I stared blankly at the monitor screen that showed a straight line. The machine's sound was monotonous, almost mocking me. No, it doesn't. This isn't real. My Laura is still here. She didn't leave. No way.
"Mrs. Katty..." The doctor's voice sounded so far away. I turned my head shakily. "We did our best, but..." Her sentence hung in the air, shattering all my hopes.
I ran to the side of the bed. Laura's body was still warm; her face looked calm like she had just fallen asleep. I held her hand tightly, hoping for a miracle, hoping she would open her eyes and smile at me.
"Laura, sweetheart. Mommy's here. Open your eyes, child. Please." My voice trembled, full of desperation.
Livia tried to calm me down, but I couldn't contain my pain. The nurses looked at me with compassion. One of them touched my shoulder, trying to pull me away from the increasingly painful reality. I brushed it away roughly. "Don't touch me! Could you bring her back? You have to save her!" I screamed, but they were silent.
I screamed, shouting for God, for anyone who could bring my daughter back. My knees buckled, and I fell to the floor, my hands gripping the sheets of Laura's bed tightly. The world seemed to collapse on me. Everything was dark.
When I came to, my body felt weak. Livia was holding my hand. I was still in the hospital, and a doctor approached. "Mrs. Katty, we've prepared Laura to be taken home. Our condolences."
I walked slowly, my legs feeling so heavy. All the funeral preparations were done by hand. I chose the best dress for Laura, the white dress she always loved. I wanted her to go gracefully, like the little angel always smiling brightly.
Everyone who knew Laura came, offering condolences that made me want to scream against the words even more. I wanted my daughter back. She was my only treasure.
My cell phone vibrates on the table. William's name was on the screen. I picked it up with a cold voice. "Your daughter is waiting until twelve. Come if you still have a heart."
I hung up without waiting for a response. I didn't care. I just wanted him to know how much this loss hurt.
All too soon, I decided to have a cremation. Laura's ashes were already in my hands. Her body, her laughter, and her hope had become ashes so light in my hands but so heavy in my heart.
My phone screen lit up. A photo appeared on it. William smiles and gives Priska a pink gift box.
My hand shook. It feels like I've been slapped so hard, and shortly after, another message arrived.
"You'd better give up because William will still choose me over you." Carol.
I dialed William's number, my fingers almost breaking from the tight grip. When he answered, I asked, my voice calm yet poisonous. "Is the gift ready? Laura is still waiting.”
William sounded hurried. "The gift was burnt at the scene. I'm looking for a new one. Wait a little longer."
I smiled sadly, staring at Laura's ashes in my hand. "Laura is waiting for her gift in our backyard, among the roses."
I hung up the phone, letting the silence answer everything.
I stared at the soil in the back garden, trying to dig without anyone's help. The house was silent, just Laura and me.
My tears fell, and at the same time, I heard the sound of footsteps that stopped right behind me.
"What the hell are you doing? Where's Laura? I've brought her a birthday gift.”
I tightly grip the small shovel, digging the soil in my backyard. In front of me, pink roses bloomed beautifully, just like Laura had always loved. That's where I wanted to plant the small urn with her ashes. I didn't want Laura to be alone.
William's presence disturbed me.
"What are you doing?" William's voice sounded sharp, filled with anger and contempt.
I remained silent, suppressed my feelings, and kept digging. However, he was not satisfied with my silence.
"You're teaching a child to do dirty gardening like this again? No wonder Laura didn't grow up to be a graceful princess! She should have been like Priska, who was well educated by Carol," he continued mockingly.
