ELSA'S POV:
"How could I ever forget that day? I wished, over and over, after the incident that it was all a lie, that somehow I would wake up from this horrifying dream. My whole life shattered when Mirabel died. Never in my wildest thoughts did I imagine living in a world without her.
Even up until today, I can't forget the chilling sensation on my bare feet as I kneeled beside her lifeless body. Her skin was cold and fragile, her frame limp as though she was merely asleep, waiting for the right moment to open her eyes and tell me this was just another one of her silly pranks. But reality was cruel.
The moment they took her body away from me, realization sank in, and the world around me froze. I couldn't hear anything except the raw, broken screams of her parents and the wails of sirens. I had never known what denial felt like until that day."
Mirabel Ray was found dead on December 28th, 2019
She was found drowned in the swimming pool at her home. At first, her death seemed suspicious to everyone, but after the autopsy was conducted, traces of scopolamine were discovered in her system. The drug is known for causing hallucinations and irrational behavior. It was speculated that Mirabel was high on the drug and, not knowing how to swim, accidentally drowned.
That was how Mirabel's story ended, on the night of December 28th, 2019.
[PRESENT DAY: 2025]
Elsa had long drawn a line between her personal life and her work. The once bright, outspoken, and dazzling girl, nicknamed The Show Queen in high school was now unrecognizable.
At twenty-four, Elsa carried herself with quiet dignity, but her eyes told another story. They screamed of restlessness, sadness, pain, and hopelessness. Years had passed since Mirabel's death, but for Elsa, it still felt like yesterday. She hadn't smiled genuinely since then. Her spark, the one everyone once admired, had gone out completely.
If nothing else, she poured herself into her career. Work became her only valid escape from reality, her shield against the crushing grief she carried silently every day.
********
Elsa knocked gently on the glass-paneled door of Mr. Liam Daniels' office.
"Come in," his smooth voice called out.
She stepped inside, her heels soft against the carpet, her expression neutral. "I drafted the proposal with Crystal Group," she said, handing over the file. "Could you review it and let me know if there are corrections to be made?"
Liam accepted the papers, scanned a few pages, and set them neatly on his desk. "I'll go over it thoroughly and send you the revised version by email."
Elsa gave a small nod and turned to leave.
"Miss Williams," Liam called, stopping her just as her hand touched the doorknob.
She turned slightly, face still composed. "Yes, sir?"
Liam leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on her. "Later tonight, I'm having dinner with some business partners. Would you accompany me? Don't worry, it's strictly work-related. Just some food and discussion."
Elsa hesitated, silence stretching between them. Finally, she said softly, "Alright. I'll wait after work." Without another word, she walked out.
Liam's gaze lingered until she was gone.
At twenty-four Liam Daniels, he was the only heir to the K2 Group, a massive conglomerate led by his father. Many expected him to aim for a top executive role, but instead, he chose to lead the marketing team, a decision that puzzled many. Theories spread, but most concluded it was because the marketing department was the most successful division in the company.
Despite his position, Liam carried himself without arrogance. Tall, broad-shouldered, and strikingly handsome, he had an almost ethereal presence. His sharp features were softened by a genuine warmth, people joked he must have stolen his beauty from an angel.
Unlike most young heirs, Liam was approachable. He complimented his team often, encouraged casual conversation, and remembered the smallest details about those who worked with him. He enjoyed interacting with people. Elsa, however, wasn't a fan. He asked too many personal questions, and she despised talking about herself.
After work, Elsa climbed into Liam's sleek black car. The drive was silent, only the faint hum of the engine filling the air.
The dinner was held at an upscale restaurant. A private room had been reserved. Soon, their business partners arrived. Food was served, wine poured, and conversation flowed.
Elsa stayed focused on the meeting, her notes crisp, her attention unwavering. She didn't touch her plate, only sipping her wine occasionally.
When the meeting ended and the partners left, Elsa exhaled quietly. The room now held only her and Liam.
"So, Miss Williams," Liam said, removing the folded napkin from his lap, "I noticed you didn't touch your food. Was it not to your liking?"
Elsa shook her head politely. "Not at all, sir. I just wasn't hungry. Besides, I prefer focusing on the details rather than worrying about food."
Liam chuckled lightly. "That sounds like you."
She glanced at her watch. "It's late. I should be heading home now."
"Wait," Liam said quickly. "Let me drive you home, you came with me, after all."
"That won't be necessary," Elsa said firmly. "I appreciate the offer, but I'll manage."
Liam sighed but didn't push. Instead, he nodded to a waiter, who entered carrying a small strawberry cake with a single candle.
Elsa froze, staring at the cake as the candle flickered.
"Happy birthday, Elsa," Liam said with a soft smile.
Her face remained unreadable. "What? How do you know today is my birthday?"
"Your employee records," Liam replied casually.
Inside, Elsa's heart sank. She hadn't celebrated her birthday in years, not since Mirabel's death. They had shared the same birthday. Now, the day was a haunting reminder of her absence.
"Thank you for the gesture," she said sharply, trying to compose herself. "But I'd prefer we keep personal life separate from work."
Liam blinked, caught off guard, but he simply sighed. "Alright. But it feels like such a waste, doesn't it?"
Elsa hesitated, then muttered, "Fine. I'll just blow out the candle."
Liam's eyes lit up immediately. "Make a wish."
Elsa inhaled deeply, closing her eyes. Instantly, images of Mirabel filled her mind, her laugh, her voice, her presence. Elsa's heart clenched. She quickly opened her eyes and blew out the candle before she could fall apart.
Liam clapped lightly, his sharp eyes softening.
He plated a slice of cake and slid it toward her.
"You really don't have to," Elsa murmured.
"Just try it," he urged with a smile.
She took a bite. "It's good."
"You're not eating?" she asked, noticing he hadn't touched it.
"I'm allergic to strawberries," Liam admitted, scratching his neck.
Elsa frowned. "Then why get a strawberry cake?"
"Because it's your favorite," Liam said simply.
She froze. "How do you know that?"
"I see you eating strawberries all the time during breaks. I figured you liked them."
A small, involuntary smile tugged Elsa's lips.
Liam's breath hitched. I've never seen her smile before, he thought.
They began talking well, mostly Liam talking, Elsa listening. Eventually, his tone softened.
"What about you, Miss Williams? How's your life outside work?"
Elsa went silent, then said quietly, "There's nothing special. Work is my life, and I'm happy with it."
But Liam heard the emptiness in her voice.
"Work shouldn't be everything," he said gently. "Don't get so caught up in it that you forget to live."
Elsa forced a smile. "I do prioritize myself. Maybe it doesn't seem that way to you."
Liam hesitated, then leaned forward slightly. "You're using work to distract yourself from something… aren't you?"
Elsa was starting to get offended.
"Well, sir, I don't really understand what you're trying to say, but I'd appreciate it if you stopped here. I don't want to talk about my personal life with my boss," she said in a stern tone, firm, but not disrespectful.
Liam blinked, caught off guard, then quickly lowered his eyes. "No, no—I didn't mean to offend you. I'm sorry," he said softly.
Elsa exhaled, her irritation easing slightly. "Alright," she muttered, giving him a small nod.
After a while, they finally headed out of the restaurant. Elsa insisted on going home by herself despite Liam offering again to drive her. She flagged down a cab while Liam walked to his car and drove off.
Sitting in the cab, Elsa leaned her head against the window, watching the city lights blur past. Her mind drifted back to Liam's words, replaying them over and over. She sighed, brushing the thoughts aside. She didn't want to think about him, not tonight.
She finally pulled out her phone, which she always kept turned off during work. The screen lit up with missed calls and unread messages. Her chest tightened when she saw the first name. It was from her mom.
She hesitated before opening it.
"Happy birthday, my sweet daughter. I hope you're eating properly. I'll stop by sometime soon to drop off some side dishes. Your father sends his regards...he told me to remind you to call him once in a while and also try to pick his calls and relply his messages. Elsa, you can come home whenever you feel like it, we are here for you. I know today is probably a very sad day for you, but I want you to push away those dark thoughts and be happy. We love you so much. Please call us back if you see this."
Elsa's vision blurred as tears streamed down her face. Her hands trembled as she scrolled further. Another notification caught her eye, this one from Mira's mom. Elsa's breath hitched. She hesitated, then tapped it open with shaky fingers.
"Els, how have you been? For some reason I've been missing you a lot lately. I hope you're eating well and taking care of yourself. Happy birthday. I wish for nothing but your happiness, at least today. Elsa… today I felt happiness for the first time in a while. So I want you to be happy too. Don't blame yourself for anything, just be happy. Elsa… I want you to come visit one of these days. Mira is waiting for you to visit. I love you so much, my pumpkin."
Her sobs grew louder as she read the message. Her chest ached, her heart felt like it was being torn in half.
Then, the final message, a voicemail. It was from Susan.
Susan had been their closest friend in high school after transferring in during junior year. She quickly became part of Elsa and Mira's little circle. Even after Mira passed, Susan had tried countless times to stay close to Elsa, but Elsa had slowly shut everyone out.
Her hand shook as she pressed play.
"Hey, Els…" Susan's voice cracked. She paused to take a shaky breath. "How have you been, Happy birthday girl. I miss you so much. I wish you'd at least text or call me back one of these days. I miss you like crazy. Your mom told me you moved out a year ago… Can you send me your new address? I'd love to come visit sometime. Just know, if you ever need someone to talk to, don't hesitate to reach out. I'm still the same old Susan who caused tantrums with you." She let out a soft laugh through her tears. "I really hope to hear from you, Elsa. I love you so much."
Elsa's tears spilled freely. She clutched the phone to her chest and closed her eyes. She missed Susan. She missed her parents. She missed everything. But most of all, she missed Mira. She couldn't bring herself to be the same bright, bold Elsa she used to be. Not when Mira wasn't in the picture anymore.
By the time the cab reached her apartment, she quietly wiped her tears. She paid the driver and walked inside.
Her apartment was silent, too silent. She took off her coat and dropped onto the floor beside her bed, staring blankly at the wall. Her chest felt unbearably heavy.
After a long pause, she stood, reached above her wardrobe, and carefully pulled down a dust-covered box. She hadn't opened this box in years.
It was Mira's.
Elsa set it gently on the floor and sat cross-legged in front of it. Slowly, she opened the lid.
The first thing she pulled out was a hair bow. A shaky smile crossed her face as tears blurred her vision again. It was the bow she had given Mira back in high school. She had bought two, one for Mira, one for herself.
Piece by piece, she went through the box. Each item brought back memories, some happy, some painful. Her tears turned into quiet, bitter sobs.
Finally, she came across a photograph of Mira. Elsa picked it up with trembling hands, running her fingers across the glossy surface as though she could feel her again.
"I miss you so much, Mira… I miss you so, so much," she whispered, her voice breaking as she hugged the photo to her chest and wept.
After a long time, she set the photo aside. Something else caught her eye inside the box, a cellphone. Mira's old phone.
Elsa sniffled softly, brushing away dust with her thumb. "How long has it been…? I thought this phone was thrown away." Her voice cracked as she stared at the device, memories rushing back.
She gently placed the hair bow, the photo, and the cellphone on her desk. Those were the only things she wanted to keep close. The rest of Mira's belongings went back into the box, which she carefully placed on top of her wardrobe again.
She wiped her eyes and whispered, "Happy birthday, Mirabel."
She placed the bow and the old cellphone carefully on her table, but her hand lingered on the picture. Elsa clutched it tightly, almost desperately, and slowly crawled onto her bed. The room was dim, illuminated only by the faint glow of the moonlight seeping through the window, casting a pale silver hue across the darkness.
Still in her work clothes, she lay down without bothering to change, curling herself into a ball as if to shield her heart from breaking all over again. Her eyes shut, and soft sobs escaped her lips, muffled into the stillness of the night. Little by little, the exhaustion overcame the grief, and to her own surprise, she drifted into sleep, the first real sleep she had gotten in years, without the help of pills.
Her face remained streaked with tears, the picture still clutched in her hands, when her phone suddenly began to ring. The shrill sound cut through the silence of the night. It was 2:30 a.m.
Elsa's lashes fluttered open as she groggily stretched out her hand to the bedside, fumbling for the phone. Without checking the caller ID, she pressed it to her ear and muttered in a low, tired voice, "Hello…"
The line was static-filled.
"Hello?" Elsa's voice was thick with tiredness.
There was silence on the other end.
She frowned. "Hellooo?" she tried again, her voice slightly irritated.
Just as she was about to hang up, a faint, broken voice whispered through the line.
"H-hel…lo… Els…a…" The connection crackled, distorted.
Elsa froze. Her body went rigid. She sat upright, staring at the glowing screen. There was no caller ID. Just Unknown.
"Hello?" Her voice trembled now.
Then came the words that made her blood run cold.
"Elsa… please help me! Save me!" The voice sounded terrified, desperate.
Elsa's heart hammered in her chest. She jolted out of bed, clutching the phone tightly.
"Who is this?!" she demanded, her voice shaking.
There was a pause. Then the voice screamed, raw, pained, familiar.
"Elsa! It's me, Mirabel! I'm so scared—please, come and get me!!"
Her eyes widened in horror. Her breath caught in her throat. The phone slipped from her hand and clattered to the floor. She stumbled back, her whole body trembling as tears welled up again.
"No… No. That's not possible…" she whispered, shaking her head.
Her heart pounded violently, her chest heaving as she backed away from the phone. She felt cold, numb, as if her soul had been ripped out.
"That can't be Mira. Mira is… Mira is dead…"
Her trembling hands clutched her mouth as a scream tore from her throat.