My Son Died

chapter 4

Judy was ashamed and tried to leave, but Ace's parents grabbed her.

"It's all your fault, s**t!' You seduced my son and killed my grandson!"

They slapped her, Ace trying to touch the urn but pulling back as if shocked.

"Ah, Ace, save me... "

Judy howled, praying for Ace to save her.

I watched this farce from the sidelines.

I wasn't happy. Steven was dead.

Ace tries to move but stops when he hears me.

"Ace, who will save my Steven?"

"Do you know, Steven cried out for us, my heart hurts until he died. In the last hour, the doctors couldn't bear to hear Steven's words of supplication. You had already finished the research a long time ago, but Steven was put off and died forever."

Judy was fainted and someone called the police.

Judy was the family's favorite adopted daughter, but she was hooking up with Ace, and I was just his excuse, and Swain died for their affair.

I left this place, holding the urn.

A birthday feast ended sadly.

Returning to the home where I had lived for nearly a decade, I went into Swain's room without looking back.

There are the little clothes I made for him when he was just one year old, and the new toys I always give him for his birthday every year.

He liked geography books best and dreamed of traveling around the world in his little head.

I touched every inch of the land Steven had lived on, held the urn and cried.

Steven, it's Mom's fault.

I should have gone with Ace that morning.

I picked up Steven's clothes and packed them with two suitcases.

That's all Steven had.

I put down the divorce papers.

I don’t want to see this murderer again.

I was going to take Steven and fulfil his dream.

Just after the plane landed, I got a call from Ace.

"Hayley, where are you?"

"We're getting a divorce." I answered.

"Hayley, please come back."

"Do you want me to forgive you?" I asked calmly.

"Yes, I'll treat you well, and I'll never do anything like this again."

I sneered, "Ace, that's so kind of you to say, but who will forgive me for my poor Steven?"

I hung up on Ace.

I regret marrying him.

I regret not seeing his relationship with Judy through.

Ace and I got divorced.

He changed part of the divorce settlement, and I didn't care how much money he gave me because I had lost Steven.

What was the point of more money?

I travelled with Steven's urn.

Steven would say, "Mummy, I want to climb the highest mountain."

"I want to see the outside world."

I touched Steven's clothes and said, "Mummy will take you to the places you want to go and see."

I took Steven’s photos and box with me as I climbed mountains and crossed seas.

I left Steven’s footprints everywhere.

From icebergs to deserts, glaciers to sand dunes.

Sometimes for a month, sometimes for six months, sometimes for two or three years.

Sometimes I told a fairy tale twice because Steven liked it.

For the children I met on the road and Steven.

The children smiled like Steven. It was like being at home with him.

The children asked where I came from and where I was going.

Some asked if I had seen new things.

They looked at me as a tourist in a foreign land.

I smiled and told them about the sights I had seen.

They listened carefully.

It was quiet and beautiful.

I stayed a long time.

The kids knew where I lived and I was happy to stay.

I told the kids about my life. They asked questions and I answered.

Some kids wanted to know about my job, while others were curious about Steven.

"Why didn't Steven come with you?"

I stroked the child, who was half Steven's age.

"He is already with me."

I took Steven around the world for five years.

The ocean was Steven's favourite place.

I sprinkled Steven's ashes into the sea.

And piece by piece, my heart left with Steven.