The Contract That Changed Everything

mond'

She sat stiffly in the passenger seat, her hands clenched together on her lap. I could tell she was blaming herself for almost ruining the pla

nbuckled her seatbelt, and we both exchanged polite nods, bowing slightly to ackno

mond

a second, her head bowed slightly as she said in a low, almost

nd flashed back to the dining room earlier-how she'd covered up her slip so smoothly, twisting the whole "daughter" c

ck the words forming on my lips. But

ce tightening with concern. "I sh

t her answer. Just as I turned to leave, he

relax. Mummy will be

she bolted past me, running toward the street. "Ava!" I called, catching her by th

tumbling out in a frantic mess. "Some

daug

a was unraveling, and someone had to keep their head straight. I grabbed her shoulders ge

was enough. I guided her back into the car and jumped

out hesitation, I slammed my foot on the gas, the car leaping forward as I pushe

to her daughter. "Mummy's coming, sweetheart. Just hold on for me, okay?" H

w what I was racing toward, but whatever it was, I had a gut fe

ttered under my breath, pre

*

o a full stop, Ava threw t

after her, but she d

s frantic and unsteady. The apartment door was slightly ajar, creaking as she pushed it wide op

room, Bella sat huddled, her

Ava. Ava didn't hesitate, dropping to he

hough her voice quivered. She kissed Bella's

rembling as she pointed toward

Bella whimpered, her

lickered across her face. Then, without

said, followi

pen, and the sight in

the bed, her head tilted at an unnatural angle. H

g. She rushed to the woman and dropped t

body, her movements desperate and frantic. "No

Ava's cries tore through the room, raw and unrelenting. She clung to her grandmot

are the only one I have left" she scre

ough the apartment. I turned sharpl

lled eyes fixed on the scene. Her little hand

front of her. I scooped her up into my a

gh I knew it wasn't. "You're

into her ears, I turned on the music from my phone. "Smart girls don't cry," I sa

unny tighter as the soft me

floor, rocking back and forth as she sobbed, her

on her shoulder. "Ava," I said quietly, my voice steady

body trembling as tear

said, my grip

-streaked face toward mine,

y voice cracking despite my be

, and she let out a heartbreakin

tching her grandmother tighter. "She wa

ld see the guilt consuming her. I gently pulled

spered, though I knew nothin

s her cries echoed in the room. I held her tighter,

*

r That

ther's body away. Ava looked like she was barely holding herself together

ead, whispering soft reassurances. "Mummy's here. Everything's going t

only thing keeping her grounded. Ava smoothed the blanket over her on

vy. I didn't say anything either. Instead, I followed her, watching the w

e building. The air was cool, the faint scent of roses drifting on the br

startle her. "You can cry if you

see the faintest trace of a smile. "I think I've run

hing against the petals of a flower. I stood a few feet a

er voice so soft I almost missed it. "I can'

e tilted her head back slightly, staring up

ce trembling. "I got a call, just like tonight. I rushed back, and..." Her

in her voice cutting through me. I didn'

erness laced with pain. "My father... he had all these dreams for me. His

n't even ask questions. They just threw me out. My grandmother was the only o

t sure what to say. I wanted to comfort her, bu

uietly, "What abou

for a moment, I thought she wasn't going to a

on her face s

ith a mixture of fear and so

lla's father?" she asked,

looked at me sent a chill down my spine. Whatever