I couldn’t breathe.
Grandfather.
She had called me that.
After eight years of silence, my daughter had sent her child to me.
And I had almost sent her away.
“Take me to your mother,” I whispered.
Maisie grabbed my hand.
“I don’t know where the ambulance took her.”
We rushed out of the ballroom.
Veronica followed us.
“Daniel, stop! You don’t even know if she’s really Anna’s daughter!”
I turned around.
For the first time that night, I didn’t care who was watching.
“She has Anna’s locket.”
Veronica went silent.
“And my address was written in Anna’s handwriting.”
I looked at her.
“That’s enough for me.”
We drove through the city until we reached the hospital.
I ran through the emergency department with Maisie beside me.
“Anna Reed,” I shouted. “She was brought here tonight!”
The receptionist searched the records.
Then her expression changed.
“She’s here.”
My heart shattered with relief.
“Is she alive?”
The receptionist hesitated.
“She is… but she’s in critical condition.”
I rushed toward the emergency room.
Through the glass, I saw a pale woman lying motionless beneath the hospital lights.
Anna.
My little girl.
The same eyes.
The same face.
Only older.
Broken.
I pressed my hand against the glass.
“Anna…”
Maisie began crying.
“Mommy…”
A doctor came toward us.
“Are you family?”
I nodded.
“I’m her father.”
The doctor looked at Maisie.
“And she’s your granddaughter?”
I couldn’t answer.
I simply held her close.
Then the doctor said something that made my blood run cold.
“There’s something you need to know.”
“What?”
He lowered his voice.
“Before Anna lost consciousness, she kept repeating one sentence.”
“What sentence?”
The doctor looked directly at me.
“She said the accident wasn’t an accident.”
I froze.
Behind the glass, Anna suddenly opened her eyes.
Her lips moved.
I stepped closer.
She was trying to say something.
I pressed my hand against the glass.
“Anna! I’m here!”
Her eyes filled with tears.
Then she raised one trembling hand and pointed toward Maisie.
The doctor rushed inside.
Anna whispered something.
He came back out, visibly shaken.
“What did she say?” I demanded.
The doctor looked at me.
“She said…”
He paused.
“Don’t let him take Maisie.”
I stared at him.
“Who?”
Before he could answer, the hospital doors opened.
A tall man in a dark coat walked into the emergency room.
Maisie saw him.
Her face went completely white.
She grabbed my hand.
And whispered:
“Grandpa… that’s the man Mommy was running from.”
I turned toward the stranger.
He was already looking directly at me.
And smiling.
