Chapter 3: Accidental Fall
554 Words
Two days later, Aria sat in a small interview room at the police station. The walls felt cold and tightened around her and the air was too still.
Just then Detective Hayes entered with a thin file in his hand.
“Miss Dawson,” he greeted gently, taking a seat across from her. “Thank you for coming.”
Aria nodded weakly. Her hands trembled on her lap.
The detective opened the file. “Okay I'll get straight to it. We received the medical examiner’s findings"
Aria held her breath for a second as if she didn't want to hear what he would say next.
“Your mother had a mild heart condition right?”
Aria nodded "Yes"
He continued. “The report shows she likely suffered a sudden dizzy spell or cardiac episode near the window… and fell"
Aria’s eyes watered instantly. “So... it wasn’t suicide?” she whispered.
He shook his head firmly. “No. There’s no sign of self-harm or foul play. It’s being ruled as an accidental fall caused by a medical episode”
Aria pressed her shaking hand to her mouth, with a silent sob escaping.
Detective Hayes closed the file softly. “I’m sorry for your loss. The case is officially closed. If you need the full report later, it’s available right here”
She only nodded, unable to speak. She knew she wasn't ready to collect the full report simply because she didn't want to read about what killed her mom over and over again and hurt herself more.
He stood. “Take care of yourself, Miss Dawson.”
Detectives Hayes said this before Aria gently walked out.
Aria left the station with blurred vision, the detective’s words kept echoing in her head.
Accidental fall.
A medical episode.
Her mother didn’t mean to leave her.
The fact that she didn't commit suicide made her relieved, but she couldn't stop thinking if she and her mom were not been stingy with their money or if she had worked harder to pay for her mom surgery maybe all this wouldn't have happened. She blamed herself. It's all her fault.
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The next day, her mom's funeral was held, the only saved money from her part-time jobs was used to buy a coffin and a space in the mortuary
Only a few people were in attendance, all dressed in black. Most of them were her neighbours. Her mom didn't have any family, Aria's parents divorced when she was still a baby, she always told her after the divorce her dad abandoned her, never called to ask about the baby.
Moments after Mrs Dawson was buried, and after comforting Aria, everyone left, leaving her with Rowan, his arm was on her shoulder as she stared at her mom's fresh burial ground.
Rowan knew the kind of pain she was feeling, she had stopped crying the day before and suddenly stopped talking as well.
Suddenly a man walked towards them wearing a black suit he bent down towards Mrs Dawson's burial ground and placed a bouquet of flowers on it.
Rowan and Aria could not see his face clearly only the sideview.
The man stood up and turned to face them.
Aria was shocked to see his face, she recognized him from the pictures her mom used to show her.
"Dad...?"
- Writer
