Seven Years, A Cruel Lie

wpanes of our small apartment, and the wind howled so loud it drowned out the TV. The li

soft thud from the living room. It wasn't lou

my voice sounding sma

was no

ying on the floor next to her favorite armchair. Her book had fallen from her hands, its pages sp

my chest. I knelt down, my hands shaking as I touc

n. I dialed 911, but the call wouldn't connect. The storm had taken out the servi

er. No cars were moving. I tried a ride-sharing app, then a taxi service. "All drivers are

mother was dying,

iend of seven years. She had a car. She lived only twenty minutes away. My hands were

was a little distan

my mom. I think she had a heart attack. She's not

uld hear music in the background on her end. "Okay, o

tears streaming down my f

on my way,"

e would help me. We would get Mom to the hospital. I went back to my mot

stared at the front door, expecting it to open at any moment. Five minutes passed. Th

m. I called her again. It went straight to voicemail. I tried again. Voicemai

th the force of a physica

ad to do something. I tried to lift her, to carry her myself, but she was a

. I could run. I could get help and bring it back. Leaving her alone was t

hoked out, pressing a kiss to

y lungs burning, my legs screaming. Water splashed up to my knees. The world was a blur of darkness and drivin

ed, gasping for air, and barely able to speak. "My mother," I rasped

flickering flame. We burst back into my apartment, but I knew the moment I saw her. The paramedics k

tle when he told me. "I'm

ls closing in on me. My clothes were still damp. My body was

casket. I moved like a robot, doing the things a son is supposed to do. Through it all, there was a deafening silence from Chloe. Not

t had been our home. It felt huge and cold now. My phone buzzed on the table, the

id, hopeful leap bef

t business trip to the coast, last minute thing. It was crazy. Hope ever

dle it." The words twisted in my gut. Urgent business trip. She was lying. I didn't know how I

e me break. It wasn't just my heart this time. It was the seven years o