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His eyes instantly flooded with red at the sight of me clutching our daughter’s ashes.
He stood frozen for a long moment. Incomprehensible words escaped his lips in a low mutter.
Then, he suddenly dropped to his knees beside me.
"Sophie, I... I can help --"
"Go away!"
My roar tore from my throat. Hot tears erupted and poured down my face unchecked.
"Keep your filthy hands off my daughter!"
"Sophie, please, let me..."
His face was contorted with pain. He reached out to carefully scoop handfuls of spilled ashes, ignoring my frantic blows against his shoulders.
"I'm so sorry. I broke the urn. I'm a worthless piece of trash..."
"She was never your daughter!" I spat the words, "Where were you the day she was born?"
"Where were you when she was one month old?"
"When every other child had a father… where was hers?"
"She never got a shred of your love!"
His gaze flickered away, "...I'm sorry."
A bitter sneer twisted my lips as my glare shifted to Claire nearby,
"You only ever had eyes for her, your precious first love."
"You never saw us. Never your wife. Never your daughter."
Cradling the ashes carefully, I moved to place them back inside the small grave. Daniel remained kneeling nearby. His posture radiated pain and gut-wrenching guilt.
My fists clenched so tightly that my knuckles turned white. A desperate and dark urge surged -- to end him right there, then join my sweet girl.
"Just be at the courthouse tomorrow morning. On time." My voice was hollow, "After that… you're free. Go be with your first love."
I turned to leave. He suddenly scrambled up to grab me from behind,
"Forgive me, please! I made a terrible mistake. I swear, I'll do right by you now—"
I tore myself free, "It’s too late. You've already lost me."
"No! You'll always be mine!" He sank back onto the muddy ground.
"Our daughter is gone. And now, I'm setting you free." I looked at him, utterly detached, "Are you happy now?"
"Please, I'm so sorry…" It was the only plea left to him.
"Now," I pointed towards Claire, "take her and get the hell away from my daughter. GO!"
He staggered to his feet. For a long moment, his burning gaze held mine, "I'll find a way to make this right."
Claire came to me then, trembling with exaggerated fear, "I... I'm so sorry. I never knew you were married. As for your daughter... I feel really sorry..."
However, I caught a flicker of satisfaction, maybe even triumph in her eyes.
"Don’t you want this man?" My laugh was brittle, "He's all yours. I don't want him anymore."
"I hope," I added, "that when you have a child, he doesn't do this to you."
Claire's carefully crafted sorrow faltered. Her lips thinned.
She stayed silent, projecting wounded dignity while stealing another anxious glance at Daniel.
"Leave her out of this! This is between us!" Daniel snarled, instantly stepping protectively in front of Claire.
"Exactly. Now leave." My voice was dead, "Both of you."
Without hesitation, his hand found Claire's. Their fingers intertwined. He walked away, leading her with him.
"Mommy is so sorry, sweetie..." Holding my daughter's small urn, I sank down beside the ruined grave.
Something sharp lodged itself in my chest. I couldn't breathe.
