The Ghost Who Watched Her GrieveChapter 1
On New Year's Eve, the crowd tore my daughter from my grasp.
She vanished into the sea of people, and my wife, Bonnie Acevedo, collapsed on the spot. To find my little girl and salvage what remained of my broken family, I abandoned my career and drained every cent of my savings. I spared no expense, chasing every whisper of a lead.
But news never came.
For three agonizing years, silence reigned. Guilt crushed my spirit; longing snapped my spine. The tragedy drove a wedge between Bonnie and me, pushing us miles apart even when we stood in the same room.
Finally, consumed by despair, I decided to wash away the sins of this lifetime with death.
I stood on the edge of the bridge and let gravity take me. But as I plummeted past the walkway, time seemed to freeze. A sight seared itself into my retinas, more shocking than the impact awaiting me below.
I saw Bonnie and her first love, Brandon Pruitt.
They were walking along the riverbank. And between them, holding their hands, was my daughter.
——
My body hit the water. By the time the New Year's bell tolled, my cold, stiff corpse drifted downstream with the current. Meanwhile, on the bank, the very people I had sacrificed my life to find were lighting fireworks, celebrating a reunion I was never meant to witness.
The biting wind flushed Brandon's cheeks.
Bonnie immediately unwound her scarf and draped it around him, pulling him into her embrace. She rubbed his hands between hers to warm them, a soft smile on her lips.
"The fireworks are breathtaking this year," she murmured. "I wish I could freeze this moment forever."
Brandon lowered his head, feigning shyness. A moment later, he squeezed her hand.
"Like a dream," he whispered. "Bonnie, I never expected we could truly be together again. And I didn't expect you to sacrifice so much for me."
He paused, his voice taking on a tremble. "I didn't mean to hide Mandy back then. I just wanted to scare Justin a little. I was jealous. Jealous that he got to be with you, jealous that you two had such a lovely daughter."
Pain flashed across Bonnie's face. She kissed his forehead, her voice firm.
"Don't say that. As long as I'm here, no one will ever bully you again," she vowed. "I may not be able to give you the official status you deserve yet, but I will give you a happy home. From now on, Mandy is your daughter. No one can separate us."