Chapter 1: The Message That Broke Me

Today is the anniversary of my daughter's death, but my wife's still not home.

The house felt emptier than ever, the kind of quiet that seeps into your bones. I hated that kind of quiet. Outside, dusk pressed its face against the windows, shadows stretching long across the floor. I hated waiting. I kept glancing at the clock, hoping I'd hear her keys in the lock, but the hours just dragged on.

I've called her a bunch of times, but she's not picking up.

Each ring echoed through the silence, and with every call that went to voicemail, my chest tightened a little more. I stared at my phone, hoping, just once, I'd see her name pop up. Come on, Lauren. But nothing. Just the hum of the refrigerator and the ache in my heart.

Then her old high school boyfriend DM'd me: "You're just a pathetic clown."

My phone buzzed with the message, the words jumping off the screen like a slap in the face. Shit. For a second, I just sat there, stunned by the audacity. Then I noticed the photo he’d attached, and my stomach dropped.

It was a picture of my wife. She was at his son's birthday party, celebrating. I hadn't seen her smile like that in over twenty years of marriage.

She was leaning over a cake, candles flickering, her arm around Derek’s son. That smile—wide, unguarded, the kind of joy I hadn’t seen from her in years—hit me harder than any insult. It was like she’d left me behind, not just in the room, but in her heart. God, that stung.

Seeing that, I let out a bitter laugh and replied, "I'm already sick of her. But you, you're always so eager to pick up other people's trash." Let him chew on that.

My fingers trembled as I typed the words, but I sent them anyway. I hit send. Maybe I wanted to hurt him back, or maybe I just wanted him to know I wasn't some doormat. Still, the taste in my mouth was sour, and I could feel my jaw clench tight.

Sure enough, a minute later, my phone rang.

The phone buzzed again, his name flashing across the screen. I could almost picture him pacing, phone to his ear, waiting for me to ignore him like usual. Not tonight.

I knew he was just trying to rile me up, assuming I'd ignore his call like always. But this time, I picked up, just to spite him.

I pressed answer and held the phone to my ear without saying a word. Let him make the first move. The silence stretched, thick and heavy.

"Ethan, what are you so proud of yourself for? Lauren never loved you. You were just my stand-in."

He tried to sound smug, but I could hear the desperation underneath.

I snorted. "Derek, you know Lauren's been sick lately, right?"

I let the words hang in the air, casual but pointed. Let that sink in. I knew exactly what I was doing, and I could practically hear his breath catch on the other end.

"What did you say?"

He sucked in a breath. Panic mode.

Derek's kid? Frail. Sickly. The guy hovers over him like a hawk.

I remembered how, at every gathering, Derek would hover over Mason, wiping his hands, checking his forehead, making sure no one got too close. The kid looked like he’d break if you breathed wrong. It was almost tragic, if Derek himself hadn’t made it so damn exhausting. Poor Mason. But Derek made it everyone else's problem, too.

I could hear his breathing get faster.

I could almost hear the panic setting in, the gears turning in his head. Before he could spit out another word, I ended the call. Let him stew.

I bet that party was ruined.

Honestly? I hoped it ruined their night.

I sat with my daughter's memorial photo, running my thumb over the frame again and again.

The frame was warm beneath my fingers, the glass smudged from where I’d touched it too many times. Lily’s eyes smiled up at me, forever frozen in that one perfect moment. I traced her face, wishing I could hear her laugh just once more. I missed her.

At eleven sharp, I finally heard the key turn.

The sound jolted me upright. Could it be her?

The door burst open. Before I could react, a stinging slap landed on my face. Shock jolted through me, pain blooming hot and bright.

The crack echoed through the hallway, sharp and sudden. My cheek burned.

After hitting me, Lauren shouted, furious, "Ethan, how could you wish harm on a kid? Do you even know how much Mason was looking forward to his birthday?"

Her voice was shrill, trembling with outrage. She didn't even look at me.

"When did I ever—" Forget it.

She cut me off before I could finish.

She glared at me, her lips pressed into a thin line. There was no use arguing.

"Still pretending? Derek told me everything. He called to invite you to dinner, and you told Mason to go die?"

Her words hit like a punch to the gut. She didn’t even question Derek’s version of events—just swallowed it whole and spat it back at me. The injustice of it all made my head spin. Unbelievable.

"You ruined a kid's dream! I swear, I've never met anyone as vicious as you."

She jabbed her finger at my chest, her voice rising with every word. No softness. Just blame.

I managed a bitter smile. What was left to explain?

My lips curled into a bitter half-smile. The old me would have tried to reason with her, to make her see my side. But tonight, I just felt empty. What was the point? She’d already chosen her side, and it wasn’t mine.

I stood. For once, I was the one looking down.

It wasn't much, but it felt huge.

Lauren's ego? Sky-high. She hated it when anyone looked down on her.

It was always her way or the highway. No compromise.

And what about Lily's birthday? Your precious Mason cut her with scissors and acted like it was nothing.

Got her.

Her brow furrowed, lips pursed. For a second, I thought she might actually care.

"What's wrong with you? Still dredging up stuff from ages ago?" She rolled her eyes, dismissive as ever.

She waved her hand dismissively, like swatting away an annoying fly. Classic Lauren.

"Didn't Derek apologize at the time? Mason was just a kid—kids hurt people sometimes, it's normal. Besides, it wasn't a big deal, just a cut. A little blood."

Her words were cold, clinical, as if my daughter’s pain was just a minor inconvenience. It made my blood boil.

Lily was cut on the wrist—it was bad. If I hadn't gotten her to the hospital, who knows what would've happened.

The memory flashed in my mind—Lily’s small hand, blood trickling down her arm, her face pale and scared. I still see it sometimes.

I stepped closer. "Lauren, what do you even care about besides his kid's birthday?"

Struck a nerve.

She scoffed, shoved past me, and flopped onto the sofa.

She brushed past me like I was nothing, her heels clicking on the hardwood. She always did that.

She picked up Lily's memorial photo, stared at it for a while, then tossed it aside carelessly. Like it meant nothing.

The frame landed face-down on the cushion. It felt like a punch.

"So this was your plan? Get me back here just to hold some stupid memorial for that brat?"

Her voice was dripping with contempt. She couldn't even look at me.

"Ethan, when did you get so manipulative?"

She glared at me, accusing, as if I’d orchestrated this whole thing just to inconvenience her. Unbelievable.

"Derek was right. Like father, like daughter. That little pest got hit by a car because she was blind—she deserved it!"

Her words sliced through me, each syllable sharper than the last. I couldn't breathe.

My eyes burned; my whole body shook with anger.

Rage boiled up inside me. I could barely see straight.

"What did you say?!"

"Did I say anything wrong? That ugly brat embarrassed me the day she was born."

She sneered, her face twisted with disgust. Who was this woman?

"Thank God someone was watching out for me and took her away. But even now, relatives still mock me for giving birth to a freak—what else could she be but a curse?"

Her voice cracked, but not with regret—just bitterness. She meant every word.

I'd had enough. I shoved her out.

The door rattled on its hinges as I forced her out, her curses echoing down the hallway. Let her scream.

"Ethan, I'm giving you one last chance! If you don't open this door, I'll divorce you!"

She pounded on the door, her threats growing louder with every word. I didn't care.

"Get out!"

She stomped her foot and stormed off.

Her footsteps faded down the hall, each stomp a little fainter than the last. Finally, silence.

I used to give Lauren everything she wanted.

I remembered all the times I’d bitten my tongue, swallowed my pride, just to keep the peace. Never again.

I loved her once. She pulled me out of despair.

Not anymore.

But when she was pregnant, her old boyfriend came back.

It started with a phone call, then a lunch, then late-night texts she tried to hide. I should've known.

Derek's business tanked.

She always loved a sob story.

He paid off his debts. Then found out the woman he was seeing was just using him.

I almost did.

I actually felt sorry for him.

I nodded along, trying to be the bigger person. I thought it mattered.

She wanted to invite him over. I said yes.

I was wrong.

I never expected Derek to stick around.

He took over.

He freeloaded, and Lauren ran around after him.

I watched her go.

"Derek's not feeling well. I'll take him some medicine."

I barely mattered.

"Derek can't cook. I'll bring him some of your cooking."

She never hummed for me.

"Mason's crying again. Derek's stressed. I can't just leave them—I'll go check on them."

I was invisible.

I tried to talk her out of it. She called me heartless.

"Why can’t you be more understanding? Derek’s going through a lot."

I was scared.

I shouldn't have.

But today? She crossed the line.

Never again.

Lily was different. She had a big red birthmark on her face.

People noticed.

The old folks said she was bad luck.

They never let us forget.

Why? I still don't know.

She left Lily on the street.

I still see it.

I can't forget that.

After that, it was just me and Lily.

She was proud.

She was my sunshine.

I was wrong.

I couldn't fix it.

She just tried harder.

All for her mom.

She never told me.

Just like that.

Always thinking of others.

Even at the end.

Too late.

Her last gift.

I would've given anything.

I sat alone.

I couldn't.

Figures.

Just a ghost.

It wasn't real.

I'm done.

For Lily.

One last look.

I didn't want to forget.

I needed them.

Not now.

I listened.