CHAPTER 13 | I DON'T BELIEVE YOU

LORENZO'S POV

I didn't expect this day to turn out like this, here I am staring at two identical people crying themselves to stupor. The only thing I have said is that I am here because of her daughter and she's already crying, what the hell will happen when she finds out that Echo is dead.

Shit, I didn't sign up for this... I followed Echo here with the hopes of making the situation better and making the day better but nothing could have prepared me for what I am witnessing here today.

I sat down staring at Echo breakdown while clenching my fist helplessly at my sides. It hurts to watch her crumpled at her mother's feet, shaking with silent sobs. Her translucent form flickered at the edges, her pain so overwhelming it was almost tearing her apart.

And her mother... Sitting there, so oblivious and unaware that her daughter’s heart was breaking at her very feet.

My throat tightened and I have no idea how I will talk to her mother and explain the situation. I have never seen Echo like this, never seen her so small, so fragile.

I felt the need to run to her and wrap my arms around her, to tell her that I am here, and that she's not alone but I couldn't. Not while her mother is still sitting here, yet to know the full story and watching me just like the exact way her daughter stares at me.

My nails dug into my palms as every instinct screamed at me to move, to do something, but I know that if I do, it might scare her mother before I get the opportunity to explain the situation, and it will ruin this fragile moment that Echo is clinging to.

"My daughter?" She managed to ask and I nodded. "Where is she? I have been looking for her everywhere, is she okay?" I wish I could say she's okay, so that I can reduce the pain she's feeling and all the tears.

"What I am about to say is crazy and maybe unbelievable but it's true and you can't tell anyone, especially the lady I saw a while ago." I pointed out.

"Okay, just go ahead and speak boy, I have been waiting for her to show up for a long time now, where is she?" She asked eagerly and I realized that I can't stall anymore.

"So I moved to New York a while ago and a friend of my rented an apartment for me before I arrive, on getting there, I met a young lady in one of the rooms and she happened to be your daughter. I thought the space was over booked, so I called the agent to explain the situation and he showed up to sort it out but unfortunately, when he arrived, he couldn't see anyone in the house but me and that was the moment we realized that I am the only one that could see and talk to Echo." I explained.

"I don't understand." She stated.

"I met your daughter, Echo in the house but as a ghost." I clarified as I looked towards Echo and more tears streamed down her face as I broke the news.

"If I understand you correctly, are you insinuating that my daughter, Echo Flamez is dead and you can see and talk to her?" She asked curiously.

"Yes ma'am, she's dead. I asked her what happened but she's can't remember much. In fact she just remembered you this morning and that's why we are here." I pointed out but I am worried that her mother might just collapse, she's sweating, hyperventilating and she's crying a lot while holding her chest, I don't think she's okay.

"We, did you say we?" She managed to ask.

"Yes ma'am, your daughter is here right now, sitting by your feet. She has been crying since we arrived here, she tried to hold and touch you but you didn't feel her I guess." I explained as they both increased their tempo while crying again.

It's so fucking weird watching them look and act so alike while crying in the same way, it's so sad to think this is goodbye and they might never see each other again.

"I want to believe that you are saying the truth but it's difficult, how can I be so sure that you are not lying and that she's truly here. If she's really here... if my baby girl is standing here..." Her voice cracked. "Tell me something, tell me something only Echo and I would know." Well that's a bummer, Echo can barely remember anything and I doubt she can remember anything private that will convince her mother.

I looked towards her, for her to say something but she looks thoughtful and she can't seem to come up with anything. "Like I said earlier, she can't remember much and she just remembered you this morning." I stated.

"Well then, I don't believe you. My daughter is still alive and she will come back home some day." I know what she's trying to do, she knows that I am telling the truth but she just wants to hold on to her hope that Echo is alive and she will show up eventually.

"Think Echo, there should be something you can remember , you heard her, she needs proof because if you don't say something then our time here will be useless and she won't believe me." I pleaded will staring at Echo and from the corner of my eyes, I can see her mother staring at me and the space Echo is occuping beside her as I spoke to Echo.

She took a shaky breath as she stood up and stepped closer. "I remember something." She suddenly blurted out and I feel so relieved.

"Good, tell me."

Echo's voice broke as she started. "When I was eight, I broke her favorite locket. I was too scared to tell her, so I hid it in the cookie jar. And when she found it, she said... She said she loved me more than any piece of jewelry, even if I broke every single thing she owned." Her voice cracked on the last words, tears streaming down her face.

I wished her mother heard her speak but now I have to relate everything to her myself. "Well she said when she was eight, she broke your favorite locket." The moment I said that, she closed her eyes and started shaking her head, like she didn't want to hear it, to confirm that her daughter is truly dead. "She said she was too scared to tell you, so she hid it in a cookie jar and when you found it, you told her that you love her more than any piece of jewelry even if she breaks every piece you owned." I narrated.

I watched as she stiffened... Her hand flew to her chest, gripping the invisible memory of that locket as tears welled up in her eyes.

"Oh my goodness Echo... My baby, what happened to you?" She stood up and faced the place I faced while talking to Echo a while ago. "I love you, baby... I love you..."

"Try to touch her Echo, like you did with me." I pointed out when I noticed that her mother is desperate to have a contact with her daughter. Her mother wept openly, one hand over her heart, the other reaching blindly into the empty air between them.

"I love you too mom, I love you so much." Echo said as she stretched out both of her hands and held her mother's face and right at that moment, her mother's eyes went wild.

"Oh my goodness Echo, I can feel you." She said as she broke into tears again. "What did they do to you my baby, what happened?"

"I don't know mom but I promise you, I will do my best to find out what happened." Echo explained but her mother can't hear anything.

"Mrs Flamez, we have no idea what happened to her but I am going to help her find out the truth, we have a few leads. It might be a while but I will help her, we will figure out what happened but please, don't tell Hannah about everything we discussed here today because her daughter Laura is our number one suspect." I explained.

"Oh thanks so much boy, thank you for helping my daughter and if you ever need any information or help, please feel free to come back here. Let me give you my number so that you can call anytime." She gave me her contact and the three of us sat down, catching up... I mean, I was mostly translating everything Echo was saying to her mother which is a lot but fun. We spent the whole day there talking and when it was time to go, it was another fresh set of tears between the both of them and honestly, I have never seen anyone cry this much in my entire life, this day will hunt me.