I Paid for Mom’s Mistake Chapter 03
Author: Syrupy Lemons
I floated in the air as I watched my family walk away.
I thought, “So I didn’t even cause Bernette’s death? Mom was the culprit all along, and she blamed it all on me just to make herself feel better?”
The one thing I was incredibly reluctant to admit was that Mom never loved me at all.
Returning to my senses, I drifted outside.
I happened to hear Dad comforting Mom. “This isn’t your fault. If Dahlia weren’t such a glutton, this wouldn’t have happened.”
Dad didn’t care about me, either. He seemed rational and calm as he began writing my obituary and making the funeral arrangements. Meanwhile, Bernette was singing cheerfully in Mom’s arms.
After I died, the household became more peaceful than ever.
At my funeral, whenever someone asked about how I died, Mom kept telling them I was being too greedy and mistook disinfectant for a drink.
Aunt Greta discreetly pulled Mom aside. “You’re the one who put the disinfectant in the wrong bottle, so how could you blame her for not knowing better? The child’s already dead, so we should honor her. She can’t even rest in peace if you keep saying that!”
Mom didn’t seem too bothered by it. “She’s already dead, so why does it matter if she’s at peace or not? Do you seriously want me to tell everyone that it was my fault?”
I smiled bitterly. After Bernette died, Mom constantly thought about her and all the things she could’ve had. But now that I was the one who died, she just shrugged it off.
Death suddenly showed up. He asked me, “Do you regret it?”
I shook my head. “There was no point in dragging out a life filled with nothing but pain. I’m just glad that I could trade my life for Bernette’s, so she can keep living a happy and innocent life.”
Bernette suddenly asked Mom, “What’s Dahlia doing? Why won’t she get up and play with me?”
Mom thought about it for a moment. Then, she asked earnestly, “Bernette, you may not get to see Dahlia ever again. Do you feel sad about it?”
Bernette carefully thought about what Mom meant.
Soon, she clapped her hands and said joyfully, “Yay! I don’t have to share my toys ever again! I can have the room all to myself!”
My heart sank. No one in my family cared about me at all.
Death seemed more upset about it than I was. “Let’s make another deal. I’ll talk to your mom in a dream. If she shows even a hint of guilt toward you, I can restore everything to the way it was before you jumped off the building. Child, would you like to make that wager with me?”
I nodded.
After thinking for a moment, I asked, “Can we turn the bet around? If Mom doesn’t feel any guilt toward me, you’ll let things return to their original course.”
Death didn’t quite understand. “It can be done, but are you sure you really want that? Honestly, I’ve never seen a mother this heartless. She may love your sister more, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t love you at all, right?”
I nodded firmly. “I’ve made up my mind. If Mom feels any guilt, it means she still loves me. Even if it’s just a tiny bit, I won’t regret what I’m doing. But if she still doesn’t care about me at all, I can go on living for myself without any burdens.”
Death agreed.
That night, Mom had a long dream.
I saw her frowning deeply in her sleep.
Death told me that Mom saw Bernette passing away after resuscitation efforts failed, and she also saw how I resigned myself to the cruelty I faced.
Lastly, she saw me making a deal with Death without any hesitation.
Death told me that even he himself was touched. “Your mom can’t possibly stay indifferent after all that. You’re losing the bet!”
I forced a smile on my lips, but I didn’t say anything.
Suddenly, Mom opened her eyes.
I felt a little anxious as I watched her.
She quickly got out of bed. She scrambled to open the door, then ran to the room I shared with Bernette.
She took a deep breath and mustered her courage before opening the door.
When she saw Bernette sleeping peacefully in bed, she let out a long sigh of relief.
With red-rimmed eyes, Mom pulled Bernette into her arms. “Thank goodness… At least Dahlia was decent enough to switch places with you!”
