Chapter 2: A Daughter's Final Promise
The hospital executive quietly escorted both women into a private consultation room.
Outside, employees whispered among themselves.
Inside...
No one knew how to begin.
Emma carefully unclasped the broken chain and placed the damaged locket onto the table.
"My grandmother raised me."
She smiled sadly.
"She wasn't actually my grandmother."
Eleanor slowly lifted her eyes.
"What?"
"Mrs. Margaret Carter."
Emma's voice remained calm.
"She found my mother after we were evicted from our apartment."
Eleanor felt another piece of herself crumble.
Emma continued.
"My mother became very sick."
"She worked three jobs."
"She never spoke badly about anyone."
"Especially not about you."
The old woman looked stunned.
"She... didn't hate me?"
Emma slowly shook her head.
"She said hatred becomes another prison."
A tear slipped down Eleanor's cheek.
"My mother died when I was twelve."
The room became painfully quiet.
"Before she passed away, she gave me this locket."
Emma gently touched the silver frame.
"She told me..."
"If you ever meet your grandmother..."
Emma swallowed.
"...tell her I remembered every birthday."
Eleanor completely broke.
Every birthday.
Victoria had remembered every birthday despite being abandoned.
Despite never receiving a single phone call.
Despite raising a daughter alone.
The old woman bent forward in her wheelchair as silent sobs overtook her.
"I waited..."
she whispered.
"I kept believing she would come back."
Emma looked at her gently.
"My mother waited too."
"But she waited for you."
May you like
Neither woman spoke again.
There were no words capable of carrying that much regret.
