I Died While Thay Threw Her a Party Chapter 09
Lillian’s POV
The evidence is solid. Everything moves quickly.
Celeste gets the death penalty. She doesn’t make it to execution day.
she loses her mind. All day she’s muttering to herself
-it wasn’t her fault, she did nothing wrong. Everyone in prison knows what she did–poisoned her own sister. Even criminals don’t respect that. They steal her food, won’t let her sleep.
The guards pretend not to notice.
A week later, there’s a fight in the cafeteria. A few inmates corner Celeste. She’s screaming, backing up, and her head hits the wall corner. Blood everywhere.
By the time medical staff gets there, she’s already gone.
My parents‘ sentences aren’t heavy–negligent homicide, a few years.
But they go insane.
The court ends up sending them to a psychiatric hospital instead of prison.
Mom sits by the window every day talking to no one.
“Sweetie, I made tiramisu today, your favorite. Come try some while it’s warm.” She’s holding an empty plate carefully, smiling softly.
Dad paces the hallway, talking to himself seriously.
“Next week we’ll check out that new program at the business school. You’d be interested.” He’s flipping through a folder that doesn’t exist, brow furrowed like he’s thinking through some big decision.
The nurses say they’re living in the past, back when the family was still happy.
Late one night, they’re sitting on the edge of the bed. Mom suddenly turns her head and stares right at me. “Lillian? Is that you?”
Dad stands up. His voice is shaking. “Honey… you came back? We could… we could take a trip together. Like when you were little, that lake we went to…”
Their eyes light up.
Mom reaches out, trying to touch me. “I’m sorry… it’s all our fault… can you forgive us? We’ll do better from now on… the whole family together…”
I’m standing at a distance. I shake my head and say quietly, “It’s time to let go.”
Mom freezes. Tears fall. She nods and wipes her eyes with her sleeve.
Dad nods too. His lips move but nothing comes out.
The next morning, a nurse opens the door and finds them both lying in bed. Not breathing. Peaceful smiles on their faces.
Adrian doesn’t get charged. He just gets called in for questioning a few times, then they let him go.
Legally, the company is his now. He doesn’t care about running it.
He starts drinking. Day and night. His suit is wrinkled, hasn’t shaved in days. When people from the company call, he hangs up.
Alexander is the one who tells him about Celeste and our parents.
Adrian just nods and pours himself another drink.
A week later, someone at the docks finds a body in the water. By the time they pull him out, it’s too late.
It’s Adrian.
I’ve been following Alexander this whole time. I don’t know why my soul hasn’t disappeared yet.
He drives to the cemetery.
He stands in front of my headstone, sets down flowers. His eyes are red.
“You saw it all, right?” His voice is quiet. “They all got what they deserved.”
He takes a deep breath. “I’m sorry… I was too late.”
“After you got hurt that day, something felt off.” He wipes his eyes. “No way you’d go down that easy. I know you. So I got close to your family to gather evidence…”
So that’s what happened. Something twists in my chest–he never betrayed me.
“I contacted the police, demanded an autopsy.” He keeps talking. “I paid people to watch those kidnappers, make them talk. I’m the one who found proof Celeste poisoned your water…”
“I was only gone for a few weeks… how did… how…”
He pulls a small box from his pocket and opens it. There’s a ring inside.
“I was going to propose when I got back.”
Then he pulls out a gun and points it at his temple, “Lillian, wait for me…”
I use everything I have left. A gust of wind blows through. A leaf falls and lands right over the barrel.
Alexander freezes, staring at the leaf. He slowly lowers the gun and looks up. “Is that you, Lillian?”
I float in front of him even though he can’t see me.
“I’m sorry I misjudged you.” My voice is barely there. “Next life… let’s meet again.”
He seems to sense something. Tears slide down his face. “Okay… I’ll wait for you…”
I’m getting lighter, more transparent.
Slowly, I start to fade.
The cemetery blurs. Alexander’s figure grows distant. All those memories, good and painful, disappear too.
I’m finally free.
For the first time, I feel real peace.