Chapter 4

The word hung in the sterile air, and Leo wailed like a broken child.

Arthur froze completely. He shook his head in violent denial. "No. No, that can't be real!"

"Dad... it was Officer Miller. You know him."

Officer Miller had helped search for me countless times. He would never lie about this.

Arthur didn't say another word. He tried to take a step, but his knees buckled. Leo caught him just in time.

After a long silence, Arthur whispered in a hollow voice, "Take me to see your mother."

His eyes were blood red as he clutched Leo's arm. Supporting each other, the two broken men walked down the cold corridor toward the basement morgue.

It was my first time seeing my own deceased body. My face was pale, the bloodstains wiped clean, but the faint purple bruises remained. I lay there quietly under the fluorescent lights.

The coroner spoke softly. "She had no pulse when the paramedics arrived. The driver was speeding under the influence; he's already in custody. Once you confirm her identity, please sign here."

Leo staggered toward the metal table. Looking at my motionless face, he whispered, "Mom..."

Arthur dragged himself forward. With a trembling hand, he reached out to touch my cold cheek. The moment his fingers grazed my skin, his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed.

A nearby nurse caught him just in time. Leo was torn in half between his father and me, screaming in frantic panic.

Soon, relatives arrived at the hospital. Some helped take care of Arthur, while others stepped in to help arrange my funeral.

Arthur was stabilized, but he had suffered a mild stroke and remained unconscious.

Outside the ICU, Leo sat on the floor, holding his head between his hands, weeping until he could barely breathe.

"It's my fault... I shouldn't have said those things to her!"

He remembered every cruel word he had shouted before storming out. That was why I had left. I had walked right into death because of him.

Relatives tried to comfort him, telling him it was just a tragic accident, but the crushing guilt consumed him entirely.

I hovered over him, wishing so badly I could gently pat his head.

Just then, Officer Miller walked in holding an evidence bag.

"Leo, these were your mother's personal effects found at the scene. See if anything is missing."

Leo took the clear plastic bag. Inside was a small box of fresh honey sponge cakes.

The moment he saw them, fresh sobs tore from his throat.

Everyone in the room turned to look, their eyes welling with tears.

"Leo, please... be strong."

"Your mother wouldn't want to see you like this."

"Even when she couldn't remember anything else, she still remembered to buy your favorite cakes..."

Leo pulled out a piece of cake and shoved it into his mouth. He choked on his tears as he chewed.

Just then, Arthur slowly opened his eyes from the hospital bed. Seeing the scene, his trembling fingers reached toward the plastic bag.

Inside, beneath the cakes, was a small bag of sweet clementines.