CHAPTER 2 — THE CHILD
Nobody moved.
Nobody breathed.
Richard stared at the ring.
His grip weakened.
Confusion.
Fear.
Disbelief.
The emotions battled across his face.
Then a small voice broke the silence.
"Dad?"
Everyone turned.
At the far end of the table sat a young boy.
Eight years old.
Richard's son.
The only child he had ever had.
The boy slowly stood from his chair.
His eyes locked on the waitress.
Not with surprise.
Not with confusion.
Recognition.
The room suddenly felt colder.
The boy swallowed.
Then pointed directly at the woman.
His voice trembled.
"But..."
He paused.
As if struggling to understand what he was seeing.
Then he spoke.
The words struck the room like lightning.
"That's the lady from my dreams."
A murmur spread through the guests.
Richard froze.
The waitress remained silent.
The boy stepped closer.
His eyes filled with tears.
"I see her every night."
The ballroom had become motionless.
No music.
No conversation.
Only the sound of the child speaking.
May you like
And then he said the words that shattered Richard completely.
"She's the same woman Mommy told me to find."
