Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

"Liz, you've always been the tougher one!"

Was she really heartless?

Maybe, in a way, she had always been the kind to hold grudges, ever since she was a child.

Sensitive and fragile, hurt easily and, knowing pain all too well, she feared it and remembered it. Forgiving him time after time was her choice.

Because he never crossed her line, but losing their child, a child who could have lived and grown up... How could she face him or herself?

Often, she wondered, if she hadn't followed Remington back to the States, if they hadn't tried to start over.

Maybe Mr. and Mrs. West wouldn't have gone to such extremes, maybe her Daisy could have grown up well.

"Say what you will. You're not Daisy. How do you know she wouldn't want us as her parents or wish to return in another way?" It was all self-deception.

Liz's lips curled in a self-mocking smile as she took a step back.

Turning around, she didn't expect Remington to remain seated, his deep gaze fixed on her retreating figure, his voice heavy. "You're not Daisy either. How can you be sure she wouldn't?"

and insistence

around,

you just stop

a flash of memory striking him. He had said something similar to Liz before. Was it when he wouldn't come home after their wedding, and she would call, cooing and checking on him

she wanted a divorce, yet he begged her

out, to have given your all, only to be told you're making a fuss-it felt like offering up

popping on his neck

stand up,

the right. Let's let

not understanding Remington's

his knees, facing the tombstone,

weather forecast predicts rain. tonight.

Daisy can't forgive

have nothing

and the rain doesn't come, then Daisy doesn't blame us. Come back! Give me another

turned his determined

crazy? The rain's about to start, how can you be

trying to pull