Lights

The Fourth

So far in my life, I have died twice. The first time was when my husband came home and told me that he had fallen in love with another woman and didn't want to be married to me anymore. The second time was when my baby got taken away from me. I had adopted her after her parents-good business partners of mine from my law firm-had died in some freak accident. She was the best thing in my life.

I loved her more than I loved anything else I had ever held. After Tom-my husband- left, I lived a life of solitude, spending 3 good years avoiding anything cute, and turning my heart into a cold hunk of stone. But when they requested that I take care of their child, what else was I to do?

That little girl worked her way into my heart, with her long golden hair and those big sapphire colored eyes. She was my Lilly. But one day, she was taken from me. I remember she was 7, (i had been taking care of her from the time she was 3 or 4) and her class was taking this big trip to the museum, or the zoo, I think. The teacher offered for me to go, but I had this big case that I needed to finish, so I couldn't go.

I wish I had. On the way to the bus, my baby got kidnapped. After vigorous searches that lasted for weeks on end, we found my little Lilly in a ditch. Her body had been literally ripped open, everything pulled out of her. I snapped after that. I stopped working, I stopped sleeping. I barely ate anything. I had given up on life, and was ready to die.

Until one day, while I was laying on the kitchen floor (don't ask, just don't) I received a text on my private cell. Flipping open my phone, I remember that it was so private number, or at least one I didn't recognize.

'She's still alive. Follow my instructions. I will lead you to her...'

I knew what he was talking about, and for some unknown reason, I decided to trust him. I got a suitcase of my things together, along with my full-size, striker-fired pistol chambered in 9 mm. That's how my adventure started. I am looking for my daughter, and I will shoot anyone who steps in my way to find her.