Rebirth Into My Second Chance

Claude's hands shook as he gathered the scattered papers off the floor and flipped through them page by page. Every detail confirmed it was Claire, and the words hit him like a punch, making him scatter the documents in a panic.

"I don't believe it. I need to see Claire's body with my own eyes." He whipped out his phone, dialing again and again. "Claire, answer the phone!"

But I didn't answer. How could I? He sent countless messages, but I remained silent. I wouldn't be gone if he had been there when I desperately needed his help.

I felt so hopeless. The world was a dark place, everything falling apart around me. I clung to a sliver of hope, only to have it eroded, until finally, in a blaze, feeling the flames yet unable to open my eyes or move to escape. I left this world with my child in that inferno. 'Claude, I'm dead.' I cried.

He stumbled out of the house, even putting on one shoe wrong, rushing to meet his childhood friends who thought his distress was because of Kate's disappearance.

"Claude, Kate will be okay. We're looking for her, too."

Claude shook off their comforting hands. "She's dead."

His use of "she" made everyone assume he meant Kate, their faces showing shock and sorrow.

"Kate..."

"How could this..."

Kate, who

the way, Claude retorted, "Claire, I told you not to die.

They grabbed Claude, saying,

sympathy. Even

his car, and drove straight to the police station,

more frantic than ever, shouting,

was so different from the meticulous

he afraid

would somehow affect his precious

looked past Claude to

friends quickly said, "He's her husband, unfortunately. But Claire was

"Claude, think of this. If Claire is gone, you and

evidence of Kate's involvement in Claire's disappearance in front of them.

friends were in disbelief, looking between the evidence

Claude asked, "Where's Claire?"

her husband, and