Mom, Dad’s Getting Married Today. My Anniversary Call From The Future Chapter 08

Mom, Dad’s Getting Married Today. My Anniversary Call From The Future Chapter 08

The green light from the monitors cast a thin layer across their faces, like moss.

I reached over to tuck my mother’s blanket.

The moment my fingertips brushed the back of her hand, something inside me gave way.

I collapsed against the edge of her bed, burying my face in my arms.

My shoulders shook, but I didn’t make a sound.

My mother had always been terrified of hospitals.

When I was little, I had a fever of 104.

She carried me on her back all the way to the hospital-and passed out halfway there herself.

Later, every time I tried to get her to go for a checkup, it was like pulling teeth.

And now she’d ended up in surgery.

I lifted my head and looked at my father.

His right hand had finally relaxed.

His fingers lay flat on the sheet, nails trimmed neatly.

That was his one stubborn habit-every Sunday morning, without fail, he cut his nails.

My mother always said his OCD only ever showed up when it came to his nails.

I reached over and gently hooked my pinky around his.

Just like when I was little and he held my hand crossing the street.

“Dad… Mom… I’m sorry.”

My voice was shot. Guilt was swallowing me whole.

The monitors beeped.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, over and over, not giving me a second to breathe.

I didn’t look. I didn’t want to know.

I’d seen Rory’s face one last time when they took him.

That look would stay with me forever.

A nurse came in to check on us.

She saw me hunched over the bed and quietly suggested I rest in the next room.

I gave her a grateful smile, but shook my head.

“I’m fine. I’ll stay.”

She sighed and pulled out a reclining chair for me.

I didn’t lie down.

I just sat there, holding my mother’s hand in one of mine and my father’s pinky with the other.

Outside, the sky was starting to lighten.

Morning crept through the blinds, painting stripes of light across my parents’ faces.

The sun rose fully.

I looked at my phone.

Trending had exploded.

#Congrats Maren Freedom

#Women Supporting Women.

#Karma Hit The Cheater And His Mistress

#Protect Privacy, Say No To Online Bullying

More followed.

The accounts that had doxxed my parents were shut down.

The agency behind the smear campaign was under investigation.

Everyone who’d bullied me in the stream-who’d joined the mob-was being exposed.

Some were still students. Others had jobs.

Now they were all posting public apologies, begging me not to press charges.

And Gemma. And Rory’s friends.

Their comments were being pulled up and cross-examined.

The comment section had flipped overnight-the hate had turned back on them. Their reputations were in

ruins, and people were going after them even harder out of sympathy for me.

I scrolled twice, then turned the screen off.

I put the phone back in my pocket.

All that noise felt far away. Like muffled voices through thick glass.

I pulled my mother’s blanket up.

I looked at my father.

They were both still asleep. Breathing steady. Faces peaceful.

The sunlight crept slowly across the room, finally reaching the edge of their pillows.

At some point, I drifted off.

In my dream, I was somewhere strange and familiar at the same time.

“Mom!”

A girl’s voice, bright and clear. I spun around.

A girl with a ponytail-who looked about seventy percent like me-ran toward me in her school uniform.

She threw herself into my arms.

I was still confused, but she was already crying, holding me tight, calling me over and over.

“Mom. Mom, I missed you so much. Mom, I’m so glad you’re okay…”

I felt the warmth of her in my arms.

My eyes stung. A wave of ache rose from somewhere deep inside.

I didn’t know her-but my heart already knew the answer.

“Ruby.”

“Are you my Ruby?”

She nodded hard, her voice bright and clear.