Chapter 6: The Last Goodbye
I realized: all along, I thought Lily was the extra, the substitute. But in truth, I was the one out of place.
I gave up on the bet.
I thought Ethan was lost in a dream, deceiving himself, but it was me who had been self-deceived.
The realization hit me like a punch.
I wasn’t the heroine of this story anymore—I was just a ghost, haunting the life I’d left behind.
Men’s promises of forever are just words.
Still, I stayed by Ethan’s side, wanting to spend the last sixty days quietly watching him. Before I died, I worried about what he would do without me. Now I saw my fears were unfounded. He would be fine. Love is just chemistry—I was the one who put it on a pedestal.
The pain of falling was my own doing.
I started to find comfort in the routine—morning coffee runs, the hum of the copier, the distant sound of Ethan’s laughter through his office door.
I let myself be invisible, just another face in the crowd.
I went to work every day as usual, but stopped seeking contact with Ethan. Everyone thought I’d given up—including him.
He didn’t know what I’d truly let go of.
I learned to cherish the little things—sunlight on my desk, the smell of printer ink, the way Amy would sneak me extra cookies from the break room.
I found peace in letting go.
On the 58th day, I met Miles Bennett at the company—a face from the past. Years ago, I smashed a wine bottle over his head to recover our startup funds. Later, I drank over twenty shots at his demand to secure a business channel for Ethan. Maybe that’s what ruined my stomach.
Seeing Miles again was like running into a ghost. He looked older, heavier, but his eyes were just as sharp.
The old resentment flared between us, unspoken but palpable.
Now, with Ethan’s success, he no longer needed to deal with people like Miles. Yet, I saw them close a deal together, both smiling. It was as if he had forgotten the pain and humiliation of the past, the tears he shed when I died.
When Ethan noticed me watching, he asked, “What’s wrong?” I smiled, “Nothing. Congratulations on your deal.”
I kept my tone light, but inside I felt hollow.
The world had moved on, and I was just an observer.
On the 60th day, Ethan handed out peaches—my favorite fruit when we were poor. He used to save up to buy me a few each season. Now, he gave them out by the box.