Chapter 4The Ghost in the ICU

Back at the house, Caleb sprawled on the sofa. He mentioned he was hungry, and Sarah immediately ran to the kitchen.

Dad pulled out the latest gaming console. "A gift for surviving, son."

Mom cleaned his room top to bottom, filling it with plants. "Fresh air will help you recover."

My ghost floated in the corner of this familiar house. It felt colder than the morgue.

The doorbell rang.

It was my girlfriend, Bella.

"Mr. and Mrs. Sterling," she said, stepping inside. "I heard Caleb was discharged today. I brought some supplements."

Caleb tossed the controller aside, acting shy. "Bella, you didn't have to. I'm fully recovered."

Bella smiled at him. The icy goddess I knew transformed into a sweet girl next door for my brother.

"Where's Ethan?" she asked suddenly.

If she hadn't mentioned me, the family would have forgotten I existed.

Mom’s face fell. "Don't mention that ingrate. I scolded him, and now he's playing runaway. Fine by me. If he likes being outside so much, he can die out there for all I care."

Bella nodded quickly. "It's probably better. You don't need him disturbing Caleb's rest."

Sarah walked out with a tray of fruit. "So, Bella, when are you dumping Ethan? You need to hurry up, or someone else is going to snatch my brother up."

Bella looked down, blushing. "I was actually planning to tell Caleb today."

A wave of acid washed over me. I laughed bitterly, turning away.

I was used to betrayal.

After dinner, Mom seemed restless.

She went to her bedroom and started scrolling through her phone. I drifted closer. She was looking for my contact.

She called me. Again and again. No answer.

Finally, she smashed her phone on the bed. "Ignoring my calls now? You think anyone actually cares about you?"

I wanted to scream: I'm dead, Mom! Dead people don't answer phones!

She snatched up the landline and called the hospital nurse again.

"What kind of game is Ethan playing? Tell him if he doesn't get his ass home and apologize, he's cut off!"

There was a silence on the other end.

"Dr. Sterling... Ethan died a week ago. His heart ruptured in the accident. You... you called all the surgeons to Caleb's room. There was no one left to operate on him."