Three years after breaking up with Caspian Howe, Caitlyn Rowan went to Wachusett Mountains alone.

But an avalanche hit, and Caitlyn was killed.

Right when she was about to lose her consciousness, the voice of the Grim Reaper rang in her ears, "Caitlyn, you died far from home, so you won't be reincarnated. I'll give you three days to return to your hometown."

When she opened her eyes again, Caitlyn found herself back in her car—right next to her own cold, lifeless body.

***

Caitlyn knew that the three days given were for her to handle her funeral and say goodbyes.

Looking at the fluttering snowflakes, she decided to bury one last photo of her and Caspian deep in the snow.

"Caspian, I made it here. But you didn't show as promised."

She opened the trunk, carefully placed her own body inside a suitcase, and packed it with crushed ice and snow to keep it cold.

Then she called a funeral home in Boston.

"Hello, I'd like to schedule a funeral service for three days from now.

"The deceased's name is Caitlyn Rowan."

Since the Grim Reaper wanted her to return to her hometown, she would drive back to Boston and give herself a proper funeral.

Once everything was set, Caitlyn drove slowly along the icy, snow-covered road.

After a few turns, she saw a car stuck up ahead.

A woman in a white down jacket stood in the middle of the road, waving for help. Caitlyn had no choice but to stop.

She rolled down the window. The woman took off her mask, revealing a delicate, fair face.

"Lizbeth?" Caitlyn said, surprised.

Lizbeth McNeil was her high school deskmate, and they hadn't met since graduation day. She never expected to run into her here.

Lizbeth was just as surprised to see Caitlyn.

"Cait! I can't believe it's you."

"My boyfriend's car broke down. The insurance company can't get here until tomorrow. Can we catch a ride with you?"

Caitlyn hesitated. After all, she was already dead. Taking living people with her didn't feel right.

But maybe doing a good deed would earn her some credit with the Grim Reaper later.

With that thought, she agreed.

Lizbeth waved toward the Maybach stuck in the snow. Then a man in a long black trench coat walked over.

Caitlyn froze the second she saw him.

Over the three years since breaking up with Caspian, she'd imagined countless scenarios of their reunion.

She never expected that when they finally met again, she would already be dead, and he would be someone else's boyfriend.

As Caspian approached, Caitlyn forced herself to look away, her chest tightening.

Lizbeth smiled and looped her arm through his. "Cas, this is Caitlyn Rowan, my classmate from high school. We're so lucky to run into her today. She's agreed to take us back to Boston."

Caitlyn felt a swirl of complicated emotions at Lizbeth's introduction.

She observed Caspian, now mature and steady, his boyish rawness already gone. She intended to greet with "long time no see", but the words caught in her throat.

Just as she was about to speak, Caspian took out a bank card and handed it to her.

"Ms. Rowan, this is for the ride. I'll drive. My girlfriend gets carsick sitting in the back. Can you let her take the passenger seat?"

His cold tone left Caitlyn stunned. She didn't take the card.

"I'm sorry, but I prefer to drive my own car. You two can take the back seat."

As the car door closed, she overheard Lizbeth whisper to Caspian, "Cait is nice enough to give us a ride. How could you be so rude? You acted like you knew each other."

Caspian's dark eyes were unreadable. "I don't know her."

Caitlyn's heart shattered at his reply.

She focused on driving, trying her best to hide her emotions.

Right, everything had changed. Whether they knew each other or not no longer mattered.

After a while, Lizbeth piped up, "Cait, what brought you to Wachusett Mountains anyway?"

Caitlyn's grip tightened on the steering wheel. "My ex-boyfriend and I promised to come here three years ago."

A moment later, Caspian's low voice sounded, "Ms. Rowan, focus on the road. You can't afford the consequences if you get either of us killed."

His sharp words cut deep, bringing Caitlyn back to her senses.

She was already dead. What was the point of bringing up that old promise?

Lizbeth shot Caspian an annoyed look. "Don't mind him, Cait. He's been acting weird all day.

"But Cait, after we leave Wachusett Mountains, where are you headed? Will we be going the same way?"

Through the rearview mirror, Caitlyn stole a glance at the man she had missed so deeply all those lonely nights.

Her voice came out hoarse. "No. Once we reach Boston, I have a funeral to attend."

The atmosphere in the car suddenly turned tense. Even Lizbeth quieted down.

"Since we're riding with you back to Boston, we should come with you to pay respects. The deceased deserves that."

Caitlyn glanced at Caspian, who remained silent. Her grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly.

She had no family, no friends.

If someone could be there at her own funeral, maybe she wouldn't feel so alone when she left.

"Thank you," Caitlyn said, keeping the car at a steady speed.

The snow chains scraped against the icy ground with a clattering sound. The white snow everywhere blurred the road ahead.

In the back seat, leaning against Caspian, Lizbeth couldn't resist asking about Caitlyn's past.

"Cait, why did you and your boyfriend break up back then? I remember how much you loved him. Your Facebook posts were full of love notes to him."

Caitlyn responded, "His friends called me his 'simp'. He never denied it. I just lost interest after that."

Three years ago, right after graduation, she'd stayed up two nights helping Caspian design his resume.

But when she took it to him, she overheard his friends mocking her.

They said terrible things about her, but Caspian didn't speak up for her, only swirling his drink casually.

He even had a slightly smug look, as if he was enjoying it.

At the moment, she decided to let go.

Lizbeth sat up straight in Caspian's arms right away.

"That's awful! How could they say things like that?

"Then again, you can tell what a guy is like by the company he keeps. You did the right thing, Cait."

Listening to Lizbeth's indignant words, Caitlyn gave a soft reply, "Yeah."

Then, Caspian spoke up suddenly, "Relationships are between two people. Ms. Rowan's reason for breaking up seems a bit far-fetched."

Caitlyn didn't respond, but Lizbeth was already annoyed.

"What do you know? Some guys just mess things up themselves and drive their girlfriends away!" she snapped.

"Cas, if your friends ever badmouth me someday, you have to stand up for me. Otherwise, I won't let you off."

Caspian's jaw tightened. He muttered, "Alright."

The snow fell harder, and the windshield fogged up with thick white haze.

With visibility so poor, Caitlyn turned on the cold air to clear the glass.

Lizbeth blew on her hands, trying to keep warm.

"It's so cold, Cait. Can you turn on the heater?"

Remembering the body in the trunk, Caitlyn took some heating pads from her bag and passed them to Lizbeth.

"Heating makes the air stuffy. Use these to warm your hands."

When Lizbeth took them, her fingers brushed against Caitlyn's icy skin. She looked surprised.

"Your hands are freezing! What if you catch a cold without the heater?"

Caitlyn paused for a second. She was already dead, so not having a living person's body temperature was normal.

But how was she supposed to explain that?

Just then, Caspian leaned forward. With a stretch of his long arm, he turned on the car's heater.

"Ms. Rowan, a cold at high altitudes can be life-threatening. Since we're in your car, you have to take responsibility for our safety."

Hearing his typically domineering tone, Caitlyn sighed inwardly but didn't argue.

They felt silent. The only sound was the crunch of tires moving through deep snow.

It felt like a long time before they finally made it out of the heavy snow and reached a small town at the foot of the mountain.

Caspian looked out at the darkening sky. "It's too late to keep driving. We're staying here tonight."

Caitlyn frowned. "No. I have to get back to Boston within three days. I can't stop for the night."

Lizbeth pointed at the thick snow outside, disapproving.

"It's dark and the snow's heavy. Driving at night isn't safe. We can't risk our lives!"

Caitlyn glanced toward the trunk and made a decision. "I'll keep driving. You two stay here. You can fly back tomorrow."

The car stopped in front of a guesthouse, making a muffled thud on the snow.

Caitlyn unlocked the doors, signaling for them to get out.

But Caspian turned off the engine and pulled out the keys.

"All flights and trains are canceled because of the storm.

"You agreed to take us with you, Ms. Rowan. You have to keep your promise."

He got out, opened the driver's door, and motioned for her to step out.

"Don't worry. We'll only stay one night. You'll make it in time for the funeral."

Lizbeth added, "Driver fatigue is dangerous. We still have to get to Boston with you for the service. We can't afford any accidents."

With no other choice, Caitlyn followed them into the guesthouse.

Rooms were scarce in the freezing weather. They only managed to book one twin-bed room.

Caitlyn thought about sleeping in the car for the night, but then she figured: if Caspian wasn't bothered, why should she be?

Inside the room, Lizbeth went to shower first.

Caitlyn and Caspian sat on separate beds, focused on their phones.

As the water ran in the bathroom, Caspian suddenly looked at her.

"It's been three years. Aren't you going to unblock me?"

Caitlyn paused. "Since we already broke up, there's no need to stay in touch."

Caspian's expression turned cold. "You're right. An ex should disappear completely, like they're dead."

Every word he said was sharp, and that word "dead" in particular made Caitlyn uncomfortable.

"Caspian, if you can't speak nicely, we don't have to travel together."

All she wanted now was to take her own body back to her hometown and wrap up her life properly.

Running into them had been unexpected. She'd keep her promise to give them a ride.

But she refused to let Caspian upset her right before she was gone for good.

Maybe her tone was too firm. Caspian looked slightly awkward.

"At least let me pay you for the ride. You can block me again once we're back in Boston."

After a moment's hesitation, Caitlyn checked her WhatsApp blocklist.

Staring at the only contact here, her fingertips trembled slightly as she unblocked it.

Almost without thinking, she tapped to check his updates.

To her surprise, Caspian, who never used to share anything personal, now posted daily.

His latest post was a photo of him and Lizbeth from behind, holding hands and embracing at Wachusett Mountains.

The caption read: I found her at Wachusett Mountains on a sunny day.

It was posted on March 22nd at 6:33 AM, the exact moment the avalanche hit and killed her.

She scrolled slowly down. Every post was a glimpse of his life with Lizbeth: watching the northern lights in Iceland, diving in Bali, wandering through lavender fields in Provence...

Every place Caitlyn had once dreamed of visiting with Caspian, he'd been there with Lizbeth.

She felt a mix of conflicting feelings.

After transferring the money, Caspian leaned back on the sofa and fiddled with his phone.

"You used to post three times a day. Why'd you stop updating?"

Caitlyn stiffened. She hadn't posted since the day they broke up.

"I just lost interest." Caitlyn couldn't help but ask him, "What about you? You never liked posting anything before. But you posted a lot over these past two years."

"People change. You know that better than anyone."

Caitlyn clenched her fists. The faint sting helped her stay calm.

He was right. People changed.

When they were together, she had tried so many ways to get Caspian to post about their relationship to make it public.

But he always refused, saying, "Happiness is between two people. There's no need to show it off."

Yet now, for Lizbeth, he posted an update every single day.

Some people had moved on long ago, while she was still stuck in the past.

Just then, Lizbeth came out of the shower and sweetly asked Caspian to blow-dry her hair.

The sound of the hairdryer whirring filled the room, making Caitlyn feel gloomy.

She retreated into the bathroom and stood blankly under the shower stream.

She couldn't tell if the water was hot or cold.

Ever since dying and returning, she'd lost all sense of temperature.

That night, Lizbeth slept in one bed with Caitlyn, while Caspian took the other.

But around midnight, Lizbeth quietly got out of bed and slipped into Caspian's.

Caitlyn heard rustling sounds, followed by soft, muffled moans.

"Take it easy. Don't wake Cait up..."

Yet the creaking of the bed only grew louder.

Caitlyn couldn't fall asleep.

By morning, Caspian and Lizbeth were already gone from the room.

Snow fell again outside, blanketing everything in white.

Caitlyn looked at her SUV in the parking shed, worried that the ice in the trunk might melt early after the heater had been on for a day.

Caitlyn asked the guesthouse owner for a bucket of crushed ice. She also shoveled fresh snow, planning to add another layer around her body.

But as she stepped outside with the bucket, she saw Lizbeth and Caspian holding a large bag by the trunk.

They were about to open it.

"Cait, we just need to put some stuff in the back," Lizbeth said.

Caitlyn's heart dropped. She reacted on instinct, shouting, "Don't open it!"

But it was too late.

A click sounded, and the trunk popped open. The black suitcase came into full view.

Caitlyn hurriedly ran over and pressed down the trunk lid.

"Put the bag in the car. The trunk is already full."

Lizbeth glanced at the black suitcase and muttered quietly, "It's fully packed. You sure have a lot of luggage..."

She placed the bag on the back seat and brushed off the snow from her gloves.

"Cait, let's go get some breakfast."

Caitlyn shook her head. "You two go ahead. I need to reorganize my luggage."

Lizbeth nodded and walked off arm in arm with Caspian.

Once they were gone, Caitlyn reopened the trunk.

She packed more crushed ice around the suitcase and topped it with a layer of fresh snow.

When she was done, she gently rested her hand on the suitcase as if soothing herself.

"Sleep a little longer. We'll be home soon."

After returning the bucket to the front desk, she headed back to the car just as Caspian and Lizbeth approached.

"Cait, you never came, so I brought you milk and bread. Have them before they get cold."

Looking at the food, Caitlyn hesitated. Even though she had a physical form now, she was already dead.

She had no breath or heartbeat. She couldn't feel the temperature. She couldn't eat these things.

As she hesitated, Caspian spoke up, "Liz burned her hand getting that hot milk for you. Don't let her effort go to waste."

When Caitlyn looked up, she met Caspian's unyielding gaze.

Lizbeth also looked a little embarrassed.

"Ever since I've been with Caspian, he's taken care of all my meals. This is the first time I've bought breakfast for someone else."

Her sincerity left Caitlyn at a loss for words.

"Thank you," she said softly as she accepted the food.

But considering her condition, she ultimately didn't eat it.

Back on the road, Caitlyn continued driving south.

The snowfall grew lighter. After a long absence, sunlight broke through the clouds and fell on her, sending a warm tingle through her chest.

Four hours later, they reached a town. The navigation system warned her against driver fatigue and suggested taking a break.

Caitlyn pulled into an open-air parking lot.

Lizbeth, excited by the rows of shops up ahead, tugged Caspian's arm and got out.

"Cait, we're going to look around. We'll be back in half an hour."

Caspian glanced at Caitlyn, then took Lizbeth's hand.

After they left, Caitlyn noticed a photo studio nearby.

Remembering she still hadn't prepared a portrait for her funeral, she walked inside without thinking.

The shop owner enthusiastically introduced traditional costumes to her.

"You're so pretty. You'd look great in this piece for portraits."

Caitlyn shook her head. "I just want a simple seated photo. I don't need to change clothes."

Her request was simple, and the photographer quickly took the picture.

Looking at the color photo on the computer, Caitlyn said to the owner, "Could you please change it to black and white?"

The owner looked surprised. "Black and white? That doesn't look good. May I ask what it's for?"

Caitlyn forced a bitter smile. "It's for a funeral portrait."

As soon as the words left her mouth, a strong hand grabbed her wrist from behind.

She turned and met Caspian's angry eyes.

"What funeral portrait?"

Caught off guard by his sudden appearance, Caitlyn calmly withdrew her hand. "My funeral portrait."

Caspian's expression froze, mockery clear in his eyes.

"What's the point of lying like this?"

She hadn't expected her honesty to sound like a lie to him.

But whether he believed her or not no longer mattered.

Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she spoke softly, "I was joking. It's for a friend."

Then she turned back to the owner. "Is the photo ready?"

The owner glanced curiously between them, then looked at the screen and frowned.

"That's strange. The photo's overexposed all of a sudden. Ma'am, we may need to retake it."

Caitlyn walked over to the computer. The once-clear photo had somehow become blurry and unrecognizable, as if covered by something.

She looked down at her own faintly fading hands and smiled wryly, "Never mind. It's fine."

She was dead. Even if she took a thousand more photos, none would turn out clear.

Caitlyn prepared to head back to the car, but Caspian stopped her.

"Liz wants to take wedding photos in the snow here. We're not leaving until we're done."

At his words, Caitlyn frowned.

They had agreed to leave after just half an hour. Why did they suddenly want to take wedding photos?

"I need to get back to Boston as soon as possible. I can't afford any delays," she said.

Caspian furrowed his brows slightly, "Taking wedding photos is a big deal for Liz and me. How is that a delay?"

His tone irritated her.

"Caspian, your life's big moments have nothing to do with me!

"This funeral is the most important thing in my life. I have to be there on time."

"It's just your friend's funeral. Is it really that urgent? We can take the highway later and still make it," Caspian said, growing impatient.

Just as the tension peaked, Lizbeth walked over in a pure white wedding gown.

"Please don't be upset, Cait. We'll just take one set of snow photos. Once we're done, we'll change right away and leave. It won't take long."

Though Lizbeth looked pleading, Caitlyn stood firm. She suggested they rent a car locally instead and take their time.

A wedding is an important event for a woman, and wedding photos capture their happiness.

If she couldn't even make it to her own funeral, the three days granted by the Grim Reaper would go wasted.

Besides, she knew Caspian was behind this.

After all those years together, she knew how petty and vengeful he could be.

But she was already dead. Why did she still have to give in to this man?

As Caitlyn wouldn't budge, Lizbeth eventually changed out of the wedding dress.

She mentioned they'd already taken plenty of photos at Wachusett Mountains anyway and could skip these.

The atmosphere stayed stiff as they got back in the car.

Lizbeth yawned repeatedly and wanted to lie down alone in the back seat to rest, so Caspian sat in the passenger seat.

They remained silent as the car merged onto the highway toward Boston.

Outside, the snow had stopped, replaced by a cold rain that streaked the windshield.

Caitlyn focused on driving. In the back seat, Lizbeth stretched and sat up.

As the navigation showed they were nearing Boston, she said warmly, "Cait, meeting you on this trip was such a blessing.

"Without you, Caspian and I might still be stuck on that mountain.

"You have to come to our wedding."

Caitlyn's grip on the steering wheel tightened.

"We can talk about it later when we get back to Boston."

But Lizbeth didn't pick up on her polite refusal. Instead, she came up with an idea.

"How about you be my bridesmaid?"

The moment she said it, both Caitlyn and Caspian spoke at the same time, "No!"

At that exact moment, the car swerved sharply and crashed into the guardrail.

Caitlyn grabbed the steering wheel tightly, narrowly pulling over and stopping safely in the emergency lane.

Caspian immediately unbuckled and got out to check on Lizbeth.

"Liz, are you hurt?"

Lizbeth shook her head, still shaken. "I'm okay, but my stomach cramps a little. I think I'm on my period."

Caspian quickly got a heating pad for her.

Caitlyn got out to inspect the car. Only the front bumper was damaged—nothing serious.

Relieved, she turned back toward the driver's seat, but Caspian was already holding the door.

"You're too easily distracted. I'll drive."

This time, Caitlyn didn't argue.

The closer they got to Boston, the more her spirit form wavered.

She was afraid she couldn't handle these last few miles, so she let him drive.

As she moved toward the back seat, Caspian stopped her. "Liz needs space to rest. Sit up front."

Caitlyn paused, then silently took the passenger seat.

Rain pattered steadily against the windows, blurring the world outside.

Once Caspian had the car smoothly back on the road, Lizbeth brought up the previous topic.

"Cas, why don't you want Cait to be a bridesmaid?"

His eyes darkened, but he didn't answer.

Thinking of their awkward history and her own fading existence, Caitlyn replied hoarsely, "A fortune teller once said I could bring bad luck. I shouldn't be a bridesmaid."

Lizbeth hadn't expected that answer. She didn't accept that.

"That's just superstition. You're such a nice person. How could you possibly bring bad luck? Cait, don't buy that!

"I have a good sense about these things. You'll find someone just as wonderful as you are. You'll be as happy as I am."

The car swayed slightly. Caitlyn glanced at Caspian and noticed the veins bulging on the back of his hands.

Her pale lips moved softly. "Maybe."

But happiness was for another life.

In this lifetime, her life had ended at the age of 26.

There would be no "someday" for her.

The scenery along the highway flashed by. A sign indicated only one kilometer remained to Boston.

Just as she zoned out, Caitlyn received a welcome message to Boston on her phone.

Caitlyn's breath hitched.

A strange heat spread through her body, reaching her chest, burning so intensely that even her fingertips trembled.

Caspian noticed something was off and glanced at her.

"What's wrong? You look so pale."

Caitlyn bit her lip hard and shook her head weakly. "I'm fine."

Seeing her shiver uncontrollably, Caspian reached over and touched her forehead. "You feel so cold."

He turned on the car's heater, and warm air rushed out.

Thinking of the body in the trunk, Caitlyn reached to turn it off.

"I don't need the heating."

But Caspian brushed her hand away and steered the car into a service area.

"You're freezing. Do you want to catch a cold?"

From the back, Lizbeth added gently, "Right, Cait, we should take care of ourselves. Let's take a break here."

Once the car stopped, she got out to use the restroom.

Caspian approached to open the passenger seat door.

"Let's get you inside. You need to drink something hot to warm up and find a clinic to see a doctor."

Caitlyn shook her head, unwilling to leave the car. "No, I know how I feel."

But Caspian grabbed her wrist to pull her out, but his face changed drastically the moment he touched her wrist.

"How come I can't feel your pulse?"

Remembering Caspian had once been a med student, Caitlyn quickly pulled her hand back.

"It's just the cold. My pulse is weak."

She avoided his eyes, not wanting him to notice more clues.

Then her phone rang.

Caitlyn picked it up and saw it was a call from the funeral home.

She walked to the back of the car to answer it, avoiding Caspian.

"Hello, we're preparing the cremation permit. May we confirm the name of the deceased once more?"

Caitlyn gently touched the trunk, her voice growing hoarse. "Caitlyn Rowan."

"Understood. For the funeral, we'll need a family member to accompany the casket into the hall and carry the portrait of the deceased. Will you be..."

Before the caller could finish, Caitlyn interrupted, "I won't be able to make it."

There was a pause on the other end. "If you aren't coming, who will deliver the body? And who should we coordinate with?"

Snow began to fall again, light and sparse.

Caitlyn caught a flake on her palm and glanced toward Caspian. He was also on a phone call not far away.

"Her friend Caspian Howe will bring the body. It's in the SUV's trunk.

"He will also handle all the arrangements for the funeral service."

Ending the call, she felt her body grow even lighter.

She thought, "Caspian, consider this our final goodbye."

She returned to the passenger seat, waiting quietly for Lizbeth's return so they could leave.

But after ending his call, Caspian walked directly to the driver's side.

He got in and started the engine without a word.

As he intended to drive away, Caitlyn spoke up, "Lizbeth isn't back yet."

"Liz won't be coming with us. A driver will pick her up shortly."

He fastened his seatbelt.

Just then, a message from Lizbeth came through on Caitlyn's phone: "Cait, my mom wants me to come home for some urgent matters. I can't go with you. Let's meet up another day!"

Caitlyn replied with a simple "Okay", a mix of emotions stirring in her chest.

Caspian merged back onto the highway.

They remained silent. Even his breathing seemed audible.

Caitlyn curled her fingers slightly and turned to look out the window.

Then, his voice broke the silence. "After the funeral, where will you go?"

Caitlyn hesitated, unsure how to answer.

Once the funeral was over, she would disappear from this world entirely.

Where she went next was up to the Grim Reaper.

"I don't know," she answered honestly.

Caspian's grip on the steering wheel tightened, emotions filling his eyes.

"Caitlyn, don't you have any plans for your life? Have you just been drifting through these years?"

Her gaze fell. "Something like that."

After all, her life had already ended. Every moment now was a gift from the Grim Reaper.

Thinking of Caspian and Lizbeth's upcoming wedding, she gathered her courage and spoke sincerely, "Caspian, I wish you and Lizbeth a happy marriage and a long life together."

The car jolted suddenly. Caspian's jaw tightened.

"What do you mean by that, Caitlyn? When we were together, you never cared about my business!

"And now that we've broken up, you act like you care about my well-being?"

Caught off guard by his reaction, Caitlyn was confused.

"Don't you want me to wish you well?"

Caspian slammed the accelerator, pushing the speed to 190 km/h.

"Now I'm sure you never loved me."

Outside, the scenery blurred as the white SUV raced through the sunset.

Caitlyn gripped her seatbelt, feeling like she couldn't catch her breath.

The atmosphere in the car was suffocating. She didn't know what else to say.

Had she loved him? If not, why had she stayed stuck for three years, going alone to that mountain?

But now, what did it matter if she had loved him or not?

She was dead. He was getting married, wasn't he?

A few hours later, the car drove through the Boston toll booth.

A hearse was parked on the roadside, its driver waving them down.

Caspian stopped the car and rolled down the window.

The funeral staffer showed his ID.

"Hi, are you Mr. Howe? This is the attendee list for the service at Boston Funeral Home. Could you please sign it?"

Caspian looked confused, "Why do I need to sign this?"

The staffer responded politely, "It's Ms. Rowan's request."

Glancing at Caitlyn resting in the passenger seat, Caspian silently took the form and signed his name.

Afterward, he followed the hearse toward the funeral home.

The closer they got, the lighter Caitlyn felt.

A long-lost drowsiness slowly washed over her.

She knew her time was almost up.

Through the window, she took in the world outside: the busy intersection, the sunset across the sky, the towering skyscrapers...

She etched every detail into her memory.

When they arrived, Caspian parked the car. Without a word, Caitlyn opened the door and stepped out.

The fiery glow of the sunset streamed through the clouds, warming her one last time.

In that light, she saw her hands slowly turning transparent.

This time, her fading fingertips did not return.

Suddenly, the quartz clock at the distant train station struck three times.

The cold, clear voice of the Grim Reaper sounded in her ears, "Caitlyn, you have returned yourself to where you belong. Do you have any regrets?"

She watched as the staffer handed her portrait to Caspian and shook her head gently.

She had no family left in this world. The one person who had once meant everything now held her portrait to see her off.

Her life felt complete.

"I have no regrets," she said.

As she spoke, she closed her eyes. Her already translucent body dissolved into specks of golden light, scattering in the wind...

At that same moment, a sharp pain shot through Caspian's chest.

He stared at the portrait covered in black cloth in his hand, confused.

"Why do I have to hold the portrait?"

The staffer answered truthfully, "Mr. Howe, this was Ms. Caitlyn Rowan's final wish."

Caspian froze. "Caitlyn? Final wish?"

He instantly looked toward the car, but Caitlyn was no longer in the passenger seat.

Two rows of staff stood solemnly at attention. Someone wheeled a transparent crystal casket draped in flowers toward the SUV.

"All rise in silence. Take the casket."

Another attendant moved to the rear and opened the trunk.

The large black suitcase came into view, the ice and snow around it now mostly melted.

Caspian's heart raced uncontrollably. A wild, panicked feeling spread through him.

He couldn't see her anywhere. That slender, familiar figure was gone.

Without thinking, he stepped forward and stopped the staffer from lifting the suitcase.

"That's Caitlyn's luggage. Don't touch it."

But the man looked at him gravely. "Mr. Howe, thank you for accompanying the deceased on her final journey. On behalf of Ms. Rowan, we appreciate you staying with her till the end."

Slowly, with white gloves, he unzipped the suitcase.

After the black lid was lifted, Caspian saw Caitlyn's curled body lying amid the melted ice and snow.