“Yes, Miss Preston.”
“We followed the lead from the dock footage,
the ship she supposedly boarded. That wasn’t
Mr. Miller’s mother. Just someone who looked
similar, dressed similarly.”
“Also, the footage you provided isn’t from
that day. It was filmed two days later, the
date digitally altered.”
“The real footage shows that after she was
pulled from the water, she never moved. We
consulted experts. It appears she was, in fact,
deceased.”
Sarah gasped.
く
“You’re saying…she drowned?”
“Yes, Miss Preston.”
Sarah laughed, a hollow, brittle sound.
“I don’t believe you. You’re incompetent.
Making things up.
وو
“Miss Preston, we would never deceive a
client…”
Sarah hung up.
She tried to stand, but her legs gave way.
She turned to me.
“Michael, did you pay everyone to lie for you
“My mom’s not dead. Why is everyone saying
she is?”
Just then, a dog tossed its head, and a
bloody piece of flesh landed at our feet.
Sarah screamed, shielding her face.
She stared at it, the color draining from her
face.
“That’s…”
There was a familiar scar, shaped like a star.
My mom got that burn saving Sarah.
We’d been dating for a year. Sarah came to
meet my family.
<
Wanting to impress everyone, she insisted on
cooking, even though she couldn’t boil water.
She started a grease fire. Flames leapt
towards her.
My mom shoved her out of the way, her arm
getting burned in the process.
It left a nasty scar.
Sarah cried then, touching the scar, full of
guilt and remorse.
My mom comforted her.
“It’s not ugly. It looks like a star. You’re our
lucky star.’
ᄀ
Sarah had laughed through her tears.
“Mom, you’re so sweet. After I marry Michael,
you’ll be my mom too.”
My mom never imagined that the woman she
welcomed with open arms would push her off
a cruise ship because of some twisted “love
test.”
The waves swallowed her. Her old injuries, her
age…she was gone.
Sarah’s lips were white. She trembled, then
forced herself closer.
She nudged the piece of flesh with a stick,
looking closer.
Tears erupted ber sobs wrocking ber badi
body
L
Tears erupted, her sobs wracking her body.
“Mom! How could this happen!”
“I didn’t mean to! I didn’t know you’d drown!”
“You’re a swimmer! How…how could you…”
She sounded like she was trying to convince
herself it wasn’t her fault.
I glared at her, my voice tight with rage.
“Sarah, if you have any decency left, call off
the dogs!”
She seemed to snap out of it, yelling at the
men to get the dogs away.
There was almost nothing left of my mother,
just a few scattered bones.
Sarah reached for them, but I lunged forward,
gathering them into my arms.
“Mom, I’m taking you home…‘
“I’m sorry…I’m so sorry…
“It’s all my fault.”
33
I wiped my tears and turned to leave.
Sarah followed, reaching for me, but
hesitating.
“Michael…
I didn’t answer.
く
Her voice cracked, desperation creeping in.
“Michael, please, don’t ignore me.
99
She grabbed my sleeve, begging me to stay.
“It was my fault, all of it. Don’t blame
yourself.
“”
“I killed her. Let me make it up to you. I’ll buy
the best urn, the best burial plot…
“”
I shook her off, but she held on tighter. I
yanked my arm free, no longer caring if I hurt
her.
She fell, a whimper escaping her lips. But she
didn’t complain, not this time.
She scrambled up, afraid I’d disappear.
<
“Michael, please, just say something.”
99
“Hit me, yell at me, just don’t ignore me.”
“I’m terrified.”
I walked on, my face expressionless, clutching
the bones closer.
She followed me all the way to the road. Taxi
drivers sped past, not wanting to stop.
Sarah called her driver.
“Michael, take my car. It’s hard to get a cab,
you’ll be tired…”
I pushed her away, hard.
“Stay away from me. I don’t want to see
L
you.”
