The Daughter She Forgot

erson, leaned back i

ep. Are you absolutely sure? No

window at the g

s been over fo

flat, no em

angry anymor

s of being a ghos

't sudden," Henderson

s, she's a public figur

t. The mess was

I was five years ago

ed. This man

rson

ly of you in public, Micha

aste fille

More like

r feet on after visi

oe, my daughter,

a patch on the knee, se

son, strutted by in brand ne

bought

s groceries, paid his rent

" she'd say. "He ne

er mother's attention fo

with words, espec

l of "I love you, Michael

y wo

creamed a dif

e's sixth

d. A huge

ed about i

s a crisis, honey. An emergenc

his new, bigg

sleep that night. I hel

n't loud. It was qu

ouldn't

ing, a wheezing soun

ttack, a

her, ran f

Straight to vo

worked on Chloe.

r, Jessica

this charity fundraiser for Mark, he was su

y. Another one

ere wide with apolog

er could

knew. I had t

ge. For survi

ays later, after Jessica had been at

felt like

ing to keep my voice light.

yes lit up

level. "When Mommy's car pulls up, let's see who s

fused. "But she'

st watch,

ooked the small courtyard. Mark lived in th

familiar SU

r arms full of shop

er face to the

vaguely towards our

raight to Mar

glance up a

small fac

down her cheek

't make

rdened into somet

She fin

Chloe int

shoulder, her small body

ull of things for Leo, while Chloe

I whispered, my own vo

d her

l have a new life. And I'll find you a ne

to me, her tears

n was made.