When He Finally Believed Me

When my ex-husband, Hanson Rowse, got remarried, I jumped into the ocean with our ten-year-old daughter, Tess Rowse, in my arms.

The police called Hanson and my parents. The wedding reception was cut short, and they all rushed over.

My soul hung in the air above it all, watching as Tess was pulled from the water. The sight of her hit like a blade to the chest.

At the hospital, my parents looked at her with nothing but cold indifference.

My brother, Edward Wells, didn't hesitate. He stepped forward and slapped her hard across the face.

"You're just like your mother! Always causing trouble and pulling cheap stunts like this just to get attention."

Hanson's fists clenched. He scanned the area, and when he couldn't see me anywhere, anger spilled into his eyes.

"Where's Melody? She picked my wedding day to pull this stunt, and now she won't even show her face? If she really wanted to die, why leave behind this burden?"

At his words, Tess suddenly moved.

She stumbled toward the window, climbed up, and before anyone could react, she jumped.

The room went dead silent for a heartbeat. Then, the screaming started.

What they didn't know was this: the first thing Tess and I learned at that reform school was obedience.

My daughter Tess Rowse's small body hit the ground from the third floor. I thought that finally, we would be together again.

But they rushed her to the hospital, and the heart monitor that had nearly flatlined flickered back to life.

"This is how you watch a child? You just stood there and let her jump?"

Amelia Shortle, the officer in charge, looked furious as she questioned the group.

My parents' faces turned stiff and ugly. My brother, Edward Wells, ran a hand through his hair, irritated.

"How was I supposed to know she'd suddenly lose it and jump? She learned that from her mom. Always making a scene over nothing."

He looked like he had more to say, but my ex-husband, Hanson Rowse, cut him off.

"She's awake."

I rushed to Tess's side, watching her look around, dazed and small, her eyes searching. I knew she was looking for me. My chest tightened as I reached out and brushed her hair.

Hanson frowned as he studied her face, now starting to grow into its features. He lifted a hand like he was about to help her up, then stopped himself and pulled back.

"Where's your mom?" he asked, his voice cold.

"Mommy's sleeping. I need to go find her…" Her voice shook as she yanked out the tubes and tried to climb out of bed.

My chest ached. I tried to hold her, but my arms passed right through her.

Silly girl. I was dead.

I hated myself for being so useless. I couldn't even take her with me.

Edward let out a cold laugh. "Your mom took you and sneaked out of that reform school. Did she ditch you to go sleep around?"

The moment he mentioned the reform school, Tess's eyes filled with fear.

She scrambled out of bed and groveled in front of him, her words coming out broken and slurred.

"I'm sorry… I'll be good… I promise… Please… Please don't send me back…"

Hanson and the others froze, not knowing how to react.

I felt like my heart was being torn apart. I lunged forward, trying to hold her, but I could only pass through her again and again.

Tess broke down, sobbing uncontrollably, her whole body shaking as she grew more and more agitated.

Amelia was the first to snap out of it. She rushed forward, pulled Tess up, and held her close, trying to calm her down.

Edward scoffed. "Didn't expect a kid to act even better than her mom."

"Mr. Rowse, no matter what, she's still your daughter," Amelia said sharply.

"She's not." Edward snorted from the side. "She's not his. Melody had that trash with some random guy. Who knows where she came from?"

My parents' faces twisted with humiliation.

Hanson's hand tightened into a fist. The hand that had almost reached for Tess slowly dropped as his expression turned completely cold.

Even now, he still believed I had betrayed him.

To him, I was nothing, and Tess was something dirty I left behind.

The ache in my chest wouldn't stop.

Tears slipped down, soundless, vanishing into the air before they could ever fall.