The light shone through Charlotte's heavy eyelids brightly. She forced them open and tried to sit up, feeling groggy. She felt a hand on her shoulder, pushing her down gently. She squinted her eyes, trying to bring her vision into focus.
"Lay down a while, Charlotte."
Charlotte rubbed a hand over her eyes, "Mom!" she exclaimed, wrapping her arms around her mom tightly, "I don't understand… I was at the church… " her brow furrowed, "Oh," she realised, "No! But what about Ali? I have to go back. I can't be dead. Mom, I have to protect Ali!"
Her mom placed a hand on her daughters' face, "You can't, honey," she said softly, "It's over… for us, it's over."
Charlotte bit her lip, fighting the tears that welled in her eyes, "Oh," she looked at her mom, "Do you hate me?" she asked quietly.
Her mom smiled, "Of course I don't hate you, Charlotte. I love you. I've always loved you."
Charlotte's lips curled upwards, "I thought maybe… after everything – "
"We all made bad decisions. You're still my daughter and I love you," her mom brushed a thumb under her daughters' eye, wiping away her tears.
"Mom, who killed you?" Charlotte asked quickly, "Did you see? I didn't see who hit me, I was just walking and then I was just… out."
Her mom sighed, "I didn't see either, honey."
Charlotte hung her head, "They're going to hurt Ali, aren't they? And I can't do anything to stop them."
"Your sister is a survivor, Charlie," her mom said, "She'll figure it out. We have to believe that."
"But what if… mom, I just got her back. I was going to live with her and be a family and now…" Charlotte sniffed.
Her mom's eyes softened with tears of her own, "Just be thankful for the time you had with her," she whispered, "We'll see her again. I promise."
"I hope not any time soon," Charlotte mumbled, "It's so good to see you mom. I missed you so much. I found your body… but I didn't know who… if I did, I would have killed them – "
"No, no, don't say that," her mom said softly, "I'm sorry, I wish you hadn't had to find me like that…"
"I missed you so much," Charlotte hugged her mom tightly, "I love you so much. I'm sorry, mommy."
Her mom returned the hug, running a hand through her hair, "I love you too. You don't need to apologise. I'm sorry. I should have handled things so differently."
"Me too," Charlotte murmured against her mom's shoulder, "Mom, Ali was so good to me. You would have been so proud of her. She's grown up so much."
"I am proud of her," her mom whispered, "I'm so proud of you too. I see how you've grown, how you've faced your issues… you've been braver than I could ever be. You deserved better than… this," she looked around.
"At least I get to be with you, mommy," Charlotte whispered.
"And look," her mom pulled out her old teddy bear.
"My teddy!" Charlotte exclaimed, pulling it to her chest, "Thanks, mommy. You always know how to make me feel safe."
Her mom smiled at her, "You are safe now, sweetheart. I'm not going anywhere now, I promise."
