They matched perfectly.
The bride’s heart stopped.
She looked at the girl. Then at her fiancé. Then at the older woman, whose face was now pale as death.
No one spoke.
The fiancé took a step forward.
“This is nonsense. She’s just a confused child.”
The little girl flinched.
The bride didn’t move. She just kept staring at the locket halves in her hands.
“Who is your mom?” she whispered.
The girl wiped her nose with her sleeve.
“She’s gone.”
“Gone where?”
The child looked up with eyes far too old for her face.
“He made her disappear.”
The fiancé’s jaw tightened.
“That’s a lie.”
But the older woman suddenly turned and walked toward the exit.
The bride saw her.
“Mother? Where are you going?”
The older woman didn’t answer. She just kept walking. Faster. Almost running.
The fiancé reached for the bride’s arm.
“Don’t listen to this. We can fix this.”
The bride pulled away.
She looked down at the little girl.
“How did you find me?”
The child pointed at the fiancé.
“He kept a picture. My mom had the same one.”
The bride’s hands began to shake.
She looked at the man she was about to marry. He looked back at her. But for the first time, she didn’t recognize him.
The little girl whispered again.
