The piercing shriek that echoed from the apartment lingered in my ears as I stepped out of the building and boarded the public bus bound for work. I made a mental note to assess the progress of the decorations, finalize the list of judges, and visit the advertising department to set up an announcement board on our page.

A heavy sigh escaped my lips as I contemplated how serene life could be if it were just me and my to-do list—free from spirits and nightmares. My thoughts drifted back to that fateful day when everything took a dark turn.

•••

I wandered restlessly in the bride's room, my thoughts spiraling into a whirlwind of confusion and dread at the prospect of marrying one of my father's associates. Once a successful real estate agent, my father had squandered his fortune on gambling, leaving us drowning in a sea of debt.

Every day after school was a descent into chaos. I would return home to find him raging, unleashing his fury on my mother, a delicate and innocent soul who deserved so much more. In a desperate bid to settle his financial obligations, my father, Harper forced her into the arms of strangers, demanding she sell herself for money. If she dared to resist, he would threaten her with violence against me. Most days, I found myself alone, surrounded by the remnants of our shattered lives, the broken furniture a silent witness to our suffering.

The weight of despair became too much for my mother, and she chose to end her pain, leaving behind a void that could never be filled. Even in her absence, my father's debts remained, a relentless shadow over our lives. It was on that fateful day, my twentieth birthday, that everything shifted. My father brought home his friend Kim, a man whose presence sent chills down my spine. His son, Taehyung, was to be my husband, a pawn in my father's desperate game to reclaim his lost stability and find a semblance of peace.

The proposal filled me with loathing. Deep down, I understood that if I didn’t take matters into my own hands, I would inevitably find myself trapped in the same fate as my mother.

Before me stood a tall mirror, reflecting the way my mother’s wedding gown clung to my figure. I admired the silhouette it created, yet a wave of disappointment and dread washed over me, knowing that this beautiful dress would soon be tarnished by the weight of a promise I had no intention of keeping.

In that moment, a sudden gust of wind swept through the room, drawing my gaze to the open window. To me, it was not merely an opening to the outside world; it was my chance for freedom. I resolved to do something reckless, something that would surely infuriate my father if he ever found out.

After securing the door, I grasped my mother’s wedding ring tightly in my hand. With a leap of faith, I jumped out of the window, landing amidst a tangle of bushes and branches that clawed at my skin. Pain was a distant thought; I had to escape this prison. I sprinted away with all the speed I could muster.

As I reached the main road, I spotted a police officer standing a short distance away. Just as I prepared to call out for help, my father’s voice echoed behind me.

“Elliot!” I turned to see my father, Kim, and his men advancing toward me. Panic surged through me; I had to keep running. If I could just reach the officer, I might find safety.

I dashed toward him, shouting for assistance. The officer turned, his attention fixed on me as he began to stride forward. Just as I was about to cross the road, a car struck me with a violent force. The impact sent me flying, my head colliding with the windshield. For a fleeting moment, a smile broke across my face; perhaps this was the end, the liberation I had longed for. But then, I hit the ground with a jarring thud, the asphalt scraping against my skin as I rolled away.

I lay there, my gaze locked onto the drifting clouds above. The distant wails of sirens and the echoes of screams pierced the air around me. In my periphery, I caught sight of my father and the others retreating into the shadows, seeking refuge from the chaos.

An officer rushed toward me, his mouth moving in frantic urgency, but his words felt like mere shadows, disconnected from reality. I could still recall the last plea I uttered to him.

"Please, let me be." And with that, darkness wrapped around me like a heavy shroud. The next moment, I found myself awakening in a hospital room, bathed in harsh, blinding white light, surrounded by sterile curtains. Everything was so white that it felt as if I had been transported to some ethereal realm. A profound sense of peace enveloped me.

As my eyes roamed the room, they settled on a woman in the corner. I blinked, adjusting my focus, and realized I was not alone, nor had I crossed over to the other side.

Death had not claimed me; instead, I had merely glimpsed the specter of mortality reflected in the depths of her gaze.