Chapter 25

His numb heart twisted in pain again. William stared at Elizabeth, and suddenly, tears rolled down his face. How did it end up like this? Why did she have to leave? How could she bear to? Whether it was for love or hate. He tried to move, to hold her one last time, but his legs just wouldn't listen. All he could do was watch her from a distance. When they were about to wheel Elizabeth away for cremation, William lunged forward and collapsed beside the stretcher. He didn't have the strength to stand, just clung to it like his life depended on it, refusing to let go. The wound in his stomach tore open again. As his mother and others stepped forward to pull him away, he begged through gritted teeth. “Mom, don't… If I let her go now, I'll never see her again.” It was the first time in his life that William had ever broken down in front of his mother. It hit her hard—left her completely speechless. “You really want to watch her body rot away?” Mr. Smith turned his head aside, tears spilling