I' d already seen end in tragedy. Sophia's joyful face was a mask, hiding the future of unimaginable pain she

ad

, her pigtails bouncing, her face alight with a pure, uncomplicated happiness that

cooped her into my arms, burying my face in her hair, inhaling the scent of her kid-friendly

she giggled, patting my che

sweetie," I choked

u he'd cry," a

exact same striped polo shirt, the same khaki shorts, the same ange

han? You look lik

s back. The memories of Lily' s funeral, of her small, white casket, of the suffocat

over and placed a gentle hand on my arm.

felt like a promise, n

ed the doctors shrugging, their faces etched with confusion as they looked at Lily's chart. "We've ne

d now, with sickening clarity, walking into her room and finding him with the box open. He wasn't just winding it. He was fidd

dn't matter. I knew, with a certainty that chilled me to the bone, that he had poisoned my daughter. He h

al outing as a new family, the moment he realized Lily and I were permanent fixtures. That's when he mus

estled safely in my arms. The choice was clear. There would be no second family. There would be n

second chance. I