Cold Season

It was Chloe's urn. I tried to catch it, but it fell, hitting the ground with a sound that echoed through my hollow heart.My heart might as well have stopped, and my mind was a blank slate. I just stared at the urn, the reality of it all too much to bear.The lid had come off, and her ashes were spread out on the floor.Trembling, I reached out to gather what remained of my little girl. My hands would not stop shaking, no matter how hard I tried to steady them.When I looked up again, Sheila and Jeff were gone, vanished into thin air.That was when I lost it, tears streaming down my face. I made a silent vow right then and there that I would never let Sheila find her daughter. Not ever.That night, Sheila's voice came through the phone."Tristan, you know everything now, so let's just end this and get a divorce. I don't care about the property, but I want Chloe. You know about my health issues, how hard the birth was on me. I might not be able to have more kids.""Don't worry,

"Back then, I was barely hanging on to consciousness myself. I watched helplessly as precious seconds slipped away, unable to fully wake up. Because of Sheila, Chloe missed her chance at being saved. She was just five years old, and her mother's selfishness snuffed out her life."I barely got the words out before the crowd erupted into chaos, all eyes on Sheila, who stood rim-rod and looking lost.Out of nowhere, a kid's voice pierced the air. "Mom, I've seen that bride online! She was the one who stopped an ambulance. She's way out of line."Sheila scanned the room, feeling the weight of everyone's odd looks. With a lump in her throat, she shot back, "What are you even saying? My daughter's alive and well! Don't listen to him."Tears streamed down my face, my grief and rage uncontrollable.Seeing Sheila so unapologetic, without a shred of remorse, cut me deep. I was so disappointed in this woman I once loved with all my heart.I could not stop thinking about our daughter. If she

Dad gave my shoulder a squeeze, his voice all rough as he said, "Your mom and I found out. We saw it all over the Internet."I realized that they must have seen the mess I had made on TV. No wonder they knew.At the cemetery, Mom and Dad could not stop crying over the picture on the gravestone. Their little granddaughter, their pride and joy, was gone without even a last goodbye.I tried to comfort them, but inside, I was a wreck.Then, from behind us, came a heart-wrenching sob."Chloe, Mommy's here to see you."I spun, startled. There they were: Sheila, Natalie, and Jeff.They had been tailing me, it seemed.Sheila ignored me and lunged for the gravestone, her fingers tracing Chloe's picture as she sobbed. "Chloe, I'm so sorry. I'm too late."The sight made my blood boil. I wanted to shoo her away, but then I thought better of it. If Chloe could see us, she would not want me to turn her mom away.Natalie shuffled forward, crouching by Sheila, wiping away tears. "Chloe, gran

Life went on. Ella and I had our wedding, and we started a brand new chapter together.I felt like I had been given a second chance at life. We visited my daughter's grave, only to find Sheila there, sobbing over the stone, pouring out her heart about missing our little girl and wishing she had been there more.Ella and I watched in silence until she left. Only then did we step forward.I laid down my daughter's favorite candy and introduced her to Ella. I knew she would have adored Ella if she were there.My voice broke as I spoke to the stone, telling her everything. In my dreams, she was still with me, calling me 'Daddy' with that sweet voice of hers.It was as if she were right there, ready to cuddle and give me a kiss, as though she had never left.I still could not believe it when I woke up to find my daughter gone. It was a truth too hard to swallow.Ella stood by the grave, pouring her heart out to my daughter. She confessed her love for me and how it extended to Chloe.