A Warm Tomorrow

After five years of battling depression, I finally felt like a normal person again.

I could talk, laugh, and eat without being pushed. My husband and I were even expecting our second child.

But at our New Years Eve party, Vincents god-sister, Bella, got drunk and started talking.

It was around five years ago, she slurred, her eyes reckless. Id just had my heart broken, so I went for a joyride while the traffic cams were down.

You wont believe it. The moment I sped up, a cat flew out of nowhere and hit my bumper. It let out a yelp and vanished.

She gave a slight, disgusted smile.

The little thing scared me and ruined my cars paint film. You really have to be careful.

Dont end up like my poor godmother, tangled in bad luck. Its sickening just thinking about it.

Bella spoke as if sharing a trivial, irritating story.

Everyone around her laughed and nodded, some even suggesting she visit a church to cleanse any bad luck.

I stood frozen in the lively crowd.

I saw Bellas dismissive face, my mother-in-laws indulgent gaze, and my husband Vincents tolerant, helpless smile.

My face went pale.

It seemed they had all forgotten.

My daughter, the one who died in a car accident, was killed five years ago.

As soon as Bella finished her story, my mother-in-law playfully chided her for dredging up such an old, unpleasant memory.

My husband, Vincent, just shook his head, his eyes holding a silent, fond tolerance for her antics.

Watching the three of them, completely unfazed, my mind started to roar. A tidal wave of absurdity washed over me.

In Bellas careless story, every detail was a perfect match.

A speeding car, a hit-and-run, a street where the surveillance cameras were down for maintenance, an autopsy report that determined the death was instantaneous.

Slowly, horrifically, the pieces aligned with the facts I had uncovered in the week after finding my daughters body in a cold, filthy drainage ditcha week I had spent sleepless, on the verge of a complete breakdown, hunting for answers.

The impact of her words was too much. A wave of nausea and grief rose in my throat, and I doubled over, dry heaving.

The room fell into an awkward silence.

My mother-in-laws face soured. Honestly, what terrible timing for morning sickness, she muttered under her breath. Who is she putting on a show for?

I was dizzy from retching, but I couldnt spare a thought for her cruel words. I grabbed onto Vincents arm as he came to steady me, my grip like a vice.

I stared into his eyes.

I saw a flicker of pity for my physical distress, mixed with a hint of impatience he couldnt quite hide. I saw his weary affection for Bella.

But I saw nothing of the heartbroken father whose child had been stolen from him.

I refused to believe it. He had to have heard the chilling familiarity in Bellas story.

But he was so calm. So placid. As if he had heard it a thousand times before.

As if he already knew the truth.

A terrifying realization began to crystallize in my mind, and my heart turned to ice.

Vincent.

I clung to his sleeve with all my strength, my world shattering in my eyes.

The street Bella was talking about the one where she was speeding. Was it the back alley behind the preschool?

The pity on Vincents face vanished, replaced by sheer, unadulterated shock.

Bellas reaction was even more extreme. She knocked over her chair with a loud bang, her expression shifting from contempt to alarm.

Realizing how strange her reaction looked, she quickly masked her panic, forcing a shaky smile.

Nora, you must have misheard me. I never said which street it was

I pushed myself upright, my voice feeling distant, ethereal, caught somewhere between a laugh and a sob.

Five years ago. The street where all the cameras were down for repair. The scene of a hit-and-run with no culprit.

The tiny fragment of purple paint film found in my daughters bloodstream during the autopsy.

Do you really think, I whispered, you need to say which street it was?

Every word was a memory steeped in blood. Every detail pushed me closer to the edge.

The forced smile on Bellas face finally cracked, and a flicker of panic crossed her eyes. A moment later, as if remembering something crucial, she shrieked, No! Youre lying! You went crazy after she died, the medication made you forget everything about her! Youre just trying to frame me!

Her words were a sledgehammer, pulverizing what was left of my heart.

I never thought I was afraid that Vincent, a top-tier psychologist, would feel like a failure for being unable to cure my depression. So I told him a kind lie.

I told him the medication had clouded my memory, that I couldnt remember the details of our daughters death.

I never imagined that my compassion would be twisted into a weapon they would use to stab me in public.

In that instant, Vincent finally understood. I had never forgotten. Not for a single second.

He raised a hesitant hand, trying to wipe the tears from my cheeks.

I flinched away. His hand froze in mid-air. He struggled to maintain his composure, his voice a low, placating murmur.

Nora, dont get worked up. Its just a hallucination from the medication, thats all. Bella was just telling a made-up story

A bitter, hollow laugh escaped me, tears streaming down my face. I pointed to my stomach.

Vincent, why do you think I dared to get pregnant again?

I havent been on medication for a long time. Im perfectly lucid. And Im not hallucinating.

I backed away, step by step, my eyes burning, the taste of bile rising in my throat.

Im calling the police.

I turned to leave, but a sharp sting pierced my arm.

In the last moment before I lost consciousness, I saw Vincent holding an empty syringe.

He caught my limp body, his eyes filled with a wretched mix of guilt and pity. Nora, why couldnt you just listen? Why did you throw away your medicine? You werent supposed to remember.

When I came to, I was lying in our bedroom, my body aching. A sick, powerless feeling washed over me, the aftereffect of the powerful sedative.

Vincent stood by the window, crushing a cigarette pack in his hand.

I watched him in silence, my nails digging into my palms so hard they drew blood. Finally, I heard my own hoarse voice.

Why? Vincent, you knew how much I loved her!

Why did you hide this from me for five years? Why are you protecting a murderer?

Vincent flinched.

He grabbed my shoulders, his eyes filled with a deep, conflicted pain. But his grip tightened, harder and harder, as if he meant to crush my bones.

Nora, since you already know, then I am sorry.

But five years ago, what happened to Bella she was so terrified she ran a fever for a week straight. She almost died. Shes only just now starting to put her life back together.

I cant let you destroy her over something thats already in the past.

Whatever you want as compensation, Ill give it to you.

Compensation? My daughters bright, vibrant life was worth nothing more than compensation?

I stared at him in disbelief, then shoved him away with all my might. My throat was so raw it felt like it was bleeding.

What do I want? I want Bella to pay for what she did! Blood for blood!

A sharp crack echoed in the room. A searing pain exploded across my cheek.

He had slapped me.

Vincent froze, a look of panic in his eyes. He stumbled over his words. Im sorry, Nora, I I didnt mean to.

That single, reflexive slap killed the last glimmer of hope in my heart.

Tears streamed down my face as I trembled.

Vincent, Lily was your daughter too.

She was only three years old!

It was her birthday. You promised youd pick her up from school to celebrate. Thats why she was waiting for you by the back gate.

If it wasnt for you, she wouldnt have been there. If it wasnt for Bellas joyride, she wouldnt be dead.

Vincent shuddered, his face turning ashen.

He wouldnt meet my eyes. I looked at him, feeling dazed. I couldnt understand how the man who once loved us more than life itself, the man who promised to raise our daughter like a princess, had become this monster.

How could he so casually dismiss five years of my unending agony with the offer of compensation?

How could he hide the truth from me, letting her killer parade around in front of me, bold and arrogant?

After a long silence, I closed my eyes, forcing down the turmoil inside me.

You want to compensate me?

The only thing I want is to see Bella in prison.

The silence stretched on before Vincents voice came back, muffled and distant.

Fine. I promise.

After hearing his promise, the last of my strength gave out. The sedatives finally won. As my heavy eyelids closed, the world finally went quiet.

The next time I opened them, I was staring at a stark, white ceiling. A familiar dread coiled in my stomach.

I was back in the psychiatric hospital where I had spent four years of my life.

Vincent sat by my bed, his expression gentle. Im sorry, Nora. You need to stay here for a while.

I absolutely cannot let you hurt Bella.

It hit me then. He had chosen her over me. Again.

Despair engulfed me, and I felt my sanity fraying. Vincent, youre harboring a murderer! How can you live with yourself? What about our daughter?!

He pressed his lips together, his expression unmoving.

I became a hysterical madwoman. I grabbed the fruit knife from the bedside table and lunged at him.

He didnt even try to stop me. He let the blade sink into his chest.

Nora, he gasped, blood blooming on his white shirt. Does this make you feel better?

Nurses rushed in, their faces masks of terror.

Get her under control! The patient is having a violent episode! If anything happens to Mr. Hayes, were all finished!

Mrs. Hayes, it was your fault the child died, you were the one who didnt pick her up on time! How can you be so selfish as to blame someone else?

The nurses words were like needles, their scornful looks piercing me.

Enough! Vincent roared, his gaze sweeping over them. Mrs. Hayes can do whatever she wants! Its not your place to comment! Get out!

But I shoved him away.

Dont you dare pretend to defend me!

If youre so determined to protect Bella, then Ill call the police myself! Ill get justice for Lily!

I scrambled out of bed and ran for the door. The next thing I knew, a sharp pain exploded at the back of my head, and the world went dark.

When I woke up, my head was splitting. This time, my arms and legs were strapped down, binding me to the bed.

Bella was sitting in a chair beside me.

Seeing me awake, she smiled and tapped my cheek with a file folder.

Youre awake, Nora. You gave us all quite a scare. Let me read you your diagnosis.

She read the contents of the file, word for word, watching with satisfaction as the color drained from my face.

Did you hear that? Diagnosis: Severe Psychotic Disorder. You, Nora, are now officially a crazy person, driven mad by the death of your daughter.

Without a certificate of sanity, Im afraid youll be living here for the rest of your life.

You can thank Vincents soft heart. All I had to do was cry a little, and he promised he would take care of it.

Her triumphant words were like a thunderclap.

Vincent?

To protect Bella, he had fabricated a medical record and personally imprisoned me in a mental institution?

I almost coughed up blood. Why? I rasped. Why did you have to kill my daughter and destroy my life?

I destroyed your life? Ha! Bella burst out laughing, then her face contorted with rage. She grabbed a handful of my hair and yanked.

It was you and that little bitch who ruined my life!

Vincent and I were supposed to be together! We were childhood sweethearts! We promised we wouldnt date anyone else, that wed get together on my twentieth birthday!

So why did he have to marry you? Why did that little brat have to look so much like him?

Her grip tightened, and I choked, my face turning purple. Seeing my pain only seemed to delight her more. Her sharp words drilled into my ears.

I hated you both! I couldnt stand seeing you so happy all the time!

I picked that day, her birthday, to confess my love to Vincent and tell him to divorce you. But he turned me down!

He said he had to go home to celebrate with his precious daughter.

And you, you didnt pick her up on time that day. I bet you didnt even know she snuck out the back gate, did you?

She even smiled at me, thinking I would take her home. Ha! What a shame my car was so out of control.

She didnt last long. Fell right into the ditch. Slowly stopped breathing. She got so dirty, so smelly.

It was so tragic. As she was dying, she was crying for her mommy to come save her.

Nora, oh, Nora. Its all your fault for stealing Vincent from me. The person who really killed your daughter was you!

I finally broke, spitting up a mouthful of blood and dissolving into wracking sobs.

Bella leaned in close, her voice a venomous whisper.

By the way, the night your daughter died, Vincent didnt come home, did he?

You didnt really think he was out looking for evidence, did you?

The words hit me like a physical blow. He said he was checking for any security cameras they might have missed

Seeing my expression crumble, Bella laughed and clapped her hands.

You are so naive. Your loving husband spent the entire night holding me, comforting me.

I just told him how scared I was, and he stayed by my side all night, telling me it wasnt my fault.

My heart, which I thought had gone numb with pain, was ripped open once more. Two scalding tears of pure agony burned tracks down my skin.

I remembered that day. He had seemed more distraught than anyone, rushing to the morgue like a man possessed, arranging for my care after I collapsed, calling everyone he knew. He was a ghost of himself.

And now I knew.

He was in a rush to comfort his daughters murderer.

The tears finally fell, hot and hopeless. The hatred boiling inside me threatened to drown me.

Sensing the madness in my eyes, Bella just smiled.

A moment later, a nurse walked in with a syringe.

Look at me, forgetting your treatment. Dont worry. After this shot, you wont remember any of the pain.

My pupils constricted. I thrashed against the restraints, screaming for help.

The commotion brought Vincent to the door. He froze when he saw my desperate, broken face.

Bella, maybe we should just leave her be. Nora has always been terrified of needles. Let her calm down on her own.

A flash of jealousy crossed Bellas eyes, but her expression was all sweet concern.

Oh, I was just so worried. I only wanted to help her get some rest.

She moved to undo my restraints, reaching out to help me up.

But in the next instant, a fruit knife, the one from before, clattered to the floor from the side of my bed.

A bloodcurdling scream filled the room.

Bella clutched her hand, which was now bleeding profusely. Nora! I was just trying to let you go! Why would you try to kill me?

Vincent rushed to her side, his eyes blazing with fury as he examined her wounded arm.

Nora! What the hell are you doing? Bella came here to apologize, and you try to murder her?

Before I could defend myself, he snatched the syringe and plunged it into my arm.

Ice flooded my veins.

I remembered a time when I was sick, scared of a simple injection, and he had held me in his arms, comforting me, his own eyes welling up with tears just from seeing me in pain.

Now, for Bella, he was the one driving the needle into my flesh.

He watched me convulse in agony, then turned and left with the nurse, his jaw clenched.

Bella remained by my bed, a twisted smile on her face.

I forgot to mention, she purred. Theres a little something extra in that shot. Enjoy.

My body began to tremble violently, and I fell to the floor.

Hallucinations started. My daughter, mangled and bloody, stood before me, her voice filled with resentment, blaming me for not saving her.

I sobbed, overcome with guilt and self-loathing, apologizing to her over and over. I found the fruit knife again and again, dragging it across my skin, seeking punishment.

I dont know how long I lived like that.

Trapped in a world of ghosts and madness, with only the daily sting of the needle to mark the passage of time.

Day after day, I sank deeper into the silence, the hallucinations, the eternal, suffocating self-hatred.

Until one night, I woke from a nightmare.

Through the silence, I heard a soft tapping at the door.

I saw my daughters small form standing in the doorway, beckoning to me.

I crawled towards her, towards the darkness, a smile of relief spreading across my face.

Ten minutes later, a fire broke out in a room at the citys psychiatric hospital.

It lit up the entire night sky.