9
Mom received a call from her employer. “Susan, we’ve received a complaint alleging misconduct during the rescue operation. Are
you aware of this?”
Mom opened her mouth to speak, then saw
Lisa. She closed it again.
“Susan, it was me. If Anna had been treated
like any other victim, she might still be alive.”
Lisa’s voice was filled with sadness. “I went
back… but I was too late. I’m so sorry, Anna.’
Mom was suspended.
She cleaned out Lily’s old room, the princess
fantasy, and tried to fill it with my things. But
<
men she anally earned her pune S
photo album. “There has to be a picture of
Anna! There has to be! I just haven’t found it
yet!”
I floated beside her, watching. She’d never
taken a picture of me.
“I found it! I found it!”
She cried tears of relief. It was a class photo
from school. She’d probably taken it for Lily,
but I happened to be in the same class.
Mom traced my tiny face in the photo. “Anna…baby…are you mad at Mommy? Why
won’t you come to my dreams? I miss you so
much…”
She clutched the phone, crying herself to
<
She clutched the phone, crying herself to
sleep.
She started talking about me to everyone.
“My daughter, Anna, she’s so smart! Top of
her class! Isn’t that wonderful?”
“Look! This is a birthday present from Anna!
She knows my back hurts, so she saved up to
buy me this!”
“Has anyone seen my Anna? It’s getting dark,
and she’s not home yet…
“”
Dad finally took her to a doctor. “It’s a heart
problem. It needs a heart solution.”
She started therapy, but still cried quietly,
clutching my photo. I knew her illness was
<
She started therapy, but still cried quietly,
clutching my photo. I knew her illness was guilt. She couldn’t fool herself anymore. She’d killed her own daughter.
