t on top of the table. The gesture spoke volumes. I wa

e no remorse or regret because I fough

mother for a younger woman. Now you're leaving me for an old flame. I wonder..." I glanced

e, I walked out, closing the do

e my car waited, opened the door,

t's entrance. His tall figure moved swiftly, almost running towa

se he loved me or wanted to salvage our marriage. He wa

rembling hands and started the engine. Th

ried across the parki

or. His expression was a mixture of anger and something else-perhaps regret? But it didn't matter an

or. Grey's figure became a dot and then vanis

I needed was to get into an accident. One car crash had already

I didn't need to look to know it was

couldn't go home, not to the house I shared with my husband

ecided to go to

nging, though the silence felt just as suff

ed to climb as a kid, scraping my knees and making Mom worry. Now here

out of the car, and hurried to the doo

y waiting in the living room. The moment she saw me enter

had been battling an illness for a long time, and each day seemed to bring her closer to

y." Celine couldn't contain the tears that glittered at the corners of her eyes. She had been my mother's private nur

days, when I needed her most, she might not even be consci

h," Celine added softly. "Even in

e. Thank you for looking after her, even

r her even if you don't pay me." She repl

to me. Have a safe trip on your way home. Don't

d as she walked to the door an

he family pictures on the walls. There was one of me and Mom. A

s slowly. It felt like forever before I r

ed to see her frail body curled on the bed and discover that she was no longer breathing. She's

ce, I did not cry, but when Mom was involved, I just l

d the knob. I pushed the door open and

olt of lightning, and instantly, I

so loud that I could hear

t, my heart raced like crazy. Tears streamed down my cheeks. There

ut it was silence

t into the bath

he bathroom was empty when I got there. My hands tur

Mom?" Panic co