The Secret We Carry

red ceaselessly. Her body ached - her head pounded. She couldn't remember the contents o

the scans and imaging, and the report stated that she had fainted from shock, dropping to the ground striking her he

nto her hand, squeezing i

her heart. She couldn't shake the storm that Clara's return had brought s

d but quiet in their observations. Steven was so quick to cling to her. Rose and Lily helped with chor

essing on her heavy

y rustling outside the window made her sweat. She was a mess; her hands sho

their doorstep. It was a thick envelope, with

h a newb

a hospi

gned a

alyzed. Her ha

, her voice tight.

and was quiet for a lo

what it lo

link. "Then

roke up. She told me it wasn't mine and I never ev

y low. "But you s

was just paperwork about custody rights...

his room, hear

one in the house," he

ken locks, no signs of footprints. But fea

meras, motions lights. Yet the fear

ated her, nor an address, or any activity connected to an ID. Clara was gone

was a voice

ber. The voicemail

ressed

d the truth, you'd protect her. Lies

m right as the message had

en't you

. Jaw clenched,

iformed officer stood there wh

. Elena

it. Her hands

birth ce

Six ye

er:

: Paul

in red ink

home. Like

Heart racing. "You h

ed back,

around the dinner table, hardly eating.

id, "I think someone

th his flashlight.

ch dark of the living room with the ba

3:1

r creak

e stairs. Elena followed

at the

a little gir

a

cared eyes. Her tiny hands w

ont of Steven in

his hands. "Clara... yo

tely do. You took everything from me. You stol

darted

am taking

her shook. Ele

d gently. "She's a child. She di

flashed through her. But he

for her," Cl

d right a

ere fo