(From Ashes to Hope) Chapter 9
As they watched in astonishment, I lunged forward like a wild animal breaking through their restraints, and snatched the remaining alcohol from John
s hand.
Before anyone could react, I used all my strength, my arm like a drawn bow
releasing its arrow, and splashed the alcohol directly onto Raina’s hateful face
Raina let out a piercing scream that echoed through the hallway.
The scream was filled with terror and fury. Her rash–covered face was
drenched in alcohol, the rash becoming even more inflamed from the ration
like a mark left by the devil.
John, enraged by this, didn’t hesitate to slap me hard across the face. The
force of the blow sent my head snapping to the side, a searing pain spreading
across my cheek, as if it were on fire. A trickle of blood oozed from the corner of
my mouth.
Panicked, John ordered the bodyguards to rush Raina, whose face was now
covered in alcohol, to the hospital.
His eyes were filled with anxiety and concern, beads of sweat forming om his
forehead, glistening in the dim light.
He didn’t waste a second, following closely behind the bodyguards, his
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hurried footsteps as if chasing time, afraid that any delay would cause Raina
more suffering.
As they rushed downstairs, John turned and ordered one of the bodyguards
to stay behind and guard the door.
The bodyguard stood there like a tower, his posture rigid, his face
expressionless, his cold eyes fixed on me, preventing me from taking a single
step outside.
I was effectively imprisoned.
The dilapidated hallway door creaked loudly as they left, the sound sharp
and desolate, like a lament for my fate.
The moment they disappeared, I collapsed onto the floor like a pupper with
its strings cut, my legs giving way, my body slumping like a boneless frame.
Tears streamed down my face, blurring my vision, my body trembling
uncontrollably, as if unable to find any warmth in the cold air.
I hugged my legs tightly, my arms as if trying to merge them with my body,
like holding onto my deceased daughter.
Each tear was a testament to my longing for Lily and a protest against the
cruelty of fate.
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Before I could fully indulge in my grief, I suddenly remembered the dried
ashes on my face
Every slight movement of my lips as I sobbed tugged at the wounds on my
face, the pain like countless needles pricking my skin, contorting my features
My heart clenched, these ashes were the last remnants of my daughter in
this world, how could I let them be smeared on my face like this?
I endured the pain and crawled to Lily’s un
I reached out carefully, my movements as gentle as if I were touching the
most fragile treasure in the world
Every piece I picked off felt like a final farewell to my daughter.
Lily, I thought, Mommy will keep you safe, I won’t let you get hurt again.
Each particle of ash was like Lily’s eyes, watching me, filled with
dependence and attachment.
I gently placed the removed ashes back into the urn, the urn like Lily’s last
refuge in this world, carrying my hopes and love.
With every piece I removed, the hairs on my face were pulled, the
excruciating pain like ants gnawing at my nerves, making me grimace.
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But I gritted my teeth and told myself I couldn’t stop, this was the last thing I
could do for Lily, I couldn’t give up because of a little pain.
floor.
After I had cleaned all the ashes from my face, I slowly lowered myself to the
I cupped my hands as if holding a life, gently scooping up the scattered ashes
from the ground, each particle light yet heavy in my palms.
Then, I moved extremely slowly towards the urn, my movements as light as
if a gentle breeze could blow me away, and gently opened my hands, letting the
ashes fall slowly into the urn.
I repeated this action over and over again, each repetition an expression of
my love for Lily, silently praying that I could gather her back, whole and
complete.
Only when I could no longer see any ashes on the floor with my naked eye
did I let out a sigh of relief, as if I had completed a momentous mission.
Having focused on retrieving Lily’s ashes, my mind calmed down, and I
noticed the horrifying swelling on my face, where John had slapped me. The
skin was taut and bruised, a mixture of red and purple.
I quickly found my allergy medication and swallowed it, then took large gulps of water, the water flowing down my throat, unable to quench the pain in
my heart.
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Then, I lay on the sofa like a soulless being, clutching Lily’s urn tightly in my
arms, the temperature of the urn like Lily’s warmth.
I cursed the injustice of fate, why did it treat my daughter and me this way,
subjecting us to such suffering?
I don’t know how much time passed, my consciousness began to fade, my
vision blurred, the world enveloped in a hazy fog.
The deathly silence of the room was suddenly broken by the shrill ringing of
my phone.
I fumbled for my phone and saw an unfamiliar number. I didn’t want to
answer, but the ringing persisted, as if it wouldn’t stop until I picked up.
I reluctantly answered the call, my voice hoarse and raspy, like sandpaper
rubbing against glass.
“Hello, who is this?” I asked, surprised by the sound of my own voice.
The person on the other end didn’t seem to mind my voice and said directly,”
Hello, Ms. Evans, this is Officer Lee, I’m calling about the accident last week…”
Eager, I interrupted him before he could finish, “Did you find the vehicle? I
won’t accept a settlement, I want the driver to be severely punished, my daughter
was crossing the street at the crosswalk, they must be held accountable!”
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Officer Lee’s voice was apologetic. “Ms. Evans, I’m very sorry. We haven’t
found the driver, the motorcycle was stolen and abandoned in the reeds by the
river. And because it rained a few days ago, we didn’t find any fingerprints or
other evidence left by the suspect….*
My heart sank. “You didn’t find anything, so what’s the point of this call? Are
you trying to tell me that my daughter was killed for nothing, and I can only
accept my fate?
My emotions surged, tears welling up in my eyes, my voice trembling with
anger and grief, “My daughter was so young, her life had just begun, and it was
taken away by this heartless accident. Can’t you, as police officers, try harder to
investigate? How can you give up so easily?”
Officer Lee quickly reassured me, “Ms. Evans, please calm down. We haven’t
given up on the investigation, but we do have limited leads at the moment. We’ve
expanded our search area, we’re reviewing more security footage from the
surrounding area, and we’re also interviewing nearby residents, hoping to find
new clues. We will do our best to give you an explanation.*
