Chapter 2

I called Charlie early the next morning. "Charlie, I'm at the courthouse, waiting for you."

His voice was full of impatience and anger. "Irene, can you stop? I'm busy right now. I don't have time for your drama."

I replied calmly, "I'm not joking. Come sign the divorce. Nine o'clock."

He seemed even more pissed by my attitude. He showed up at the courthouse in less than half an hour.

The whole process was way faster than I expected. In less than ten minutes, our eight-year marriage was officially over.

Charlie looked pissed.

He said, "I'm taking custody of Mia. You can come see her once a week.

"Irene, you have two days to pack your stuff. After that, get out of my house. Otherwise, I won't hesitate to get a lawyer involved."

Custody? Mia was already dead. What custody was there to fight over? Charlie, you were really a "good" dad.

I almost laughed out loud, but before I could, I suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.

After leaving the courthouse, I went home and started packing up my and Mia's things.

I carefully picked out all the clothes and toys Mia used to love, one by one, and took them to her grave.

Before I left, I grabbed the photo of Charlie and me, and without a second thought, I cut it clean in half.

Our marriage was severed, clean and final, just like the picture.

On my way back to my parents' place, I couldn't stop coughing. Each time, I hacked up a mouthful of blood.

I knew my body was on the verge of collapse, but honestly, I wasn't afraid.

I knew Mia was out there, waiting for me, all alone.

I placed Mia's urn in the garden behind our old house, where she used to run around with the flowers and butterflies she loved as a kid.

When my parents found out what happened between Charlie and me, they didn't blame me. Instead, they respected my decision.

They made healthy meals for me every day and took care of me, even wiping away the blood when I coughed.

Watching their worry and heartbreak while I could do nothing in return left me drowning in guilt.

I said, "I'm so sorry. I can't take care of you, and now you'll have to watch me go first."

My parents held my hands, and from their trembling voices I knew they had already sensed the truth.

They said, "Sweetheart, don't blame yourself. You've given us more joy than you'll ever know. All we want is for you to feel safe and at ease."

As my illness got worse, I got weaker, coughing up blood all the time.

I was sleeping most of the day away, barely conscious anymore.

Sometimes, in my sleep, I would see Mia. She'd be wearing that pink dress I loved, hopping over to me, all smiles. "Mom, I can hug you now."

At first, I thought it was just a dream, but when I turned around, I saw my parents clutching my dead body, sobbing uncontrollably.

That was when it hit me. I already died.

My parents gently placed my urn right next to Mia's.

"Mom, why can't Grandma and Grandpa see you anymore?" Mia asked, her voice soft and curious.

I reached out and stroked Mia's cheek. "Now we can be with them forever."

With Mia in my arms, I stayed by my parents' side for days, waiting for their grief to settle. Only then did I take Mia and float over to the hospital where Charlie was.

Even after Charlie took every last drop of her blood, all Mia ever wanted before she died was to see him, just once.

However, Mia was gone.

I wanted to fulfill that final wish—let her see him as much as she wanted.

Mia saw Charlie at the hospital and dashed right up to him, chattering away, hoping he'd notice her.

However, we were completely invisible to Charlie; he was totally absorbed in his work and the patients around him.

We drifted after Charlie, following him all over most of the inpatient ward.

Suddenly, Charlie flagged down a doctor. "Lisa, how was my daughter doing before she got discharged?"

His concern was obvious in his voice.

"Oh, your little girl was an absolute angel. She never even shed a tear during her shots. She was discharged just a little while ago," Lisa said warmly.

After hearing their conversation, I felt confused.

Ever since I found out that Charlie forced Mia to give blood to Anna's daughter, which put Mia in a coma, that was the breaking point for me.

Worried Charlie would force Mia to go through that again, I transferred her to Silverbend Hospital next door.

As soon as we got to Silverbend Hospital, Mia was sent straight into the emergency room.

Watching the doctors rushing around made my heart ache.

"Mia, stay strong. I'm right here with you," I choked out, my voice trembling.

I stood outside the emergency room, praying with everything I had that Mia would make it through.

However, luck just wasn't on our side.