How terrified must my son have been in his final moments? Holding back the lump in my throat, I sat beside my son and gently asked, "Ronan, how have your mom and grandma been treating you lately?"
He replied with a bright, innocent smile, "They've been really good to me, Dad."
I paused momentarily before continuing, "And what about your teacher? How does he treat you?"
"He's great! He takes good care of me at kindergarten!" His response was natural and straightforward, his small face glowing with happiness.
Then he blinked his big, bright eyes, looking confused. "Dad, I don't feel sick today. Why aren't we going to school?"
I stroked his soft cheek, my heart aching. "Because Dad can't bear to be apart from you."
In my past life, sending him to kindergarten that day had led to his mysterious drowning. This time, I wouldn't let anything happen to him. After breakfast, my son sat in the living room, watching TV while I cleared the table and washed the dishes. Halfway through, my phone rang. It was his teacher. "Mr. Yelverton, why hasn't your son come to school today? Is he feeling unwell?"
My heart clenched when I heard the exact words as in my previous life. Walking toward the living room, I responded politely, "Sorry, Mr. Zach. Ronan isn't feeling well today. I was just about to call you to let you know ... "
My voice caught in my throat. The sofa where my son had been just moments ago was empty. He was gone. A surge of panic overwhelmed me. I immediately hung up and frantically searched the house. I called his name repeatedly, looking in every possible hiding spot.
Alas, the house was silent. He was nowhere to be found. No one answered me. Terror gripped my heart. The memories of my past life came rushing back like a nightmare, making my legs weak and my vision blur.
With trembling hands, I hastily dialed the police. Just like before, they found my son's body in the pond near our home. I ran to the pond like a madman, watching in disbelief as they pulled my lifeless child from the water.
Just minutes ago, he had been smiling so sweetly at me. Now, he was cold and pale, a motionless corpse. I felt like I had fallen into an icy abyss, unable to breathe. My legs gave out and I stumbled forward, clutching his tiny body.
I held him tightly, desperately trying to warm his freezing skin with my own body heat. I choked out his name between sobs, begging him to wake up. Unfortunately, no matter how much I called, no matter how tightly I held him, my son never opened his eyes.
Realizing that he was gone once again, an unbearable pain tore through me. Why? Why had I done everything differently this time, fought to keep him by my side and still failed to save him? Why, no matter what I did, couldn't I protect my own child?
The agony consumed me, draining me of even the strength to cry. Alice and Ruby arrived in a panic after hearing the news. When they saw my son lying lifeless in my arms, Alice let out a gut-wrenching wail.
She rushed forward, shoving me aside and clutching him tightly in her embrace. "Ronan, my sweet grandson. I was only gone for a short while to see a doctor. How could this happen?"
Tears streamed down Ruby's face as she trembled uncontrollably. "Ronan! Wake up, baby. Please don't scare Mommy like this. Are you mad at Mommy for not taking you to school today? Please, wake up. I'm sorry! I'll do anything, just please, open your eyes!"
