I looked at Tiffany unhappily. Since we were no longer acquaintances, I didn’t mind exposing the vile thoughts she tried so hard to conceal.
“So what if I hit you? At least I’m honest and have nothing to hide,” I said. “Unlike you. You pretend to be a friend, all the while harboring feelings for Elliott. You think he doesn’t know? He knows. Everyone does. You’re like a maggot crawling in the shadows, disgusting and pitiful.
Her face drained of color as she nervously glanced at Elliott, sputtering denials. “You’re spouting nonsense! I’ll tear that filthy mouth of yours apart!”
But Elliott stepped between us, blocking her entirely. “Enough,” he said flatly.
Even with the veil lifted, Elliott remained indifferent as if in denial.
Tsk. Tiffany was no more than a shadow chasing after him. How desperate and pathetic.
Elliott turned to me, his brow furrowed in irritation. “Tiffany is just worried about your mom. Since we’re here, why can’t we pay her a visit? Why are you acting so evasive?”
“Because she’s dead,” I said flatly. “If you want to see her, you’ll have to head to the underworld.”
With that, I walked away, not sparing them another glance. Elliott stood frozen, shock rooting him to the spot.
I rode my bicycle to work as I always did. Behind me, his car crawled along, a dogged shadow refusing to let go.
At the cemetery, I laid a fresh daisy on my mother’s grave, the same routine as every day. Elliott, arriving moments later, stared at the headstone as if he’d been struck.
“Candice…” His voice faltered, breaking. “I–I didn’t know… How could this happen? She was fine during the check–up earlier this year…
