Chapter 4

Pushing open the front door, they found the once messy living room spotlessly clean.

Seeing the tidy living room, Mom's expression softened. She gently knocked on my bedroom door:

"Lily, did you clean up the room?"

When there was still no response from inside, she spoke again, her voice full of remorse:

"I was in a bad mood earlier, got too worked up. That was my fault. Will you open the door? We won't make you eat anything, we just want to see you."

Daisy joined her at the door, speaking softly: "Lily?"

But still, no one answered.

Mark stepped forward and patted Mom's shoulder, sighing: "It's okay, let her have space. She's upset right now—anything we say won't help."

He looked at the closed bedroom door, disappointment lingering in his eyes, but he didn't say anything else.

Regret hit me suddenly.

I shouldn't have died at home, not like this.

They'd already been burdened by me for two years. Now my death would leave them with a lifetime of trauma in such a cruel way.

I frantically floated into the room, staring at the cold body on the bed.

I wished I could rush over, pick up my body, and carry it far away so they'd never find it.

But my hand passed through again and again—I was completely helpless.

I could only pray desperately in my heart:

Don't check on me, don't find me, please?

I don't want to hurt you anymore.

Daisy knocked on the door repeatedly, but still got no response from me.

Her nose stung, thinking I was angry with her.

She ran into the living room, carefully taking a nutritional drink from her backpack—she'd bought it with half a year's scholarship money.

She hurried back to the bedroom door, her voice full of hurt and pleading: "Lily, are you mad at me? Please don't be mad, okay?"

"I bought this special nutritional drink for you. The store clerk said it's really easy to drink and absorb. Please open the door? Just one sip, and I'll stay with you."

She stared stubbornly at the bedroom door, but inside there was still only silence.

I floated beside her, watching her teary eyes, my heart aching with urgency and sorrow—but there was nothing I could do.

Mom and Dad watched the scene, their faces a mix of heartache and helplessness.

Mom walked over and gently pulled Daisy's arm:

"Daisy, stop knocking. Lily probably just needs some quiet. Why don't you go back to your room and get some sleep?"

"You've had a long day too. Get some rest. Tomorrow, when Lily's feeling better, things will be okay."

But Daisy shook her head fiercely, refusing to move.

"I'll wait for Lily. She hasn't eaten anything today. What if she gets hungry? I'll wait until she opens the door and has just one sip before I sleep."

Mom and Dad saw how determined she was and finally stopped trying to persuade her.

They still had to get up early for work tomorrow and couldn't stay up all night.

They exchanged a look, sighed softly, and went back to their room to rest.

The living room lights dimmed, leaving only a faint glow by the doorway illuminating Daisy's thin figure.