The Day I Died, Mom Was Reborn

When Mom asked for a divorce, she chose to walk away with nothing, taking only me.

I refused her.

I lied and said I didn't want to live through hard times with her, and that I'd rather stay with Dad and enjoy the good life.

A year later, she became a chart-topping singer and adopted a lovely, icy beauty of a daughter.

At the Spring Festival Gala live broadcast, Mom was asked to send her best wishes to the person she hated most.

She called me.

I kept repeating, "May every year bring you good fortune, and every year bring you peace."

Mom sneered. "But I don't want you to have good fortune or peace at all."

"I hope you spend your whole life in pain."

I kept repeating, "May every year bring you good fortune, and every year bring you peace."

Mom said impatiently, "Enough. You don't deserve my good wishes."

The host sensed something was wrong and reminded her, "Teacher Mu, no one's answering the phone. That's just the ringtone."

"But in the documentary filmed before her death, she really was in terrible pain, just as you wished."

"Before her death?"

Mom furrowed her brow, then smiled. "Is this one of your new prank shows?"

The host looked pained.

Suddenly, my voice came from the giant screen behind her.

Mom whipped around. The face that filled her vision was mine, yellow and gaunt.