During our winter hiking trip in the Aspen mountains, my foster brother, Julian, deliberately pushed me, breaking my leg. But my parents left me behind in the freezing snow, running a high fever and unable to walk, just to rush Julian to the hospital for his minor scratches. I held onto my dad’s coat, sobbing and begging them to take me with them. But my mom coldly slapped my hand away. “Julian is bleeding so much, and all you care about is competing for our attention?” “How did I give birth to such a malicious son? Stay here by yourself and think about what you’ve done!” They walked away with Julian, never once looking back at me. I dragged my broken left leg, desperately trying to crawl after them, only to collapse helplessly into the freezing, deep snow. Days later, when Julian was discharged from the hospital, they finally remembered me. They had no idea that on the very day they left, an avalanche had already buried me deep beneath the snow. I died. I died because the avalanche hit, and with a broken leg, I couldn’t run. After my death, my soul somehow ended up floating right next to my dad. He was standing anxiously in the hospital room, looking at Julian on the bed with eyes full of distress. “Julian, the doctor said it’s a good thing we got you here in time. You’re going to be completely fine.” “Just rest now. We’ll go home once you’re fully recovered.” Then, he turned to look at the snow-capped mountains outside the window, his eyes burning with anger. “If it weren’t for Leo dragging us on this stupid trip, you wouldn’t have gotten hurt and ended up in a hospital bed!” “When he gets back, I’ll make him get down on his knees and beg for your forgiveness!” My mom was hovering over the monitors, terrified that Julian’s vitals might drop even a little. Her eyes were red from crying. “That brat knew Julian has a weak heart, yet he insisted on hiking in the snow.” “And here I thought Leo was finally trying to be a good brother. It was a setup all along!” Watching this, my ghost felt a sharp, stabbing pain where my heart used to be. Mom, that’s not true. This trip was Julian’s idea. You both agreed to it! I had been sickly since I was a kid. I hated the cold and hated climbing. But Julian said he wanted to take a family photo in the mountains. So you forced me to come, calling me dramatic when I resisted. Julian was the son of my dad’s late army buddy. Dad felt so guilty about his friend’s death that he treated Julian better than his own flesh and blood. Ever since we were kids, I had to give up everything for Julian. Anything my parents bought for me, Julian would take. If I fought back, my parents would scream at me for being selfish and not caring for Julian. Over time, I became a people-pleaser. I stopped fighting back, hoping that if I was good enough, my parents would love me again. This trip was supposed to be different. Julian had deliberately stepped on and shattered the vintage pocket watch Grandma Ruth left me before she died. It was the only thing I had left of her. I was so heartbroken that my parents finally felt a shred of guilt. They promised to take me to the beach. The beach—a place they had promised to take me a thousand times but never did. But at the last minute, Julian said he wanted to see the snow. So they changed the destination instantly. They even dragged me along just because Julian said it wouldn’t feel like a family without me. And now, somehow, it was all my fault. Up on the mountain, I had begged my parents to turn back because my leg was throbbing. But they only saw the tiny scratch on Julian’s ankle. My mom had screamed at me, “Leo, Julian is bleeding! Why do you always have to make everything about yourself?” Julian had feigned tears, whispering, “It doesn’t hurt, Mom. Leo didn’t mean to push me.” My parents looked at the tiny drop of blood on Julian’s leg, then glared at me like I was a monster. “Leo, did you plan this whole thing?” “How did we raise such a wicked child?” With that, my dad picked Julian up and they hurried down the mountain. I cried, begging them not to leave me. But they said I was acting to cover up my “crime.” No matter how much I pleaded, they wouldn’t listen. They told me to walk down by myself as a punishment. After they left, I dragged my broken leg through the snow, my body shivering from a raging fever, trying to crawl my way down. But just as I was close to the exit, the mountain roared. An avalanche came down. I remember the sheer despair. The heavy snow crushed my bones, and the freezing cold sucked the last bit of warmth from my body. In my final moments, I stared in the direction my parents had gone. If they find out I died here, will they be even a little sad? Will they give me a fraction of the love they gave Julian, once I’m gone?
In the hospital, I watched my parents cater to Julian’s every whim for days. My mom cooked gourmet meals and brought them to his bedside every day. My dad bought him the newest PlayStation as a reward for “being so brave.” During those days, they completely forgot I existed. All their love and attention went to Julian. My soul felt a cold, bitter ache. It wasn’t until Julian was discharged a week later that my parents finally remembered they had another son. “Where is Leo? Why isn’t he here to pick us up?” My dad grumbled, his face darkening. “He’s probably hiding because he knows he’s in trouble for hurting Julian,” my mom said with a sigh of disgust. “Well, we’ve ignored him for a week. He should know his place by now. Call him and tell him to get over here.” Dad pulled out his phone and dialed my number. But to their surprise, the call went straight to voicemail. Usually, whenever they called, I would answer within seconds. I was always terrified of missing their calls. But now, after three consecutive calls, the phone remained dead. My parents frowned, a slight flicker of unease crossing their faces. Standing beside them, Julian lowered his head, acting incredibly guilty. “Is Leo still mad at me? Does he hate me for taking up your time? I’m sorry…” My dad’s face hardened instantly. He shoved his phone into his pocket and sneered. “He’s got some nerve. He actually turned his phone off!” Mom gnashed her teeth in anger. “That brat! He’s throwing a tantrum because we left him on the mountain. He’s doing this on purpose!” Dad’s eyes flashed with rage. “He wants us to worry. He wants us to beg him to come home! I see right through his little games.” Mom scoffed. “He’s getting sneakier. He thinks he can manipulate us now.” She grabbed Julian’s hand and started walking toward the front desk, her voice cold. “Come on, Julian. Let’s ignore him and sign the discharge papers.” “He wants to keep his phone off? Fine. Let’s see how long he can last.” I stared at Julian, my ghostly chest tightening with rage. He was still playing them, still driving the wedge deeper. But my parents always chose to believe him. They always would. I clutched my chest as a phantom pain washed over me, and I collapsed onto the hospital floor. While they were signing the papers, my girlfriend, Chloe, burst through the hospital doors, panting and frantic. She ran up to my parents, her face pale. “Something happened to Leo!”
My parents froze for a second. Chloe gasped for breath, tears welling in her eyes. “I haven’t been able to reach him for days! He’s missing!” Looking at Chloe’s terrified face, my soul wept. There was no signal on the mountain. I couldn’t even send her a text before the snow took my life. But the worry on my parents’ faces vanished instantly, replaced by sheer annoyance. My mom rolled her eyes. “Chloe, don’t let him fool you. That brat did something terrible to Julian and shut his phone off to avoid us.” “He’s just hiding because he’s a coward. Don’t waste your energy on him.” Chloe shook her head violently. “No, you don’t understand! We had a movie date yesterday. Leo never breaks his promises. Never! But yesterday, his phone was completely dead…” My dad cut her off, his voice sharp and dismissive. “Enough. Leo loves playing these pathetic victim games.” “Who knows where he’s hiding, waiting for us to go look for him? He wants attention.” Julian stepped forward, looking incredibly apologetic. “I know Leo hates me. If he comes back, I’ll apologize to him. I’ll do whatever he wants.” Hearing Julian’s voice made my blood boil. I rushed in front of him, screaming at his face. For years, I did everything to please you! My parents gave you everything, and I let you! Why did you have to kill me?! But no one could hear me. No one could see me. My dad’s expression softened as he looked at Julian, his anger toward me growing. “Julian, stop blaming yourself. It’s not your fault. Leo has always been a rotten kid.” “If he wants to hide, let him. Even if he dies out there, I won’t shed a single tear.” Mom added angrily, “Exactly! When he finally crawls back, he’s going to get down on his knees and apologize to Julian!” Chloe stared at them, her jaw dropping in utter disbelief. She couldn’t believe these words were coming from my parents. Her eyes turned red, and she screamed, “Do you even know Leo?! He is nothing like what you’re describing!” “He is the kindest, most honest person I know!” “How can you say those things about him? Are you even his real parents?!” Chloe’s voice echoed in the hallway. I felt a tear slip down my ghostly face. In this entire world, she was the only one who truly knew me. The only one who loved me. But my dad only sneered. “I don’t know him? He’s selfish and petty! If it weren’t for him, Julian wouldn’t have been hurt!” Mom chimed in. “You’ve been blinded by his act, Chloe. He loves manipulating people.” “I want to see how long he can keep this up!” Standing in the cold hospital hallway, I felt like my soul was being ripped apart. So this was what I was to them. A selfish, manipulative liar. Chloe was shaking with rage. She pointed a finger at my mom. “You are going to kill him! I’m calling the police!” Dad let out a dry, angry laugh. “Call them! I want the cops to find him. Let’s see if they throw him in jail for pushing Julian!” At the mention of the police, Julian’s face went completely white. He quickly grabbed my dad’s sleeve, his voice trembling. “Dad… actually, maybe I remembered it wrong. I think I just tripped. Leo didn’t push me.” Then, he looked at Chloe with a pleading expression. “Chloe, please don’t call the police. Leo is just throwing a tantrum. We shouldn’t waste police resources over a family issue.” But Chloe wasn’t buying it. She glared at Julian, her eyes piercing. “Why are you so scared of the police, Julian? What are you hiding?”
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