Three, Two, One: I Close My Eyes Forever

When I came to, I cautiously cracked one eye open.

Was I already in heaven? I wasn't. I was floating in the air, looking down at our little yard. Why was I still at home?

Just as I was wondering about that, I heard the sound of a trike screeching to a halt coming from outside the gate.

Hannah and Grandma were back! I wondered if Hannah had managed to smooth things over with Blake.

Hannah and Blake came in while helping Grandma along. Seeing the three of them so close, like a real family, made me jealous.

I couldn't help but sigh. It was my fault for making Hannah angry. That must have been why they went out for good food without me.

Wanting to make up for it, I rushed forward to help support Grandma.

But when my hand went right through her, I realized that I was see-through. I waved my hand carefully in front of Hannah's face.

"Oliver?"

Could Hannah see me? I immediately started rambling, eager to show off what I'd done.

"Hannah, I secretly took your meds. But they didn't work at all. I couldn't get to heaven. I even counted all the bottles for you. There are 200 of them. And I washed my hands clean. Can you forgive me now?"

I held my hands out for her to see, only to watch her walk straight through me as she shouted into the house.

So, she couldn't see me after all. Did I get the power to turn invisible, like in the cartoons?

Curious, I tried blowing at the wind chimes hanging by the door. A pleasant tinkling sound filled the air, which somewhat lifted my spirits.

Hannah had made this for me by stringing together old medicine bottles. And Blake had helped me paint them the color of the sky. Whenever the wind blew, the bottles would chime softly.

Hannah had told me that with this, I wouldn't be afraid of taking medicine anymore.

"Oliver! Oliver Hubbard!" As Hannah's voice grew louder, her tone became harsher. "This kid is getting more stubborn by the day! All I did was scold him a little, and now he's hiding so no one can find him!"

But I did answer her. I spoke really loudly as well. It was just that she couldn't hear me. How mean of her to scold me without even knowing the truth!

She stormed toward my room, but Blake stopped her. "Hannah, Oliver's a young man now. He needs some privacy. Besides, I'm not mad. You're making a big deal out of nothing. We should get cooking. Didn't you buy that fish Oliver loves?"

Fish?

My eyes lit up. Sure enough, I saw a bag full of groceries on the trike.

Fish was my favorite food. Hannah said eating fish would make me smarter. I knew I wasn't smart, and I had caused Hannah a lot of trouble because of that.

After Mom and Dad left, Hannah struggled to take care of both Grandma, who was sick, and me all by herself. So I wanted to become smarter.

After settling Grandma in, Hannah noticed Blake carrying the grocery bags inside. She hurried over, trying to take the bags from him.

Instead of letting her take them, Blake simply wrapped an arm around Hannah and guided her into the kitchen.

The two said nothing as they worked. Their hands moved nonstop in seamless coordination.

Hannah was really good at cooking fish. Whether it was braised, steamed, or pan-fried, everything she made was delicious.

Suddenly, Hannah put down her knife. Her shoulders started shaking, as if she was crying.

Blake hugged her from behind, softly murmuring words of comfort.

I covered my eyes, not wanting to watch this mushy stuff. However, Hannah's words still drifted into my ears like the wind.

"Blake, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," she said. "Before I met you, I thought this was all my life would ever be. I thought I would be stuck in this little house, taking care of my brother and Grandma. And when the day came that we reached the end of our rope, I'd take them with me and leave this world."

She paused before adding, "But I've become so greedy now. I want to have a home with you, a home that belongs to just us."

A home? Like the ones Mom and Dad had?