The diamond before the fall

*Goodbye, Mommy*

Half an hour later, Troy burst into the room, his face filled with worry. “Heiley, Zoe, I’m so sorry... Let’s go. I’ll take you to the airport.”

Zoe quickly gathered their things, and they rushed out. Everyone felt sorry for her. Heiley’s sobs filled the car; no one dared to say a word.

At the airport, Troy carried their bags while Zoe helped Heiley walk. They boarded a plane to Colombia. Heiley collapsed into her seat, exhausted, as Zoe held her hand. “We’ll be there soon,” Zoe whispered, tears streaming down her face. “We’ll get through this together.”

As they disembarked in Colombia, Heiley’s eyes scanned the crowd, landing on a familiar figure — Uncle Rajeev. His eyes were red, and he opened his arms wide as Heiley fell into them, sobbing. “I’m so sorry, Cutie,” he whispered, holding her tight.

They got into Rajeev’s car and drove to the Baldwin Mansion. When they arrived, Heiley’s eyes widened. The compound was swarming with people, their faces filled with grief.

In the distance, a white casket stood, surrounded by flowers. Heiley’s breath caught. That was her mom, Martha. She stumbled. Zoe and Troy rushed to catch her.

Rajeev’s grip on her shoulder tightened as they made their way through the crowd. “I’m here, Cutie,” he whispered.

Heiley’s father, Harris Baldwin, approached her. His eyes were red from tears. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight. “I’m so sorry, sweetie,” he whispered. “Martha loved you so much.” Heiley buried her face in his chest. “Daddy...” she whispered, her voice barely audible through tears.

The pastor finished the prayer. Heiley held her dad’s hand, her eyes fixed on the casket as it was lowered into the ground. The words _Martha, beloved wife and mother_ echoed in her mind. Her mom. She couldn’t believe she was the one lying inside the casket.

As the earth covered the casket, Heiley’s legs gave out. Her dad caught her. Zoe rushed to her side, holding her tight. “It’s okay, Heiley, we’re here,” she whispered.

The ceremony ended, and the crowd began to disperse, offering condolences. Heiley’s family surrounded her.

Inside the house, Zoe and Troy stuck by her side. The smell of stale coffee and wilted flowers made her stomach churn.

Zoe squeezed her hand. “You doing okay?” she whispered. Heiley shook her head, and Zoe wrapped an arm around her waist.

Her dad’s voice was low beside her. “Dear, we’ll always remember Martha’s smile.” Heiley’s gaze drifted out the window, where the evening sun cast long shadows across the yard. She remembered playing hide-and-seek with her mom in those same shadows.

Suddenly, Heiley buried her face in her hands, her body shaking with sobs. Zoe held her tight, whispering “I’m here, I’m here...” as her dad’s arms enveloped them both.

Weeks went by, and the pain didn’t fade, but Heiley found a new purpose. She sat in her mom’s office, surrounded by her designs, sketches, and the faint scent of her perfume. Zoe had tried to convince her to come back to New York, but Heiley knew this was where she needed to be — with her dad, and her mom’s legacy.

“I’m doing this, Mom,” Heiley whispered, running her fingers over the designs on her mom’s desk. “I’m going to make you proud.”

Her dad poked his head in, a soft smile on his face. “Hey, sweetie. You okay?”

She nodded, a lump in her throat. “Yeah, Dad. I’m gonna be okay.”

The door creaked, and Heiley’s gaze fell on the photo of her mom on the shelf. Memories flooded her mind — laughter, jokes, and late-night design sessions when she was still young. She smiled, a tear rolling down her cheek. “I miss you, Mom,” she whispered.