Evelyn stood frozen, phone pressed against her ear, as Damien's words settled in.
"Dead?" Her voice trembled, the weight of disbelief pressing on her chest. "Are you sure?"
There was a beat of silence on the other end before Damien sighed, the sound heavy with exhaustion. "I'm sure."
A sinking feeling gripped her, regret gnawing at her insides. If she had talked to Mathew yesterday, maybe things would have turned out differently. Maybe they could have prevented the accident, saved lives, and even found the crucial pieces to the puzzle that had become her life. Now it all felt like slipping sand, out of her control.
"Do you want to come see it for yourself?" Damien asked softly, breaking through her thoughts.
Evelyn hesitated for a moment. It was already late, and exhaustion was setting in, but there was no way she could just go back to bed now. "Yes," she finally answered, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll be there soon."
