The wail was filled with raw emotion, as if years of pent - up grief had finally burst free.
It was Ethan,kneeling at Emily’s grave,eyes red,a devout pilgrim.
How laughable.I’d tried contacting him for days,all to no avail.

Close by, Margaret’s urn lay there, silent and still.
And he was mourning Emily.
Sensing my gaze,his face hardened.
He stormed over,grabbing my shoulders,roaring,“How long are you going to keep following me?”
“Sarah,leave me alone!How dare you disturb Emily’s peace!”
Rage surged.I slapped him hard.

“Come to your senses!Your mom died,and you’re crying here?She’s about to be buried,and you’re still crying for Emily?”
“Is Emily the only thing you can think about?”
Ethan froze,touching his cheek i’d slapped,silent.
Following my gaze,he saw the urn.

Confusion flickered,then turned to fury.
“You brought that urn to make me feel guilty,didn’t you?After killing Emily and now you’re gloating?”
I was losing it,unable to reason with him.
“That pond’s so small—no body ever showed up.How could you think I killed her?”
“Your Emily might not even be dead,but your mom is.And you are the one responsible.She could’ve been saved,but you chose your maybe-dead first love!”
Silence fell.
Ethan’s eyes softened,as if he believed me.
But then he snatched the urn,manic.
“You’re still lying!”
“I’m a doctor.I know Mom’s relapse was highly unlikely.You and she were trying to trick me!”
Seeing him raise the urn,I lunged.“That’s her ashes,Ethan!I’m not lying.”
“If you break it,you’ll regret it.”
He sneered.
I understood his smile when he smashed the urn to the ground.I tried to dive and catch it, but I was too late.
Ashes scattered as it hit,my knees scraping bloody.
His cold voice loomed.“What are you playing at?You think I’ll believe you?”
“Sarah,even if you die right now,I won’t trust a single word you say.”
Biting my lip,I scooped ashes back into the urn.
He tsked,kicking it farther.
More ashes spilled,the urn dented and broken.
Pain and grief paralyzed me.
He took my stillness for guilt.
“What,is this flour?Nice try at acting.”
“You hid this talent when we married.”
His phone rang.
Glancing at me,he answered,the call loud enough for me to hear.
“Dr.Harper,I’m calling regarding your mother’s estate. According to her will, everything is left to Ms. Bennett.”
“We need your confirmation.”
Ethan gripped the phone,irritated.“Stop this ridiculous act. Do you think it’s funny to play games with me?”
The lawyer’s voice was flat.“No one’s fooling you.Your mother’s burial is today.We’re following her wishes.”
Ethan hung up,storming to the urn,pinching some ash.
Ashes are nothing like flour; the difference was obvious.
His irritation faded,replaced by shock and pain.
He’d never seen Emily’s body.
But his mother’s ashes were real.
Ethan wasn’t stupid.
He knew what it meant.
He collapsed,staring at me,stammering,“These are really mom’s ashes?”
“She’s really dead?”