Chapter 8

He pulled my hand to his lips. I couldn’t pull my hand back. I had said it.

I was going to be happy.

On our anniversary, I got ready for a surprise, but Nick came home drunk. I picked him up. He touched my face.

“You’re here. You finally came. I waited for you. Don’t leave me again.”

I knew he was thinking of someone else, but I said, “Okay, Nick. I won’t leave you. We’ll be happy.”

He was drunk. He’d forgotten. But he remembered. I looked out the window. The trees were bare.

“Nick, it’s snowing. I want to go.”

He started crying harder.

“Please, don’t go.”

“It’s my fault. I didn’t appreciate you. I didn’t know how to love you.”

“I love you. Don’t leave me now. I’m begging you.”

I shook my head. “You never loved me. Why are you lying?”

“You realized that your angel was nothing. You want me because I’m not that bad. You want to feel better about me dying.”

“Don’t lie to me, Nick.”

Nick cried. “No. No.”

I closed my eyes. “Go. I’m tired.”

I woke up to crying. It was Mom. Dad was with her. She saw that I was awake and said, “Laura, it’s Mom.”

I looked at her. “Mom, are you my mom? Aren’t you Sarah’s mom?”

“You don’t love me, but you gave birth to me. You’re still my mom.”

“Your wish came true. I’m the one who’s dying. Your Sarah’s back.”

She shook her head. “No, Laura. I love you. I was so happy when I found out I was pregnant. You were so small when you were born. You melted my heart. I wanted you to be safe and healthy.”

I remembered it. But my mom became someone else’s mom. Her Laura became Sarah. Dad tried to explain.

“Laura, we love you. Your mom couldn’t sleep, when you disappeared. She cried and said she heard you crying for her.”

“I adopted Sarah so your mom would be okay.”

“It’s my fault. Don’t blame your mom.”

They loved me? Everyone was saying that. Nick, Dad, Mom. Why did everyone love me now?