The Year I Stopped Being His novel Chapter 197

"Mom!" Sloane's lips trembled, her voice as light as air.

"Mom's here." Her mother's voice seemed to drift from far away, yet felt right next to her ear. Her fingers brushed against Sloane's cheek, gently wiping away the frozen tears. "Does it hurt?"

Sloane wanted to tell her it hurt, that it hurt so much, that she couldn't hold on anymore. But she simply shook her head as tears streamed endlessly down her face.

"Mom knows it hurts."

Her mother pulled Sloane into a warm embrace, just like when she was a little girl, letting her rest her head on her shoulder. The cream-colored cardigan felt incredibly soft against her cheek, radiating a deep, soothing warmth. Her mother gently patted her back in a slow, rhythmic motion, exactly how she used to coax her to sleep.

"Sleep, Sloane. Mom is right here."

Sloane closed her eyes.

The headache was still there, but it felt muffled, as if separated by a protective barrier, losing its piercing edge. Her mother's body heat cocooned her like a fragile, comforting shell. Her breathing gradually deepened, and her grip loosened as her fingers rested softly on her mother's arm.

"Mom, where have you been all these years... Why didn't you come looking for me... I waited for you for so long... I missed you so much..." Her voice steadily dropped to a soft, lingering whisper.

"It's Mom's fault."

Her mother's voice was impossibly gentle, like a warm spring breeze melting the snow. "Mom missed you too. Go to sleep, my sweet girl... Everything will be okay when you wake up."

"But... but I don't want to wake up... If I wake up... I won't ever see you again... will I?"

"Silly girl, Mom will always be right here with you. I'm not going anywhere..."

*

Meanwhile, on the shores of The White Lake.

The gunfire outside the cabin finally ceased. Garrison Foster zipped up his heavy parka, adjusted his gear, and tightened his fists before stepping out of the helicopter.

Three bodies lay sprawled across the ice in twisted heaps, their blood already frozen into jagged, black-red slush.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify