Chapter 45 - 46
ELODIE’S POV~
I quickly flipped through their chat history, my fingers trembling just enough to make the screen blur. Every morning, Liora messaged Sienna first. “Good morning, Auntie”, the messages stretched endlessly down the screen, filled with little hearts, pictures, voice notes, laughter. They’d talked every day... for months. About everything. About her school, her favorite songs, even secrets she never told me.
My throat tightened.
The sound of the elevator dinged softly behind me. I quickly set her phone back on the table, pretending I hadn’t seen anything, pretending that my heart wasn’t burning in my chest.
By the time Liora came down, her steps were light again. She picked up her phone without a thought, and when she unlocked it, her face lit up instantly. I didn’t have to ask why.
Sienna had replied.
Something about that made my chest feel hollow, the way her eyes softened, the way her smile bloomed as if the whole world had just forgiven her. I turned away before she could see the look on my face.
I knew what happiness looked like on my daughter, but I hated that it wasn’t me giving it to her anymore.
We got into the car in silence. I drove, keeping my eyes fixed on the road, while she sat in the backseat with her head bowed, typing away. I could hear the faint sound of her laughter, so small, private, like she didn’t want me to hear but couldn’t help it. It was the kind of laughter she used to save for me.
The city faded past the window, but I wasn’t really seeing it. My chest hurt in that dull, slow way that sneaks up on you, like a grief you can’t name.
Half an hour passed before the car finally went quiet. She must’ve finished texting. I could feel her eyes on me from the backseat.
“Mom,” she started softly. “Are you free this afternoon?”