"Sir. Carter?” He said. “Do you know Mrs. Carter?”
Mark swallowed.
“She’s my wife.
The room became completely silent.
I looked at him.
Then I looked at Stefan.
Then back to Mark.
My mind struggled to make sense of what I was seeing.
The woman came into the room.
He looked at Mark.
Then she looked at me.
And something changed in his expression.
His eyes opened.
She whispered, “Oh, my God.”
I could barely hear myself talking.
“Mark... what are you doing here?”
He did not answer.
Instead, he looked towards Stefan.
The boy was perfectly sitting in the chair.
I wasn't scared anymore.
He was watching his father.
His father.
The words resounded inside my head.
I turned to Stefan.
“Is that your father?”
Stefan nodded.
“Yes.
My heart started beating.
“What’s your name?”
The boy seemed confused by the question.
“Mark.
I felt something inside me break.
I turned to my husband.
“You told me our son died.”
Mark closed his eyes.
The woman next to him was out of breath.
The director looked between us.
“I’m sorry,” he said slowly. “I think there’s been some kind of misunderstanding.”
“No.
My voice came out sharper than I expected.
“There hasn’t been a misunderstanding.”
I pointed to Stefan.
“That boy looks exactly like my son.”
Mark finally spoke.
“Emma...”
I hadn't heard him say that in years my name.
Not in fear.
Not with guilt.
With desperation.
“Don’t do it,” I whispered.
He took a step towards me.
I took a step back.
“Don’t come near me.”
Cole suddenly grabbed my hand.
“Mom?”
I looked down on it.
His face was bruised by the fight.
