Chapter 6: The Night Laura Died
I stared at the photo until the screen went dark.
Then I turned it back on.
Again.
Again.
Because my mind refused to accept what my eyes were seeing.
Vanessa.
Outside Laura’s hospital room.
Not crying.
Not scared.
Waiting.
I looked up.
Vanessa was watching me.
She knew.
“What is that?”” she asked.
I didn’t answer.
“Daniel.””
I held the phone up.
Her face changed.
Only slightly.
But enough.
“You remember that night?”” I asked.
Her silence was louder than words.
“You were there.””
“I was helping.””
“Helping who?””
She stepped toward me.
“Laura.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Laura was dying.””
“Yes.””
“And you were outside her room.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Vanessa looked away.
“I was saying goodbye.””
“No.””
My voice cracked.
“No, you weren’t.””
She looked back.
“What do you want from me?””
“The truth.””
For the first time, she looked exhausted.
Not guilty.
Exhausted.
“You wouldn’t understand.””
“Try me.””
She sat down.
And for a moment, she looked like the woman I married.
The woman who held me after Laura died.
The woman who promised she would help me raise Emily.
“I met Laura before you knew.””
I froze.
“What?””
“She contacted me.””
“Why?””
Vanessa looked at the floor.
“Because she was afraid.””
“Of you?””
A long pause.
Then:
“Yes.””
The answer shocked me.
“You’re admitting that?””
“I’m admitting Laura was sick.””
“That’s not what I asked.””
Vanessa stood.
“She thought everyone was against her.””
“That doesn’t answer anything.””
“No,” she whispered.
“It doesn’t.””
She walked to the window.
“You want the truth about the night Laura died?””
“Yes.””
Vanessa swallowed.
“Laura called me.””
“Why?””
“She wanted to talk.””
“About what?””
“About Emily.””
I felt my chest tighten.
“What did she say?””
Vanessa looked at me.
“She said she didn’t trust anyone.””
“That sounds like Laura.””
“She said she was afraid someone would take Emily away.””
I stared.
“Who?””
Vanessa’s eyes filled with tears.
And for the first time, I couldn’t tell if they were real.
“Me.””
The room went silent.
“You?””
“She thought I was trying to replace her.””
I remembered Sarah’s words.
She wanted Emily’s attachment.
“You were.””
Vanessa flinched.
“No.””
“Yes.””
She shook her head.
“You don’t know what it’s like to watch someone you love disappear.””
I stepped back.
“You loved Laura?””
Her face changed.
“I loved the family she created.””
That answer frightened me more than anger.
Because it sounded like she believed it.
My phone rang.
Sarah.
I answered immediately.
“Daniel.””
Her voice was urgent.
“You need to listen to me.””
“What happened?””
“Vanessa knows I contacted you.””
I looked toward the window.
“How?””
“She has been watching me.””
My jaw tightened.
“Sarah, what exactly happened the night Laura died?””
Silence.
Then she said:
“Laura was not supposed to die alone.””
My blood went cold.
“What?””
“Daniel, I was at the hospital.””
“You said you weren’t there.””
“I was.””
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because Laura asked me not to.””
I closed my eyes.
“Why?””
“Because she said Vanessa would make sure nobody believed me.””
I looked at Vanessa.
She was watching me.
“Sarah, tell me everything.””
Her voice shook.
“Laura recorded a message that night.””
“A message?””
“For Emily.””
My heart stopped.
“Where is it?””
“I don’t know.””
“Then why are you calling?””
“Because Vanessa found it first.””
The room seemed to tilt.
“How do you know?””
“Because she sent me a photo.””
“What photo?””
Sarah whispered:
“A photo of Laura’s final recording.””
My fingers tightened around the phone.
“Where did she send it?””
“She didn’t send it to me.””
“Then who?””
Sarah’s voice dropped.
“She sent it to Emily.””
I turned toward the stairs.
And my heart stopped.
Because Emily was standing there.
Holding my phone.
Crying.
May you like
“Daddy,” she whispered.
“She said Mommy’s last message was for me.””
