"Why can't I get through when I call her?"
"Ask her coworkers."
"They all said she quit a long time ago."
"What exactly happened between you two?"
I hurried to help my mother-in-law up.
There was no hiding it anymore.
I let out a long sigh. "Mom, Patricia... she passed away from breast cancer. Her body was cremated, and her ashes were scattered at sea, just like she wanted."
"Wh-what?"
My mother-in-law froze, staring at me in disbelief.
I wiped my eyes and choked out an explanation.
I told her it happened over two weeks ago.
Patricia had discovered she had late-stage breast cancer.
She didn't want her family to suffer.
So she chose to bear it alone, in silence.
"Why didn't she tell us sooner?"
"Patricia said she wanted to keep it from you as long as she could."
"You... you two..."
My mother-in-law was shaking with anger and grief. First her husband, now her daughter—the double blow was too much. She collapsed, unconscious.
When she woke up, she cried until she lost her voice.
Later, I got a text from Patricia using an unknown number.
"How are my parents?"
"You didn't tell them the truth, did you?"
I smiled and replied: "Did exactly what you asked."
"You're the best, babe. Keep covering for me."
"Something happened at home. Are you coming back?"
"I'm busy. Whatever it is, don't bother me with it."
"Just handle things there."
I sent another message. No response. Again.
Patricia.
Keep having fun with your little boyfriend.
A cold smile tugged at my lips.
After that, all contact between us stopped completely.
The only updates I got were from videos her boyfriend posted—the two of them living it up.
As for home, my mother-in-law was a ghost of herself after leaving the hospital. She wandered around the house muttering to herself. I could see it—she was on the edge of losing her mind.
One day, she called me to her room. She handed me a sealed envelope, her eyes red and raw.
"Luther," she said, "I can't hold on much longer. I'm afraid I'll lose my mind completely. Before that happens, take this. It's everything the Gilbert family owns."
