Chapter 16 – The Night Everything Changed

After spending the evening with her friends, Ella felt lighter than she had in months. The burden of hiding her struggles had been lifted, and for the first time in a long while, she allowed herself to laugh without worry. As they walked home, Ava linked arms with her, while Ryan cracked jokes that had them all giggling.

"I missed this," Ella admitted softly, as they reached the point where they had to part ways.

Ava smiled. "Me too. We need to do this more often."

"Don't disappear on us again," Ryan said, nudging her.

Ella nodded, her heart warm. "I won't."

She headed home with a small smile, savoring the rare moment of peace.

That night, she curled up beside her mother and younger sister in their small room, exhausted but content. Her father was still away on his contract job, but he was supposed to return the next day.

As sleep took over, she had no idea that everything was about to change.

---

A piercing scream jolted Ella awake.

Her heart pounded as she sat up, disoriented. She thought she was dreaming, but then she heard it again—her mother's voice, raw and full of agony.

"Mama?" Ella whispered, blinking away the sleep.

Her sister stirred beside her. "What's happening?" Mia mumbled, rubbing her eyes.

Ella didn't answer. She rushed out of the room, her chest tightening.

In the dim light of the living room, she found her mother kneeling on the floor, gripping the phone in her trembling hands. Tears streamed down her face, her whole body shaking as she let out heart-wrenching sobs.

"Mama!" Ella rushed to her side. "What's wrong?"

Her mother couldn't speak. She just shook her head, her lips quivering as she tried to breathe between sobs.

Ella's stomach twisted in fear.

Then, a voice crackled through the phone's speaker. It was faint, but the words made Ella's blood run cold.

"Take heart."

Ella froze.

Her father.

He was supposed to come home today.

He wasn't home.

Her mind raced, refusing to believe the thought creeping in.

"Mama…" her voice trembled. "Where's Dad?"

Her mother clenched her eyes shut as another sob escaped her lips.

Ella felt like the walls were closing in. "Mama, please! Tell me he's okay!"

Finally, her mother took a shaky breath and choked out the words that shattered Ella's world.

"There was an accident… Your father… He didn't make it."

For a moment, everything stopped.

The words didn't make sense. They couldn't.

Ella shook her head. "No. No, that's not possible. He was coming home today. He promised—" Her voice broke.

Her mother reached for her, gripping her arms. "Ella… he's gone."

hearing the news, Ella shook her head furiously. "No! This is a mistake! Maybe… maybe he's in another hospital. Maybe he's just unconscious, and they don't know—"

Her mother's sobs grew louder. "Ella… I spoke to them. They confirmed it. Your father is gone."

Ella grabbed the phone from her mother's hands, her fingers trembling as she dialed her father's number. It rang… and rang… but no one answered.

She called again. And again. Until finally, the line went dead.

Her hands fell to her lap, and for the first time, she felt the weight of reality crushing her chest.

The finality of those words crushed her.

A strangled sob tore from Ella's throat. "No! That can't be true!"

Memories of her father flooded her mind—his tired but warm smile after long days at work, the way he hugged her when she was sad, how he always made an effort to celebrate their birthdays, no matter how little they had,

She remembered how her father waiting for her outside school, his face lighting up as he waved.

She heard his laughter as he teased her about growing taller.

She remembered how he always saved the biggest piece of bread for her at breakfast.

Ella clutched her chest, gasping for air. "I didn't even say goodbye…"

Who would support them now?

Who would hug her and tell her everything would be okay?

Her breath came in sharp gasps as reality sank in.

Her father was gone.

Forever.

Mia's small voice broke through the chaos.

"Daddy?"

Ella turned to see her sister standing in the doorway, her tiny frame trembling.

"Mia…" Ella whispered, her voice barely holding together.

Mia looked between her and their mother, confusion and fear filling her eyes. "Where's Daddy?"

Ella couldn't say it. She couldn't bring herself to say those words.

Her mother reached for Mia, pulling her into her arms. "Baby… Daddy's not coming home."

Mia's face crumpled. "No! He said he'd be back today! He promised!"

Ella held her sister tightly as the little girl broke down, sobbing into her chest.

"No! Daddy wouldn't leave us! You're lying!" She pulled away, running toward the door.

"Mia, where are you going?" Ella asked, her voice hoarse.

"To find him!" Mia screamed.

Ella caught her before she could leave. "Mia, stop!" She hugged her tightly, rocking her back and forth. "Daddy isn't coming back…"

Mia let out a heartbreaking cry, her small fists pounding against Ella's chest

The three of them clung to each other, their cries filling the empty house.

Ella had thought things were getting better.

But now, they had lost everything.

Her father was gone, and with him, their last bit of hope.

To Be Continued...