“I’m calling from the demolition office. We posted the demolition notice earlier, and now there are


    some final procedures you need toplete. You’re thest one holding things up, so pleasee


    by as soon as you can.”


    My mood, already low, sank even further.


    I’d known for a while that I needed to sign the demolition papers, but I kept putting it off.


    It felt like, as long as I didn’t sign those papers, the ce couldn’t be torn down. And if it wasn’t torn


    down, my home would still be there.


    But now, no matter how much I’d dyed, I had to sign. The ce was getting demolished.


    I couldn’t be the one holding up the whole process, keeping people from moving into their new


    homes.


    After all, the neighborhood was old. Who wouldn’t want to live in a shiny new development with


    fresh houses?


    “Okay, I’lle by now,” I agreed, without e.


    nesitating.


    After hanging up, I let out a long sigh, got in my car, and drove to the demolition office.


    I signed the papers like they asked, though the property deed still had my parents‘ names on it.


    Now, I needed their death certificates and cremation documents before I could officially inherit it.


    I knew it was just procedure, but to me, it felt cruel.


    It’d been over ten years since they passed, but I never officially closed their ounts. In my heart,


    as long as all three of our names stayed together, they hadn’t really left.


    But now, I had to finalize everything. I had to erase them from the world.


    The weight of that hit me, sharp and heavy, Brutal.


    Still, no matter how much it hurt, I couldn’t run from it.


    At the registration office, the clerk informed me that I needed a death report from the ident


    investigation unit to close their ounts.


    So, I returned to the department that handled the ident all those years ago. This time, the


    process went smoothly. But the officer handling my request looked at me and asked, “It’s been


    years since the ident. Why are you only dealing with this now?”


    My throat tightened. “Because I didn’t want to.”


    He gave me a look, probably thinking I was being difficult, but didn’t push it. He turned back to his


    computer, typed for a moment, and then looked at me again.


    Sensing something was off, I asked, “Is there a problem? Do I need to bring more documents?”


    “No, everything’s fine,” he replied, focused on his screen as his fingers flew across the keyboard.


    Soon, the printer hummed to life, and a warm sheet of paper slid out. He stamped it and handed it


    over.


    Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    “Take a look,” he said.


    My eyes fell on the bold text, “pronounced dead at the scene“. It felt like my heart stopped all at


    once.


    I wasn’t there when it happened, but I’d seen the case files. It almost felt like I had been.


    Images of the crash flooded my mind. My body started trembling, and it felt like the air had been


    sucked out of the room.


    I couldn’t breathe. I had to get out of there. Without a second thought, I turned and rushed for the


    door. But the officer called after me, “Wait a second.”


    I froze and turned back. My voice wouldn’te, so just stood there, waiting for him to say


    something.


    “Are you… okay?” His eyes searched my face.


    I must’ve looked awful for him to ask.


    I shook my head, trying to pull myself toget! info, please.”


    le got up and walked towar