Gone Before We Reached Forever

Kate's POV"Mommy, I'm so hungry."I watched my daughter, Claire Sutton, sneak home from the orphanage. She found my old phone, charged it, and made a call just like I used to.When I was terminally ill, I could only afford the cheapest takeout, so delivery drivers always left my orders for last.Whenever Claire was hungry, I would call the delivery driver and ask him to hurry. That was why she thought making a call would get her something to eat.Now, she did the same thing and called my emergency contact, Caleb Steele.She called many times, the dim screen lighting up her face.I tried to stop her, but my hand passed right through her.I was frustrated. It had already been three years. How did I keep forgetting that I was only a ghost?"Claire, stop calling him. He'll never answer," I said.Caleb probably still believed I left him because I wanted someone richer."Go open the little box on the table. I left some money for you inside," I said.Most of the money I had got

Kate's POVIt was already dark.The entire neighborhood was lit up, but not a single light was meant for Claire.She stood alone on the unfamiliar street, staring blankly for a while.Claire looked at the little box and asked in confusion, "Mommy, where should I go?"My heart ached so badly that I could barely breathe. All I could do was pray that the orphanage would realize she was missing soon.Claire looked up at the moon. "Mommy, can I find you if I follow the moon?"She was so hungry that she could barely walk and fell twice. Her shin hit the curb, scraping off a patch of skin as beads of blood seeped out.She bit her lip and didn't cry. She just got back up and kept walking.After roaming aimlessly for who knew how long, she stumbled upon a trash can and found half a cake someone had left unfinished.Her eyes lit up. She picked up the sour-smelling cake and eagerly brought it to her mouth.I cried as I tried to stop her. "Claire, don't eat that! It'll make you sick."

Kate's POVCaleb had been working from home lately, often staring at the front door, lost in thought.His phone sat on the table, lighting up every so often with messages from his assistant."Mr. Steele, we checked. The apartment under Kate's name hasn't had its utilities paid in two years.""Her Social Security payments stopped three years ago, and her health insurance was canceled too."Caleb stared at the messages for a long time. Then he turned his phone face down on the table.He looked at Claire, who was also staring at the door. "Hey, what's your name?""Claire Sutton," she answered."Claire, your mom abandoned you too," Caleb said.Claire immediately bristled. "No way. Mommy would never leave me!""Really? Then why hasn't she come for you after a whole week?" he asked.Claire bit her lip. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she refused to cry.Caleb started to say something, but the doorbell rang, cutting him off.He immediately got to his feet with a knowing smile. "

Kate's POV"My darling Claire, I hope this letter finds you well. If you're reading this, you must be all grown up by now."I'm sorry I lied to you. I couldn't be there to watch you grow up. I actually went to find Grandma and Grandpa."Caleb folded the letter and stared blankly at Claire. "If Kate left this for you, then I shouldn't read it."He murmured, "With her temper, she'd be mad at me."But despite what he said, he held on to the letter tightly.I watched in silence. If he read just a little more, he would understand why I had left him.He already had someone by his side. That meant he had moved on from what happened back then. Even if he learned the truth now, maybe it wouldn't hurt him that much.As long as he took good care of Claire, I couldn't ask for anything else.Nothing else mattered to me.The woman in the red dress sneaked a glance at the letter, her expression shifting subtly.She asked Caleb, "Is she the one who left you for money and went overseas wit

Kate's POVThe one-bedroom apartment was barely 250 square feet, and there was nowhere to hide anything.The only large piece of furniture was a faded red secondhand couch pushed against the wall.There was no bed or closet, just a coffee table with a broken leg and a plastic stool. Several bags of empty plastic bottles were piled in the corner.A small, chipped picture frame sat on the windowsill. Inside was a photo of Claire and me. I looked painfully thin in the photo, but I was smiling happily.Lauren stood in the hallway, unable to bring herself to step inside. She tried to speak, but nothing came out.Claire set the food she had saved for me and the little box on the table.Then she skipped over to the couch and curled up happily, finally feeling at home.She lay in the corner, leaving just enough room for an adult woman beside her.Caleb finally understood why Claire liked sleeping on the couch.But he still couldn't believe it. His voice came out hoarse. "This has got