job and pay me back, got it?]

Right after that, she tried to start a voice call.

The room was dark, and the only light came from my old phone blinking in the gloom.

I reached out to grab it and reply, but my hand went right through the phone.

I looked around in panic and saw my body, nothing but skin and bones, lying right there on the muddy floor.

Then it hit me.

I starved to death yesterday because the local relief center stopped distributing food aid again.

*****

Before that, I survived for a whole month eating scraps I scavenged.

I tried drinking water to stave off my hunger, but it barely helped.

The cabin was falling apart and always damp. The wooden bed creaked and groaned whenever I lay down, and there were always rats and creepy crawlies everywhere.

The only warmth I had came from a blanket that reeked of mold.

The day I died, I was burning up with fever, my stomach on fire, my insides ripped and scorched.

I was in so much pain that I wanted to scream, but my body was so weak, and I couldn't get a sound out.

Half out of it, I think I tried calling Linda, begging for help.

But I can't remember a single word I said.

All I remember is returning to the moment when Linda first took me to meet my stepfather, David Jones, with the table piled high with delicious food and David smiling as he handed me a pink Barbie doll.

"She must be caught up in having fun. She hasn't replied to a single message, and she won't pick up the phone," Linda complained right in my ear.

I looked around, stunned, and before I knew it, I was back in David's place in town.

Feeling hurt and desperate, I tried to throw myself at her, but I passed right through her.

"She's been spoiled. Why would she care about this cramped house?" my stepsister, Chloe Jones, sneered, lounging on the couch and leaving crumbs everywhere as she snacked.

Linda's eyes flashed with disappointment.

"Linda, I want some truffle chocolate," Chloe whined, acting all sweet.

Linda replied with a frown, "Didn't I buy you some yesterday?"

"The chocolate was tiny, and Eric ate almost all of it. I barely got a taste. Didn't you send living expenses to that freeloader? You always say we're all your kids, so why do you only spend money on her and not me?" Chloe snapped.

Chloe was fifteen and always pestering Linda for money to buy expensive fruit and snacks.

And every single time, Linda handed her the money.

I used to ask Linda why she always did that, and she'd told me we were all family.

She told me that David was willing to accept me, so I shouldn't be jealous of all the nice things Chloe got.

But I remembered Linda married David because she wanted me to have a complete family.

She made him swear he'd treat me as his own daughter before she'd consider marrying him.

But it's only been a few years. How could Linda forget that?

Linda said, sounding hurt, "How can you talk to me like that? When have I ever refused you anything? But we're not a rich family. We can't afford truffle chocolate every day."

Chloe pouted and scattered snacks everywhere in frustration.

Linda lowered her head, and my stepbrother Eric Jones, barely a year old, bawled in fright at her yelling.

Chloe yelled, "Back when you weren't married to my Dad, I got whatever I wanted. He'd buy me anything. Now I can't afford the things I like, and it's all your fault.

"You didn't just come here and eat us out of house and home, and you dragged that freeloader along to mooch off us."

Linda tried to comfort Eric and Chloe. She said, "I used to work as well, but after Eric was born, there was no one to look after him, so I had to quit and stay home.

"It's been six months, and I've only given Sophie thirty dollars for pocket money."

"All my old paychecks and the compensation from Sophie's father's accident went to support this family. Who am I doing all this for? And now you're all against me." Linda continued, wiping away her tears, feeling wronged.

When Linda still wouldn't give in and buy her truffle chocolate, Chloe stormed over and shoved her while she was holding Eric. "Give me the money," Chloe shouted.

Eric, who had stopped crying, started bawling again.

Linda was beside herself with worry.

I tried to shove Chloe away to help Linda, but my hand went right through Linda.

"What are you two fighting about now?" David asked. He came home at the right moment and saw Chloe pushing Linda. Without saying a word, he slapped Linda hard across the face.

He snapped, "You're in your forties. Why are you arguing with a kid? What if Eric got hurt?"

Chloe instantly latched onto his arm and complained, "Dad, she's giving all the money to that freeloader and won't spend any on me."

"I wanted some truffle chocolate, but she wouldn't buy it for me."

David's anger flared up more. He shouted, "Didn't you say you dumped Sophie at her grandpa's so she wouldn't have to worry about food or clothes?

"So why are you still sending her money? Do you have any idea how tough it is to earn a buck these days?"

"I've only sent her thirty dollars in the past six months, and she didn't accept half of it," Linda said, tears streaming down her face as she held Eric.

It was always like this. Linda did whatever David said and rarely talked back.

"Sophie is only nine. Fifteen dollars is way too much for her. Call her and tell her to send it back. That money should go to buying Chloe some chocolate," David said.

Chloe acted all high and mighty, bossing Linda around. "Call that freeloader and tell her to send the money back. That's my Dad's money. She has no right to it," she called out.

Linda nodded and carried Eric into the bedroom.

She went to call me.

But Mom, I was already gone.

And you wouldn't be able to reach me.