Only After I Was Gone

Synopsis

Champagne bubbles were still rising at my sister Sophie's engagement party, and the whole house was buzzing with laughter and chatter from the guests. My mother pushed open my bedroom door, her face set in that usual impatient look. "Emily, are you done with your drama? Have you got no shame?" she snapped. She thought I was pretending to sleep—my way of protesting how the whole family ignored me. She even kicked the bedframe, grumbling under her breath. It wasn't until she reached out to grab me that she found my hand was already cold and stiff.