In the Next Life

"The day I left, I tore into him, called him every name under the sun. In the end, he held onto my arm, crying, begging me to stay. He said things would get better soon, that he'd bring us back to how things used to be. You see him now, all polished and put-together. You'd never imagine how pathetic he looked back then," I said as I recalled the past.

William spoke in a low voice, "Why did he finally let you go?"

I thought back. "I told him he was a failure. That everything he'd achieved in the past was just because of our parents. And now he was just disgracing their name. I said if he still remembered what family meant, he should let me go and find my own happiness. And then, bit by bit, he loosened his grip on me."

The New Year's bell rang. Fireworks burst outside the window. I raised a hand and wiped the tears off my face.

…

[In the Next Life — January 1, 2024, 12:00 AM — I Hope You Live a Long Life, Part Three]

William turned to the window.

"Happy New Year."

"Thanks."

"Aren't you going to wish me something too?"

I looked up. "You want a blessing from someone who's about to die?"

His hand rested gently on my thin, dry one. "Please."

I looked at the golden fireworks outside, as if I were bathing in hope. I smiled. "I hope you live a long life."

The hand on mine clenched slightly, trembling. William kept his gaze on the window, his expression hidden.

The frame shifted—we were each lying down, settling into the silence. But then, in the dark, I reappeared on screen.

I leaned toward the camera, frowning slightly. "Forgot to turn this thing off."

I reached out to stop the recording, then hesitated.

After a pause, I dragged a chair over, sat in front of the lens, and adjusted it, a trace of confusion in my eyes. "Will anyone actually watch this?"

Another firework lit up the sky. Warm yellow light washed over my face. I took a deep breath and gave the camera a small smile.

"If someone sees this… then, I wish you peace and a happy, long life."

I waved at the lens and shut off the camera.

[In the Next Life — January 2, 2024, 10:01 AM — Don't Say You Forgive Me, and Don't Ever Forgive Me]

"Hailey! Wait! Hailey! Hailey!" William rushed behind me, his voice urgent as he grabbed my arm. "Didn't you say you were going for chemo? What are you doing with the money?"

I held the barely breathing Dante in my arms. "Putting him down."

"And what about you?"

"I've made up my mind." I brushed past him and handed Dante to the vet.

"Hailey!" William gripped my arm tightly. "What's more important, the dog or you? You're in pain too, you know that!"

"Exactly because I know what the pain feels like… I'm putting him down."

His grip slackened. I took the chance to push him aside and walked into the exam room.

Dante lay weakly on the table, a plastic cone around his neck. He'd been howling all morning, and now he was just barely breathing.

When he saw me, he still tried to get up, dragging himself toward me like he always used to.

"It's okay, Dante. The pain will be over soon, alright?"

I bent down, gently holding his paw. The vet had already prepared the injection.

The needle went in.

Dante's breathing turned sharp and rapid. He struggled to his feet, then collapsed again.

He looked at me, his belly rising and falling fast. His throat let out a wheezing cry, thin and helpless.

I held back my tears. "I know… it's my fault. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry…"

His breathing slowly calmed. He looked at me, quiet now, as if he had never been sick.

A single tear slid from the corner of his eye into his fur, and he let out a faint whimper.

I stroked his head. "Sleep, Dante. And when you wake up, find yourself a good home and live a sheltered life. And if you ever miss me… come see me in my dreams."