Chapter 3: Ashes at Sunrise

On that damp, chilly spring morning in Georgia, I walked alone to the cemetery behind the house. My sister, my dad, and my dog all rested here. One day, I’d be here too.

The grass was slick with dew, the headstones lined up in neat rows. The wind smelled like pine.

In my backpack were the gold origami stars I’d folded over the years, using paper I’d bought with prison credits. They kept me going.

Each star was a wish, a promise to myself that I’d make it out, that I’d see them again. Letting them go.

On my sister’s headstone, her photo still radiated confidence, even in black and white. She was always confident.

Her smile was as bright as ever, even etched in stone. She always made things okay.

Unlike me, she was strong-willed, with degrees in law and economics. After graduation, she took over the company and made it thrive. She was unstoppable.

She was my shield, my safety net. But she couldn’t protect me forever.

I once thought I could always live under her wing, sheltered from the world. But I was wrong. I was adrift.

After my sister died, my dad was devastated and had a stroke. The vast Sterling estate became a prize for everyone else. I was the useless heiress holding the prize but unable to protect it. Everything slipped away.

Turns out, everything that’s easy in life comes with a hidden price tag. There’s always a bill.

Regret is a heavy thing. If only I’d tried harder.

But life’s cruelty is that there are no ifs. No do-overs.

You only get one shot, and there’s no going back. Even when it hurts.

Before sunrise, in the dim light, I watched the flames quietly consume the offerings.

“I don’t know if anyone’s left flowers for you all these years. Hope you’ve had enough to get by. Sis, you always had standards—only the best for you. I bet even underground, you’re still the prettiest one there. Coal, if you get another chance, I hope you find a better home—not an owner as useless as me.”

My voice trembled, barely more than a whisper.

When the last gold star turned to ash, the sun finally rose. Everything felt new.