Ann was laughing. Munching on an apple while watching her mum slice fruits for her father. She was seated on a long wooden bench beneath a wide mango tree, its leaves dancing gently in the warm breeze. The air smelled of home, fresh earth, ripe fruit, safety. Her mother sat beside her, smiling softly, her hands wielding the small knife perfectly. "You look thinner," Mrs. Fredericks said gently, reaching out to touch Ann's cheek. "Are you eating properly?" Ann laughed again. "Mama, you're still worrying about me?" Her father chuckled from across the table, adjusting his glasses. "A mother never stops worrying. Even when her children grow old and stubborn." Ann turned, her heart swelling. "Daddy…" Before emotion could overwhelm her, a familiar giggle rang out. "Mummy!" Davis ran toward her, his tiny legs moving fast, his laughter bright and pure. He crashed into her arms, wrapping them around her neck. "I missed you," Ann whispered, burying her face in his curls. "I missed you so much."
"I'm here now," Davis said happily, pulling away. "Come and play with me!" He jumped down and ran off, his laughter echoing as he chased a butterfly across the grass.
Ann stood to follow him, smiling, until she noticed the ground beneath his feet changing. "Davis?" she called. The grass thinned. The earth darkened. Davis stopped suddenly, looking down. "Mummy?" His voice trembled. "I can't" The ground gave way. "No!" Ann screamed. Davis fell. "Mummy! Help me! Save me!" Ann ran. Her heart pounded violently as she reached the edge of a deep, dark well that had not been there moments before. She dropped to her knees, peering into the darkness. "Davis!" she screamed. "Hold on! I'm here!" "Mummy, I'm scared!" his voice echoed from below. "Please!" "I'm coming, my baby!" Ann cried, reaching into the well. But her arms weren't long enough. She leaned further. "I'm so sorry!" she sobbed. "I should have protected you! I should have"Her foot slipped and Ann jolted awake. "DAVIS!". Her scream tore through the room as she shot upright in bed, her body drenched in sweat, her heart hammering violently against her chest. "Davis! Davis!" She gasped for air, clutching her chest as tears flooded her eyes. It was a dream. Just a dream. Her breath hitched as reality crashed down on her like a tidal wave.
Her son was gone. "Oh God…" she whispered, breaking. "I'm so sorry, my baby," Ann cried, her voice raw. "I'm so sorry, Davis. I should have protected you. I shouldn't have allowed them to do this to you." Her sobs grew louder, uncontrollable, ripping through her chest like sharp blades. "I failed you," she whispered. "I failed you as a mother."
She wrapped her arms around herself, rocking slightly as memories assaulted her, Davis's laughter, his tiny hands, the way he used to call her mummy in his sleep. The pain was unbearable. "This world is cruel," she whispered hoarsely. "So cruel." Her sobbing slowed only when exhaustion took over. Her breathing became uneven as she looked around the room, her vision blurred by tears. White walls. A single window. A neatly made bed. The smell of disinfectant.
Ann swallowed hard. "I'm in the hospital," she murmured. No. Not just any hospital.
A private ward. A mental home. She closed her eyes briefly. "I'm not mad," she said aloud, her voice steady despite the tears. "I know I'm not." She stared at the ceiling.
"But if this is where I need to be to survive… then I'll stay." Her jaw tightened. "And if I'm going to make things right… if I'm going to avenge my parents and my son… then I need to stay alive." She lay back slowly, letting the tears fall freely until sleep refused to return.
Morning arrived quietly. Soft sunlight streamed through the window, casting pale patterns on the wall. Ann lay still, staring blankly ahead. She heard footsteps outside.
Voices. Then a gentle knock. "Ann?" a familiar voice called. The door opened.
Oliver stepped in, followed by a nurse dressed in white. "You're awake," Oliver said softly, relief flickering across his face.
"Good morning, ma'am," the nurse greeted warmly. "Your husband came quite early today." Ann nodded faintly. "I'm here to remind you to take your bath," the nurse continued cheerfully. "Breakfast will be served shortly, and you'll need to eat before your medication." Ann said nothing. She simply nodded again. "Excuse me," the nurse said kindly and left the room. Oliver pulled out a chair and sat beside her bed.
"You've been crying all night," he said gently.
Ann turned to him slowly. "How do you know that?". He studied her face. "Your eyes say it all. The tears dried clumsily… still hanging on your skin." She looked away. "It's the same nightmare," she whispered. "I can't close my eyes without seeing my boy." Oliver reached for her hands. " Perhaps, you should let the nurse know". " No please, that won't be necessary" Ann quickly said. "You'll be fine, Ann," he said softly. "I know this. It's just a phase." She shook her head violently. "No," she said firmly. "A mother doesn't get over this. You don't wake up one day and feel fine again." Her voice cracked. "How does someone kill a child?" she cried. "He was just a child, Oliver. Just a child." Tears streamed freely now. "They could have killed me instead," she whispered. "Don't say that," Oliver said quickly. "Please. No one deserves that." She laughed bitterly. "Then why did my son deserve it?". " No he didn't " Oliver replied slowly. Silence fell between them. After a while, Oliver cleared his throat. "You should take your bath. Breakfast will arrive soon." Ann hesitated, then nodded reluctantly. When she returned from the bathroom, a tray of food sat on the table. The nurse promised to return later with her medication and left. Ann stared at the food.
She had no appetite but she forced herself to eat slowly. Not eating will only make things worse here, she reminded herself. And I need to stay alive. A phone chimed. Oliver glanced at it briefly, then looked away. Another message followed. This time, he checked it. A quick smile crossed his face.
It was gone in seconds but Ann saw it. Her heart skipped. Another chime. The phone rang. Oliver didn't answer. It rang again.
"That call is disturbing the calm here," Ann said quietly. "Won't you take it?" He hesitated. "It's… it's just work. It can wait."
"If it's work, it can't wait," Ann replied evenly.
The phone rang again. Oliver stood. "Excuse me." He leaned down, kissed her forehead. "I'll check on you later." Ann watched him leave. As the door closed behind him, a strange feeling settled deep in her stomach.
Unease. A quiet, unfamiliar whisper. Something wasn't right. And for the first time since everything began, Ann knew she had to listen