Chapter 2

"What? Whose funeral?" Richard's voice shot up. "Selena Sanchez, don't joke about something like that. Chloe is our daughter, not some tool to get attention. You're her mother. How can you say something so awful? You don't deserve to be a mother."

I didn't answer.

I hung up.

The memorial was held in a small chapel.

Gray clouds hung overhead. A light rain fell, turning the air heavy and suffocating.

I stood quietly with Chloe's urn in my arms.

I just wanted to stay close to her.

Then my phone rang.

I didn't even have to look.

Years ago, I'd given Richard his own ringtone.

I answered.

For once, he sounded hesitant.

Almost guilty.

"Selena, Grace's son was in a car accident. He's lost a lot of blood and needs a transfusion immediately. His blood type is rare. Grace isn't a match, and the hospital's running low. Blood from another hospital might not get here in time."

He paused.

"Selena, I hope you can understand. Grace doesn't know anyone here except me. I remember you and Chloe have the same blood type. Please put your differences aside and come help."

Something twisted painfully in my chest.

Grace's sobs echoed through the phone.

My vision blurred.

Rain mixed with the tears running down my face.

Richard really loved Grace.

Enough to sacrifice his wife.

Enough to sacrifice his daughter.

Chloe was gone.

Gone forever.

And he still didn't care.

"No."

My voice didn't waver.

Richard exploded.

In over seven years of marriage, I'd never heard him lose control like this.

"Selena! How can you be this heartless? You're a mother too. Can't you show a little compassion? If your child were lying on an operating table needing blood, how would you feel? Why can't you help her?"

How would I feel?

I already knew exactly how that felt.

When I begged you to save Chloe, where were you?

I laughed bitterly. "Heartless? When I begged you to come save Chloe, what did you do? Chloe was your daughter. Why? Why did you treat her like that?"

"I already told you—I was busy. Chloe had a minor injury. The doctors could handle it. But David's condition is critical. Stop acting childish. I'm serious. Get to the hospital right now and donate blood."

"No."

I ended the call.

This time, without hesitation.

But the tears wouldn't stop.

A small bird suddenly landed on Chloe's headstone.

I froze.

When Chloe was five, she'd once wrapped her arms around me and said,

"Mommy, can we get a bird? When I grow up, I'll have wings too. Then I'll fly you all around the world."

My throat tightened.

I slowly stepped closer.

"Chloe?"

My voice cracked.

"Is that you?"

The little bird fluttered its wings.

And I broke.

Completely.

"Chloe... I'm sorry. Mommy couldn't protect you. This is all my fault."

The rain poured harder.

Within seconds, I was drenched.

I gently scooped up the bird and carried it home.

Later, one of Richard's coworkers told me the truth.

David had never been in serious danger.

The hospital had plenty of blood.

Grace had simply panicked and wanted extra precautions.

Because I'd refused to donate, Richard still hadn't come home.

Instead, he'd stayed at Grace's house.

Taking care of her.

Taking care of David.

When Chloe's funeral finally arrived, her teachers, classmates, relatives, and friends all came to say goodbye.

This time, I hadn't told Richard.

Yet somehow...

He showed up anyway.