paced back and forth, her heart pounding with fear and helplessness. The news from the police had just arrived, compounding an already unbearable situation: her beloved daughter, Faith, had been in a terrible car accident.
Faith had been driving that fateful night, determined to get Lucy home safely after Lucy had been drinking. Faith, always the responsible one, had not touched a drop of alcohol. But as she navigated the winding roads, a sudden downpour made the conditions treacherous, obscuring her vision. Faith lost control of the car, which careened off the road and crashed into the unforgiving mountainside. Tragically, Faith took the brunt of the impact, and the doctors confirmed that her head injury was severe. Now, she lay in a deep coma, unresponsive to the world around her. The rhythmic beeping of the machines was a stark reminder of how fragile life could be.
Sharon’s mind was in turmoil, torn between the devastating reality of her daughter’s condition and the haunting memories that refused to stay buried. The sense of déjà vu was overwhelming, as if history was cruelly repeating itself. Years ago, it had been Cassie, sweet and innocent Cassie, who had taken the wheel to drive a drunken Daniel Romalotti home. Cassie never made it back, her life cut short by a tragic accident that left an indelible scar on Sharon’s heart. And now, Sharon found herself in the same unbearable situation, watching another daughter fight for her life after a similar accident. But this time, it was Faith who had driven Daniel’s daughter, Lucy, home.
The parallels were too much for Sharon to bear. “Why does it always have to be Daniel?” she muttered, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and despair. The rage that had been simmering beneath the surface finally boiled over, and she clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she tried to contain the storm brewing inside her. Without thinking, Sharon stormed down the hall, her vision blurred by tears of fury. At the end of the corridor, she spotted Daniel, his face etched with guilt and worry as he waited for news of Faith’s condition.
But all Sharon could see was the man whose presence seemed to be a curse on her family, the man whose daughter had been in the car with Faith that night. Her steps quickened, and before she knew it, she was standing in front of Daniel, her breath coming in short, ragged gasps. The look in her eyes was wild, a mix of anguish and unbridled rage. Without warning, she lunged at Daniel, her hands reaching for his throat, driven by the overwhelming urge to make him feel the same pain she was feeling.
“This is your fault!” she screamed, her voice cracking with emotion. “It’s always you, Daniel! Why does this keep happening because of you?” Daniel staggered back, his eyes wide with shock as he raised his hands in defense. “Sharon, please, I didn’t—” But Sharon was beyond reasoning. The pain, the fear, the memories—they all converged into a single, uncontrollable impulse to lash out. She tightened her grip on his shirt, her knuckles white as she shook him, her words tumbling out in a torrent of anger and grief. “You took Cassie from me, and now Faith. It’s happening all over again. Why does it have to be you every time?”
It was only when she saw the genuine terror and remorse in Daniel’s eyes that the reality of what she was doing hit her. She froze, her hands loosening their grip, and she stumbled back, her breath hitching in her throat. Daniel remained where he was, too stunned to move, his eyes locked on Sharon as he tried to process what had just happened.
Sharon’s chest heaved as she struggled to regain control of her emotions. She had let her anger consume her, had almost done something she would never be able to take back. Bringing a trembling hand to her mouth, she stifled a sob as the weight of the situation crashed down on her once more. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I just… I can’t… I can’t lose another daughter.”
Daniel finally found his voice, his tone gentle and full of sorrow. “Sharon, I would never want this to happen. I would give anything to change what happened to Cassie, and now to Faith. But it was an accident, just a terrible, tragic accident.”
Sharon closed her eyes, trying to block out the truth she didn’t want to face. Deep down, she knew Daniel was right—he wasn’t to blame for what had happened, just as he hadn’t been to blame all those years ago. But the pain was too raw, too deep, and it was easier to lash out than to accept the cruel hand fate had dealt them. As Sharon stood there, trembling and exhausted, the door to Faith’s room opened, and Doctor Morris stepped out, his expression grave as he approached.
