26 

Liam remained unconscious for what felt like an eternity. 

His dreams were filled with me. 

Our story, from beginning to end, played out like a fleeting film–a whirlwind romance, a sudden, tragic ending. 

When Liam awoke, the police had determined my cause of death: suicide by drowning. 

The internet was awash with grief. 

People spontaneously left flowers at the beach in my memory. 

Hundreds of bouquets lined the shore. 

Orphans I’d sponsored left candles, praying for my peace. 

The Sterlings held a private cremation service. 

When Liam woke, my absence was a gaping hole in his world; all that remained was a small urn. Vivian, her eyes red and swollen, looked like she’d aged decades in those few days. 

She regretted deceiving me. 

If 

the truth me 

sooner, perhaps I 

wouldn’t have 

had told someone 

have died. 

She handed the urn to Liam.“This is Summer’s ashes. She… probably didn’t want to stay here. If I were you, I’d set her free, scattering her ashes at sea.” 

I’d rather die than face Liam again. 

Liam was hollowed out; his heart was gone, lost with me. 

He knew his remaining days would be spent in repentance. 

It rained… as if the heavens mourned for me. 

Liam, wearing a black suit I’d chosen for him, stood by the ocean like a ghost, holding the urn. 

The ocean was cold. 

He couldn’t imagine my despair as I entered the water. 

Tears were gone; he closed his eyes, scattering my ashes into the sea. 

Vivian was right; I didn’t want to be near him. 

Since I was dead, he shouldn’t disgusted me. Let me be where I wanted to be. I loved watching sunrises at sea; now, every day would be a sunrise. 

His voice was hoarse.“Summer… I know you hate me,” he whispered, his long lashes casting shadows on his face.“I don’t deserve to say I love you.” 

“But I do love 

you. 

You were my life.” 

“You’re gone… what’s the point of me living?” 

He coughed. 

He felt his body weakening daily; he 

didn’t 

want even 

to see a 

doctor. 

Life was ebbing away… 

< 26 

His skin was alarmingly pale. 

No one knew he was coughing up blood at night. 

His time was short. 

The symptoms from his childhood illness had returned. 

He didn’t know I’d been sustaining him, sacrificing my life for his. 

It didn’t matter anymore. 

ble wasn’t afraid of death. 

His reason for living was me. Now I was gone, so was his purpose. 

He scattered the last of my ashes, 

He coughed violently, spitting up 

But he felt no pain… 

blood. 

He gazed into the distance, through the mist. 

Menu 

a single tear rolling down his cheek. 

He thought he saw me, sitting on the beach, bathed in the morning sun, dancing. 

A small smile touched Liam’s lips. 

He reached out, towards the distance… 

Someday, he’d see me again. 

And that day, he’d hold me tight, never letting go… 

Every turn of the page is a new beginning. 

look forward to meeting you again in the next story!