Chapter 4: A Ghost at the Airport

After Caleb left, I took a Lyft to the interview.

The city rolled past the window—gray skies, strip malls, and the scent of rain on concrete. I watched people rush by, all of them chasing something, all of them with somewhere to be.

But before it even started, I ran into my old rich-kid classmate, Derek Foster, at the entrance.

He was leaning against a Tesla, suit perfectly tailored, a cocky grin on his face. The sight of him made my stomach drop.

Back when Caleb and I first got together, Derek had chased after me but got rejected hard. He swore I’d regret it.

His revenge had been petty—whispers at parties, snide texts—but he’d eventually faded into the background, or so I thought.

Now, seeing me, he immediately started in with the sarcasm.

“Here for an interview? That broke boyfriend of yours can’t support you anymore?”

His voice was loud enough for passersby to hear, and I felt my cheeks flush. I crossed my arms, trying to look unfazed.

I didn’t want to deal with him and tried to walk past.

I fixed my gaze on the automatic doors, praying he’d just let me go. My fingers tightened around the folder with my resume, knuckles turning white.

But Derek snatched my resume and glanced through it.

“Tsk tsk, the company you’re applying to happens to be mine. How about you call me ‘boss’ and maybe I’ll give you some special treatment?”

He waggled his eyebrows, waving the paper just out of reach. I felt my patience snap.

I glared at him, honestly not expecting this coincidence.

It was classic Derek—always in the way at the worst possible moment. My jaw set, and I met his gaze head-on.

I snatched back my resume and snapped, “Keep dreaming.”

I stuffed the papers back into my bag, refusing to let him see how much he’d rattled me.

As I tried to leave, Derek blocked my way.

He stepped in front of me, arms crossed, lips curled in a smirk. People started to notice, but he didn’t care.

He leaned in, voice dropping. "You really think anyone here is gonna hire you if I say no? Not a chance."

His threat landed hard. The building seemed to close in around me, the polished floor suddenly too slick under my shoes.

I took a deep breath. “What do you want, exactly?”

I forced myself to stand tall, my voice even despite the fear crawling up my spine.

Derek smirked. “Honestly, I’m still into you. Dump Caleb and be my girlfriend?”

He said it like a joke, but there was something hard in his eyes. I shivered, suddenly wishing I’d brought pepper spray.

“Are you nuts?”

I lost my patience and swung my purse at his head.

The bag whistled through the air, loaded down with my water bottle, keys, and a granola bar. He dodged, but just barely.

But Derek was still a guy—he easily grabbed my bag, then pinned me against the wall.

He leaned in, his grip too tight on my wrist. The hallway’s buzz faded, replaced by the thunder of my heartbeat in my ears.

I scratched at him desperately, and suddenly felt something warm trickle from my nose.

Blood dripped down onto my shirt, and I gasped. My vision blurred at the edges.

Derek’s eyes widened.

His voice shifted from mocking to alarmed. “What’s going on with you—”

Before he could finish, my vision went black and I passed out.

I felt myself slump, the world spinning away.

When I woke up, I was in the hospital.

The ceiling tiles were yellowed, the sheets smelled like bleach and cheap detergent, scratchy against my skin. A faint beeping sounded from the heart monitor by my bed.

Derek, sporting huge dark circles, was sitting by the bed in a daze.

He looked like he hadn’t slept in days—hair a mess, suit wrinkled. He glanced up as I stirred, surprise etched across his face.

I tried to speak, but my throat was painfully dry.

I managed a weak cough, gesturing for water.

Noticing I was awake, Derek handed me a cup of water.

His hand shook as he held it out. I sipped slowly, the coolness easing the ache in my throat.

“What happened to me?”

I struggled to piece together the events, my head throbbing. The scent of antiseptic clung to everything.

“You were unconscious for a whole day and night.”

He spoke quietly, his eyes flickering with something like concern.

I sat up, trying to get out of bed.

The sheets tangled around my legs. I tried to swing them over the edge, but Derek pressed a hand to my shoulder.

Derek stopped me, sounding annoyed.

“Don’t you even know you’re sick? And Caleb lets you go job hunting like this?”

He was trying to sound tough, but I could hear the worry behind his words.

“What a joke, I’ve always been healthy.”

I tried to wave him off, but my hand trembled.

At that, Derek handed me a hospital diagnosis report.

He didn’t say anything as I read the words, but the silence between us grew heavy.

When I saw the words clearly, I was stunned.

It felt like the world had dropped out from under me. I gripped the report tighter, the medical jargon blurring before my eyes.

“System, system, get out here right now!”

I screamed mentally, panic surging up. My chest felt tight, the air too thin.

The system yawned: [Host, what’s up?]

Its tone was nonchalant, as if my life weren’t falling apart in real time.

“Didn’t you say I wouldn’t die for another six months?”

[Right. You got sick now, and you’ll die from the illness in exactly six months—no problem with that.]

Its indifference stung, and I wanted to throw the phone across the room.

“Damn! That’s not funny at all!”

I crumpled the diagnosis in my hand, fury and fear battling inside me.

I tore up the diagnosis report.

Paper scraps fell like confetti onto the tile floor, and I glared at Derek as if daring him to pick them up.

Before leaving the hospital, I warned Derek fiercely.

“You little brat, if you tell anyone about my illness, I’ll make you pay!”

My voice was sharp, but it cracked at the end. The threat was more plea than promise.

Caleb’s career was just taking off. If he found out I was sick, I knew he’d do anything to save me.

He’d always carried more than his fair share, shouldering burdens I couldn’t even name. I couldn’t let him drown in my problems now.

I’d already made too many selfish choices these last three years. For what time I had left, I didn’t want to drag him down anymore.

The guilt pressed in, thick and suffocating. I swore I’d at least do this right—let him be free.

I checked my phone—Caleb had messaged me last night saying he’d be flying back that afternoon.

His text was short, but I could hear his voice in every word: “Flight lands at 3. I’ll be home for dinner.”

After tidying up at home, I went to the airport to pick him up.

I changed the sheets, set out his slippers, and even lit one of those fancy candles he’d given me for Christmas. The apartment smelled like vanilla and hope.

Even if I couldn’t change the impression he had of me, at least when he remembered me in the future, it wouldn’t be all bad.

I tugged at the scratchy tag on my Marshalls clearance dress, trying not to spill my Starbucks while I waited by the baggage claim carousel. Maybe my white dress was too eye-catching, because people kept glancing at me.

I smoothed the skirt, feeling oddly exposed among the airport crowds. Maybe I looked like someone from an old movie, waiting for a love that wouldn’t last.

I wanted to surprise Caleb, so I didn’t tell him I’d be there.

I hid behind a pillar, heart racing as I scanned the arrivals. The PA system called out delayed flights, and my nerves danced on edge.

When I spotted his familiar figure, I was about to run over—

For a moment, I almost shouted his name. The urge to just run into his arms overwhelmed me.

Then I noticed someone beside him.

It was a girl, lively and cute, bouncing around.

She wore a sunny yellow cardigan and white sneakers, her hair in loose waves. She looked fresh out of a college catalog.

They were chatting and laughing, and when the girl saw Caleb’s collar was crooked, she straightened it for him.

She touched him like she’d known him for years. Something inside me twisted.

I looked away and asked the system, “Who’s that?”

System: [Oh, the female lead, Aubrey Summers, has arrived.]

The name rang like a bell of doom. Of course—she was perfect for him, the kind of girl who made everyone feel special.

She was the one who’d be by Caleb’s side after I was gone.

I swallowed hard, suddenly feeling like a ghost watching her own story play out.

They quickly noticed me.

Caleb’s eyes locked onto mine, and for a second, all the distance between us melted away. He broke into a run.

Surprise flashed across Caleb’s face, but he hurried over and took my hand.

His grip was firm, warm, like he was afraid I’d vanish if he let go.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”

His voice was breathless, eyes shining with a mix of joy and confusion.

I tilted my head and smiled. “Are you happy to see me?”

I tried to sound light, but my heart was pounding.

Caleb looked me over and nodded. “I am.”

His answer was simple, honest. For a second, I let myself believe it.

Just then, Aubrey chimed in, “Caleb, is this your girlfriend?”

Her voice was bubbly, her eyes wide with genuine curiosity.

After Caleb nodded, Aubrey took my other hand.

She squeezed it, her smile so bright it almost hurt. “That’s great! I’ve always wanted to meet you. Can I treat you to dinner?”

I looked at Caleb. He didn’t object.

He gave a little shrug, as if saying, ‘It’s up to you.’ I hesitated, then nodded, unsure if I was ready for this next scene.

But even as he pulled me close, I knew the countdown had started. I was already halfway gone, and he didn’t even know it.