Chapter 199

Today marked her mom's death anniversary. No matter what, Elaine had to come. She gently set the flowers and food down, crouched by the grave, and traced the photo on the headstone with her fingers. That smile on the photo—so warm, so familiar—was how she always remembered her. But after the other woman showed up in her dad's life, her mom never smiled like that again. She'd tried letting go so many times. Even told Elaine to decide. But Elaine was a kid back then, too young to get it. She just wanted her mom and dad together. She hadn't wanted to lose either of them. Maybe all of this really was her fault. If she'd chosen to leave with her mom back then, maybe her mom would still be alive. But that was the past. Nothing she could do about it now. Elaine softly said to the gravestone, "Mom, I'm sorry... I almost forgot today's your day." "Looking at me now, you probably wouldn't recognize me, huh." "But it's really me, your daughter, Elaine." Standing there with this new face felt unre