I broke up with my boyfriend the year he was at his poorest. A year later, he was famous and successful, married to a younger, prettier, more vibrant girl.

On a talk show, the host asked him, having achieved so much at such a young age, if he had any regrets.

He wrapped his arm around his new wife, Ariana’s, waist. "I just want to know," he said, "how she's doing after she left me." The host paused. "She’s… not doing well." A slow smile spread across his face. "Well, that's a relief." "But," the host continued, "Ms.

Quinn left behind a box of videotapes before she passed away." His smile froze. On the tapes were the days and nights of my life, from the moment I left him until the day I died.

1 "Before she… passed away?" The hand on Ariana's waist tensed. Then, he let out a dismissive laugh. "Is this some kind of sick joke for your show?" The host shook his head. On the large screen behind them, my smiling face appeared. "Hello, everyone!

It's Maya Quinn, and today, I'm officially single~" "Huh? You ask if I'm sad about dumping a handsome, promising, purehearted puppydog of a man?" In the video, a girl with a shaved head was trying on wigs.

She looked at the camera and grinned. "Not sad at all. What would be sad is him seeing me like this, haha~" "Hey, why are you shaking? You're going to mess up the shot." I reached out to steady my best friend Tara's trembling hand.

Tara's voice was thick with tears. "I don't want to film this... I'm going to cry my eyes out. I don't want to do it anymore..." "No way.

You promised me you'd document every day of my life until the end." Tara’s voice cracked. "Can't I back out?" "Nope!" I pouted. "This is my grand finale.

I can't entrust it to anyone else." Seeing she was still crying, I tugged at the corner of her shirt. "Come on, Tara. You're all I have left in this world~" Her sobs grew louder. "I know, I know… Fine, I'll film, okay? I'll do it..."

2 [Goodbye, World 4.17.2023, 9:34 AM You Can Take Everything] After so many years, I was back in my old family home.

Tara held the phone, following me as I walked along a dirt path through the fields, our old golden retriever, Sunny, trotting beside me. A light laugh drifted from behind the camera. "No wonder Liam's social media updated with a new song just now.

It must be because you took Sunny!" I turned. "What song?

I blocked him the moment we broke up." "It's that one by Robin White. 'You Can Take Everything'." Tara and I looked at each other, and we both burst into a fit of laughter that was halfsob. "You can take everything," we sang, a little offkey. "I'll bear what's left behind." "Just leave me our dog," "Whether he's any use or not..." Tara was laughing so hard tears streamed down her face. "He didn't want anything but the dog, and you didn't want anything but the dog!

Hahaha!" Our laughter echoed across the fields, slowly, inevitably, mingling with the sound of weeping.

3 [Goodbye, World 4.17.2023, 10:08 AM Do Dogs Know When You're Leaving?] The old wooden door creaked open. I swatted away a spiderweb. "You know," I said to the camera, "ever since Liam and I went to college in the city, I've barely come back.

After Mom and Dad passed, we took Sunny with us. This is his first time back." The camera's perspective shifted. Now, I was the one holding it. "Hello, hello!

Maya here, bringing you an immersive experience of cleaning out the old family home!" Tara, wearing an apron and holding a broom, frowned. "I'm the one doing all the cleaning!

My lady!" "I'm the patient~ Cut me some slack~" After a burst of laughter, I emerged from the kitchen, covered in soot. Tara, her face dark, snatched the spatula from my hand. "I told you not to cook, didn't I? Don't you know your own skill level?

Go sit down!" I coughed and laughed, settling onto the sofa. The moment Tara went back into the kitchen, the smile vanished from my face. I propped the phone up on the table and gasped for air, my whole body shaking.

After a few desperate pulls from a portable oxygen tank, I forced a smile for the camera. "Sorry about that. The breathing problems have been getting more frequent lately... cough, cough! Actually, I'm a really good cook.

Seriously." "Watch me brave the kitchen one more time!" As I picked up the phone, a furry warmth settled against my leg. The camera panned down. Sunny was lying at my feet, his eyelids drooping. "Hungry?" I offered him a sausage.

He took it in his mouth but didn't move from my feet. "Come on, Sunny boy. I want to go see what Tara's doing. Get up." He didn't budge. "What's wrong? Why are you so clingy today?" I stroked his fur, which had grown dry and coarse with age. "I know.

You're getting old too, Sunny~ Too lazy to move, right?" "Okay, I'll stay with you a little longer today~" I leaned back on the sofa. "I won't have many more chances to, anyway." Sunny let out a low, soft whine.

4 [Goodbye, World 4.17.2023, 11:21 AM Is a Home Without People Still a Home?] When I woke up on the sofa, Tara was crouching at my feet.

Hearing my voice, she looked up, her face streaked with tears. "Maya, they say dogs can sense when their owner is about to leave, and they go on ahead to wait for them in the next life. Is that true?" The camera almost fell from my hand.

I frantically reached for Sunny. There was no breath. He had passed away quietly while I was asleep, curled up at my feet. My smile was uglier than a grimace. "What are you talking about? Sunny was ten years old.

It was just his time to go." When the camera turned on again, I was patting down the earth on a small mound on the back hill. My breathing was shallow, my face pale.

I wiped the sweat from my brow and pointed toward our house. "Home is straight that way. Don't go the wrong way. If you end up at Liam's..." I stopped myself. I smiled and lowered my hand. "Don't go back there.

There won't be anyone there for much longer." "When I get down there, we'll build a new home with Mom and Dad." A sob accompanied the shaking of the camera. I looked up and pointed at the lens, a weak smile on my face. "What are you doing?

You can't even hold the camera steady." Tara cried even harder. "You're the one! What are you saying!" I laughed and beckoned to her. "Look at you. Come on, let's go home and eat your amazing cooking~" "Maya!

If you keep talking like that, I'm not going to talk to you anymore!" I grinned and threw an arm around her shoulder. "Don't worry. Your girl Maya is invincible!" "A little cancer? I got this!" "Hahahahahahahaha!"

5 [Goodbye, World 4.18.2023, 8:27 AM Sometimes I Forget I'm Sick] "Maya! Maya, open the door!" Tara was pounding on the door frantically. The camera was propped up nearby, she hadn't even had time to adjust it, so only her lower body was visible.

From inside the room, my hoarse screams and cries could be heard. "Go away! I said go away! Get out!" Then, the sound of violent retching. Tara was on the verge of tears. "Maya, if you don't open this door, I'm breaking it down! What happened?

Let me see!" "Go away! Just leave me alone!" My heartwrenching sobs tore through the screen. Tara slammed her body against the door, and the old wooden frame gave way with a crack.

Inside, I was kneeling by the trash can, my hair matted to my face with vomit, a complete wreck. There was no trace of the laughing, singing girl from the day before.

I looked up, my eyes red and raw with despair. "Tara..." "Maya." She knelt down beside me, and ignoring the filth, she pulled me into her arms.

My hands trembled as I hugged her back, my chin resting on her shoulder, my tears soaking her clothes. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have yelled at you..." "But sometimes... when I wake up, I get confused. I think I'm still the normal Maya...

And then I stare at the ceiling for a long time, and I remember... I'm sick..." "I'm sick... I'm sick, Tara..." I couldn't stop crying. Tara held me tighter. "I know. It's okay. It's okay, Maya. You can get through this.

You can..." "You're... you're Maya Quinn, after all..."