Three years ago, my daughter went missing when I took her to the amusement park. My husband Daniel never recovered from the blow. To find Mina, I quit my job and drained our savings. But Mina never surfaced. Overwhelmed by guilt, I sank into a deep depression. The day I jumped from the bridge, ready to end it all, I saw Daniel and his first love. They walked past me, holding Mina’s hand, all of them smiling. When the New Year’s bells rang out, my body was already drifting in the cold current. At that very moment, the girl I had searched for over three years was setting off fireworks by the river. The winter wind stung Sarah’s cheeks. Daniel unwrapped his scarf and drew her into his embrace. He warmed her hands in his, a soft smile on his lips. “The fireworks are perfect this year. If only we could stop time right here.” Sarah lowered her gaze, then slowly laced her fingers with his. “It’s like a dream. Daniel, I never thought we’d be together again…that you’d give up so much for me. I didn’t mean to hide Mina that day. I only wanted to frighten Eliza. I was just…so jealous. Jealous she could be with you. Jealous you had such a perfect daughter.” Daniel’s expression deepened with tenderness. He kissed her forehead and vowed. “No one will ever hurt you again. I may not be able to marry you, but I’ll build you a home. Mina is your daughter. Nothing will ever come between us!” Mina rushed willingly into Sarah’s arms, begging to stay with her forever. A picture of a happy family of three. And I, a ghost forgotten by all, could only watch from the shadows, weeping without a sound. Three years ago, it happened by this same river. I lost Mina because of a call from Daniel. The surveillance footage showed Sarah, Daniel’s first love, was the last person seen with her. Every time I tried to find Sarah and demand the truth, Daniel stopped me. No matter how desperately I pleaded on my knees, he would only shout back at me, furious. “Yes, I loved Sarah once, but that’s in the past! You can’t pin your own failure on her just to avoid blame!” Daniel’s blame only drove my guilt deeper. To find Mina, I quit my job and searched without end. For three years, I crossed half the country and knelt in a hundred churches. I left each time with hope. I returned each time with nothing. The neighbors’ whispers ate at me. My family’s condemnation left me no place to hide. I punished myself, over and over, in penance. Finally, crushed by the weight, I chose death. But now, rushing towards death, I realized Mina’s disappearance wasn’t my fault. Mina wasn’t lost. Daniel had hidden her. My long-dead heart twisted violently. Tears nearly drowned my parched soul. Just as they were lost in their future, a phone call shattered the moment.
My mother-in-law’s sharp voice came through the phone, carrying an almost visceral disgust. “Where’s Eliza? Hiding somewhere? Today is the anniversary of Mina’s disappearance. Oh, Daniel, you’re so brilliant, how did you end up marrying a woman like that…” The familiar accusations stirred distant memories. Years ago, Sarah left Daniel, who came from a humble family, to go abroad. Daniel was devastated, heartbroken for a long time. He even gave up a guaranteed university admission, his only chance to turn his life around. I tried everything to help Daniel get back on his feet, even begging my parents to help him with his career. Back then, my mother-in-law always called me the family’s lucky star, her perfect daughter-in-law for life. But later, Daniel showed his exceptional detective skills, and his career skyrocketed. My mother-in-law’s attitude towards me subtly changed. After Mina disappeared, that subtle malice morphed into deep disgust. Every time we met, it was either verbal abuse or she would get physical with me. For years, Daniel was always mediating between us. I once thought it was his love for me. Now I know it was just a debt of conscience. The incessant accusations made Daniel rub his temples, a headache forming. He glanced at Mina, then instinctively tightened his grip on Sarah’s hand. “Mom, Mina is just missing, don’t say such things. You can’t blame Eliza entirely for what happened back then. She’s been through a lot these past few years, so please, just stop talking.” Seeing Daniel’s half-hearted defense, I couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh. Even at this point, Daniel would rather let his own daughter be considered “dead.” And his wife bear all the blame. He still wouldn’t reveal the truth or expose Sarah. First love runs deep. His favoritism and protection of Sarah truly knew no bounds. I took a deep breath, trying not to look into his eyes. But some unseen force still compelled me to follow Daniel. The night grew darker. My body had already drifted downstream along the river. Daniel, however, didn’t notice the strangeness behind him. His heart was solely focused on Sarah. Afraid she’d catch a cold from the wind, he voluntarily took her home. Back then, Sarah had gotten into trouble abroad and was deported back home. With a dejected expression, she pleaded with Daniel for help, asking for a place to stay. Facing my objections, Daniel didn’t immediately agree. I never imagined Sarah would hold a grudge and abduct my daughter. Even less did I expect Daniel to help her conceal her crime. Looking back, I had given up almost everything to find Mina. I lost my job and my family fell apart. Missing person ads and search teams each cost me greatly. For this, I mortgaged my parents’ house and sold all my jewelry. Daniel knew the truth and my suffering. Yet when I needed help most, he used our joint assets to buy this villa for Sarah. Then with Mina, he lived here openly with his first love.
I looked around at the exquisite decorations and meticulous furnishings. Every detail was Daniel’s work, proof of his devotion. This man, who at home would drag his feet over changing a lightbulb, had done all this for Sarah. Love and its absence were painfully clear. I stifled my heartache and held back my tears. Then Mina looked up at Daniel, blinking her innocent eyes. “Daddy,” she asked naively, “when are you going to marry Sarah?” “I want her to be my mommy.” Her innocent words pierced my heart like knives. Daniel froze for a moment. He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he turned to Sarah, his expression helpless. “I’m sorry, Sarah.Being with me has brought you only pain” “You’re so wonderful, yet I can’t give you the title you deserve.” Sarah leaned into Daniel’s embrace, slowly lowering her head. “Being with you is enough for me.” “It’s just… my own suffering doesn’t matter.” “I just worry about our child being wronged.” She took Daniel’s hand and guided it to her stomach. “You don’t know how long I’ve waited for this child.” That faint flutter instantly made Daniel’s eyes light up. But before he could speak, his joy was interrupted by an urgent work call. Daniel, always meticulous in his work, never one to be careless. This time, however, he hung up four or five times for Sarah’s sake. Only when he had no other choice did he reluctantly answer. “What is it? Didn’t I say not to bother me when I’m resting!” The other person’s voice was especially urgent. “Daniel, it’s bad news.” “A female body was found downstream. The forensic pathologist’s initial diagnosis indicates the time of death as tonight.” “Command says the timing is sensitive, and to prevent unnecessary panic, they need you at the scene immediately for investigation.” Daniel frowned, saying somewhat reluctantly. “Something came up at home, I can’t go.” Mike’s voice grew more urgent. “Daniel, this is a major case, a matter of life and death!” Daniel’s frown deepened. He seemed to be thinking of a suitable excuse to put them off. But I let out a bitter laugh. Before I died, I had one last struggle. I called Daniel countless times, begging him to come home and stay with me. Begging him to help me search for Mina again. Begging him to just glance at me. But each time, he cruelly hung up. He just told me: “Eliza, you created this mess, now you deal with it.” “Even if you die, don’t cause me any more trouble!” As he wished, I truly died. The ironic thing was, even in death, I couldn’t get him to turn and look at me. Years of effort, years of affection. In the end, it was all so pathetic. Now, a lonely ghost, I could only watch him and Sarah kiss and intertwine. Watching him leave, looking back over his shoulder repeatedly, full of reluctance. And at that moment, by the turbulent river. That bloated and disfigured body, just like that, came into everyone’s view.
A night of washing and compression. Had made the once somewhat delicate face grotesquely disfigured, unrecognizable. Daniel, upon arriving at the scene, instinctively frowned. Then he began his methodical investigation. “No extra footprints at the scene, preliminarily ruling out homicide.” “Multiple wounds on the deceased’s arms, possibly self-inflicted.” “In conclusion, suicide is highly probable.” “The final conclusion will depend on the forensic pathologist’s autopsy report.” At this, Daniel couldn’t help but sigh. “It’s almost a new year.” “What could have driven someone to take their own life at such a time?” His teammate, Mike, also expressed regret. “Yeah, and no family around.” “Such a shame, so young.” “But Daniel, I remember your home is nearby; why did you drive here from the south? Were you spending New Year’s Eve with Eliza, or did you go somewhere else?” Daniel froze, unsure how to answer. He instinctively looked up at the nearby neighborhood. At what used to be our home. Among the myriad lights of homes, the one belonging to him and me never lit up. He opened his mouth but no sound came out. He just turned back, gave Mike a faint glance, and continued methodically with his work. While examining the wrist, Daniel’s gaze briefly lingered on the diamond ring. But in the end, he didn’t recognize me. Then again, Daniel was busy. Busy with work, busy covering up lies for Sarah. How could he remember any details related to me? I was the one who proposed, I bought the ring, I arranged everything in the house. The one who gives the most is always the easiest to overlook. I poured my life’s efforts into this family. In the end, I not only lost my daughter and my love. But also my own life. I sighed softly. When I looked up again, I saw Sarah standing by the roadside, waving at Daniel. Daniel, who usually complained I disturbed his work even when I brought him food. Now ran to Sarah with a face full of pleasant surprise. He turned sideways, shielding her from view, his eyes full of uncontrollable mirth. “What are you doing here in this cold weather?” Sarah smiled as she tied a scarf around Daniel, saying gently. “It’s too late, I was worried about you.” “I made you a cake, remember to eat it when you’re done.” Daniel sighed, a blend of tenderness and helplessness. “You really shouldn’t be here, it’s so… unsettling.” “What if it frightens you or the baby?” Unsettling. He wasn’t afraid of people finding out about Sarah. He wasn’t afraid of hurting me if I knew. The only thing he feared was my corpse staining Sarah’s sight. Tears fell without a sound. By then, Daniel had already led Sarah to a bench nearby and helped her sit. It was as if they weren’t at a crime scene, but had returned to their school days together. The two chatted idly, leaving my body to lie there, all alone. Sarah was the first to speak. “Daniel, I still want a proper status for the child in my belly.” “You’ve seen it yourself, Mina has always been closer to me these past years; I’m confident I can be a good mother.” She eagerly took Daniel’s hand. Her gaze now tinged with a hint of pleading. Daniel was silent for a long time, seemingly reluctant and troubled. “Sarah, you don’t understand.” “Eliza and I have a very complicated relationship.” “Although you’re the one I’ve loved all these years, I… I really can’t divorce her.” “Eliza, Eliza has done so much for me.” The hazy light cast shadows on Daniel’s face. I couldn’t see his expression, but I could understand the grievance and helplessness in his words. All these years, I had been deceiving myself. I believed if I loved him enough, if I was good enough, he would forget Sarah and truly be with me. But the truth was, the ghost of a perfect first love could never be vanquished. I was only ever the convenient Mrs. Daniel. He was grateful for my support, yet resented me for keeping him from his true love. Bound by his career, he couldn’t divorce me, and turned his guilt toward Sarah into a quiet hatred for me. Remembering the distance in Mina’s eyes. Remembering Daniel’s years of weary indifference. I saw, then, how truly pathetic my life had been. I sacrificed my entire life for a family that wasn’t truly mine. I gave my life in vain for someone who didn’t love me. Wind blew, leaves fell, the earth was desolate. For some reason, Daniel’s voice grew somewhat forlorn. He held Sarah’s hand, gently promising. “Don’t worry, I won’t let you or the baby suffer.” “Cars, houses, everything you want, except that one piece of paper – I can give it all to you.” “Sarah, you have to believe, you’re the only one I’ll ever love.” Sarah still smiled, but her smile held an indescribable meaning. “Aren’t you afraid Eliza will find out about Mina?” Daniel froze for a moment, then gently shook his head. “You don’t understand.” “Eliza loves me deeply, and she can’t live without me.” “Even if she knew the truth, she wouldn’t have the heart to blame me.” “I’ve thought it all through. Next month is her birthday; I’ll bring Mina back.” “With our daughter by her side, she won’t have the energy to bother with our affairs.” “By then, I can properly be with you and the baby.” Perhaps it was a flicker of leftover guilt. Or something else. Daniel finally remembered me. But it was far too late. Daniel, I would not wait for your return, or for your confession. A long-silent ringtone sounded from my broken body when his call connected.
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