Chapter 5

On the ground floor, Ethan and Serena stood side-by-side. I didn’t know what Serena said, but Ethan bent down and kissed her.

A sharp pain pierced my heart. I took out the euthanasia pills from my bag, remembering the doctor’s instructions.

“Ms. Reed, if you want to go quickly, take this new pill.”

“But after taking it, you mustn't touch water for an hour, or your body will…”

The doctor’s horrified expression reappeared in my mind.

I held the euthanasia pills, turned, and had a bodyguard call Ethan.

“Ethan, can I not jump?”

I asked quietly, and Ethan’s sarcastic voice immediately came through.

“Ana Reed, are you scared? Want me to give you a push?”

“With your fake ashes.”

Ethan’s words made my heart clench. Just then, the bodyguard came out carrying the box I’d sent to the cemetery for burial.

“Shipping things to be buried in a cemetery?”

“Ana Reed, you’re a real comedian.”

“And this urn, it looks so convincing. If Serena hadn't told me your dog was still alive, I would’ve been fooled.”

“I’ll give you ten seconds. Jump now, or all these things are going straight into the pool!”

His cold words came through the phone. I bit down so hard on my lip, I tasted blood, and was about to speak.

But Ethan was already counting down.

“Ten!”

“Nine!”

“Eight!”

…

Each count, one after another, was like the anesthetist’s countdown before surgery.

I smiled through my tears, and agreed, my voice hoarse.

“Okay…”

The countdown on the phone stopped. Without hesitation, I swallowed the euthanasia pill.

I stood on the windowsill. Just as I spread my arms, I heard a startled cry from below.

“Ah! I didn’t mean to!”

“I just wanted to see what was inside…”

Serena’s surprised voice floated up. The small dog urn in Ethan’s hand was knocked over.

A gust of wind blew, and the ashes inside scattered into the pool.

Gray ashes floated on the surface of the water.

Tears rolled down my eyes, blurring my vision. I spoke to Ethan on the phone one last time.

“Ethan, after this apology with my death, I’ll owe you nothing anymore…”

With that, I leaped from the third floor of the villa.

My body plummeted rapidly.

The wind whistled past.

Memories flashed through my mind.

I saw Ethan when we first met, his face radiating a bright, righteous energy, shielding me behind him.

I saw Ethan bringing me tampons for the first time, his face flushed, but still asking if I was in pain.

I saw Ethan, having written ninety-nine love letters, his eyes filled with love, swearing to love me forever.

In the final flicker of my life, I saw the only sweetness in my short life.

As my consciousness faded and I hit the pool, I saw twenty-eight-year-old Ethan, his face filled with shock and panic.

…

By the swimming pool, Ethan’s face was splashed by the water.

The icy cold water snapped him back to reality.

He looked at the ashes floating in the pool. My words echoed in his mind. For a moment, his mind went blank.

“Ethan, Ana Reed’s expression when she jumped was so funny. When I put it in my exhibition, it’s going to go viral!”

Serena held her camera, laughing carelessly.

“Oh, why isn’t Ana Reed coming up yet? It’s so cold out, we should go back inside!”

Serena pulled Ethan, heading towards the villa.

But Ethan remained rooted to the spot.

His eyes were fixed on the pool.