A Lost Lullaby by Calista Titus
I ran into the house, my heart pounding in my chest. The first thing I saw was her blood pooling from behind the couch. My breath caught in my throat as I stepped forward. Then my eyes landed on my girl, her delicate body lying still on the floor.
I fell to my knees beside her, my hands trembling as I reached for her. I pulled her into my arms, and her head lolled lifelessly. A strangled sob escaped my lips, and I wept over her, my tears mingling with the blood staining her clothes.
This is the last thing any mother wants, to see her child like this. I had always imagined watching my daughter grow, achieving her dreams, and living a full, happy life. She won’t get any of that, not anymore. I won’t remember her as the sweet girl she was. The only image seared into my mind is her cold, dead body in my arms, her lifeless eyes staring into nothingness.
Tyler always told me I’d never understand the love Hale had for me until I had a child of my own. Now, I do. I understand why she did everything for me, why it hurt her when I left. From the moment I saw my daughter, I knew I’d do anything for her. The bond between a mother and her child is unbreakable, forged in unconditional love and sacrifice. Now, I understand the agony of losing a piece of yourself along with your child.
As I rocked her gently, memories flooded my mind, The first time she mumbled the word “mama,” her infectious laughter, and the way she used to cling to me when she was scared. Every memory felt like a dagger to my heart, a reminder of what was stolen from me. I wanted to scream, to rage against the cruelty of the world, but all I could do was hold her and weep. My life, my heart, my whole world was lying broken in my arms.
When my sister and Tyler finally arrived, I had already been sitting there for what felt like an eternity, my mind trapped in an endless loop of sorrow. Tyler stopped at the door, his face pale and stricken with shock. Hale got onto the floor next to me, placing her hand gently on my back. I could see the pain in her eyes, the tears she struggled to hold back. She was grieving too.
They gently pried her from my arms, and I felt a part of my soul being torn away. I watched as Tyler took her, and my heart broke all over again. The sight of him carrying her away, his tears streaming down his face, was almost too much to bear. I collapsed into my sister’s arms, the weight of my grief overwhelming me. Hale held me tightly, her sobs mingling with mine. She was the only thing keeping me from completely falling apart, as I lived my worst nightmare. She whispered soothing words, her voice shaking, trying to be strong for me even as her own heart was breaking. At that moment, I clung to my sister, the woman who raised me, as the world crumbled around us.