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 gotten from Caleb had been put in a trust to cover Claire's living expenses once she started school.

I had left a thousand dollars in the box for Claire in case there was an emergency.

I didn't know if she could sense me somehow, but Claire picked up the little box.

Just then, a cool, composed voice came through the phone. "Kate?"

I froze. Then I realized the call had already been going for a minute.

"Didn't I tell you to crawl into some hole and die?"

His voice was calm and cold, just as heartless as ever.

I fidgeted with my fingers. It was embarrassing to be insulted by my daughter's father right in front of her, even though neither of them knew who the other was.

Caleb's tone was full of mockery. "Do you want money again? Sure. Come beg me for it."

Claire stared at the phone excitedly and said in her little voice, "Mister! When are you bringing me food? I'm hungry!"

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line.

"Put Kate on the phone," Caleb said.

"You mean Mommy?" Claire's face fell. "But she can't answer the phone."

Caleb's voice grew heavier. "What happened to her?"

"Mommy said she's asleep."

Claire was only four and a half years old. She didn't understand what death meant yet.

A scoff came through the phone. He obviously didn't buy the excuse. "Is that so? I'll see what she's up to this time."

I wanted to smile, but I couldn't.

What could I possibly be plotting? I couldn't even float over to scare him, no matter how much I wanted to.

After the call ended, Claire curled up in the corner of the couch with a little smile. She waited quietly.

But I was beside myself with worry. Caleb hated me so much. What would he do to Claire?

An hour later, there was a knock at the door.

My heart jolted. "Don't open the door, Claire!"

But she had already opened the door.

There was no food outside, only a few bodyguards in suits.

After checking the place and finding no one else there, they took Claire away.

"No!" I screamed. I could do nothing but watch as they carried her away.

…

When Caleb opened the door, he saw Claire crying her eyes out.

Then he looked behind her.

"Where's that woman?" he asked.