Chapter 2

Ms. Rowe sounded anxious. "Why isn't Lily here yet? The city folks are coming today to pick the performers. She's supposed to play the piano solo. Without her, the whole program's ruined."

Mom glanced at me lying on the bed and gave a cold, mocking laugh. "She's sick. Not going."

"Sick?" Ms. Rowe was clearly stunned. "She was perfectly fine at rehearsal yesterday. She played the best, and the City Youth Center teacher specifically wanted her."

Mom squeezed the phone tighter, her tone icy. "So what if she plays well? She's not going, end of story."

Dad suddenly looked up. "Let the teacher come here."

Mom glared at him. "Are you crazy? The house is already a mess. Do you want to embarrass us even more?"

Dad grabbed the phone, his voice hoarse. "Ms. Rowe, could you please come over? Something's really wrong with Lily."

Mom lunged for the phone. "She's faking it! She's been pretending since she was a kid! She killed Mia, and now she wants to hurt my baby, too!"

For the first time, Dad pushed her away.

Blood dripped from his hand onto the floor, leaving tiny red spots.

"Elaine, call an ambulance," he said.

Mom just stood there, frozen.

"Call an ambulance," Dad repeated.

Mom stared at me lying on the bed, then suddenly smiled. "Why bother with an ambulance? If she really dies, wouldn't that clear the way for Mia?"

I hovered by the door, watching Dad's face go pale.

He finally pulled out his phone and dialed 911.

But I knew it was already too late.

When the white sheet was pulled over my face, Mom was still standing there, saying, "Don't cover her with that dress. That's Mia's favorite. If it gets dirty, it'll ruin the luck."

The doctor just glanced at her and didn't say a word.

When Ms. Rowe arrived, she was still holding the corsage for the performance.

She rushed in, saw me lying on the bed, and the corsage slipped from her hand and fell to the floor.

"Lily," she called out.

No one answered.

Mom stood nearby, arms crossed. "Ms. Rowe, you saw it yourself. She's just hopeless."

Ms. Rowe turned to her. "Do you know who's coming today?"

Mom snapped, "It doesn't matter who's coming. She's not going."

"Mr. Jennings from the City Youth Center," Ms. Rowe said. "And Grace Sterling from the Sterling Family. They heard Lily's recording and came here today just to see her."

Mom's impatience froze on her face.

Dad asked, "The Sterling Family?"

Ms. Rowe bent down to pick up the corsage, her voice tight with anger. "The Sterling Family from the south side, the ones who run those charity concerts. Grace Sterling said Lily's music has a real spark, and she wants to help her with school."

Mom opened her mouth, but after a long pause, all she could say was, "Sponsorship?"

Ms. Rowe looked at the white sheet covering me. "Now it's too late."

Suddenly, Mom rushed over and yanked the sheet off me.

"Lily, get up!" she shouted.

She grabbed my shoulders and shook me hard, her voice shrill and piercing.

"Weren't you always trying to please the teachers? Get up and play the piano! The Sterling Family wants to sponsor you. How could you just die now? If you're gone, who's going to bring honor to this family?"

Dad dragged her back. "Elaine, don't touch her."

Mom slapped him right across the face.

"This is all your fault! Why didn't you wake her up sooner? Why didn't you keep an eye on her?"

Dad covered his face, didn't say a word.

Ms. Rowe looked at them and suddenly asked, "What did Lily eat last night?"

Mom shot back, "She eats whatever she wants. How should I know?"

Dad looked up. "Lily doesn't just eat random things."

Mom's voice went sharp. "What are you implying? Are you blaming me?"

Ms. Rowe's eyes fell on the half-open drawer at the bottom of the dresser.

I drifted over, following her gaze, and saw that a pill was missing from the pack.

They were the white pills Mom had kept hidden for four years.

Ms. Rowe walked over, but as soon as she reached out, Mom slammed the drawer shut.

"Ms. Rowe, this is a private family matter," Mom said.

Ms. Rowe replied, her voice steady and cold, "When a child dies, it's not just a family matter anymore."

Mom's face went pale.

Footsteps echoed from the hallway, and two cops walked in.

Dad pointed at the bottom drawer. "Check that one."

Mom lunged to block their way. "Don't touch that! That's mine!"

But she couldn't hold them back.

When the pill box was taken out, Mom suddenly went quiet.

Ms. Rowe stared at the pill box, then at me on the bed, and her tears finally fell.

"Lily asked me yesterday, 'Ms. Rowe, if someone keeps acting like someone else, is it possible for her to ever be herself again?'"

Dad lowered his head, his shoulders slumping.

Mom gripped the edge of the table, her voice was barely a whisper. "Why would she ask that?"

Ms. Rowe didn't answer.

She took a folded registration form from her bag and gently placed it next to me on the bed.

My name, Lily Harper, was written on it in my own careful handwriting.

I had registered for the piano solo.

The piece I chose was called "Little Dress in the Wind."

I wrote it in secret, just for myself.

It wasn't for her.

I thought that if I died, I could finally escape this house.

But I was still trapped here.

It was like my soul was chained to this room by that little silver bracelet. All I could do was watch them fight over my death, then see them shove all my things into black trash bags.

Mom didn't shed a single tear.

She just straightened Mia's photo and carefully wiped it three times.