I left the hospital carrying my daughter’s ashes when my husband finally called from wherever he was with his mistress and coldly said, “The bill has been taken care of. Stop bothering me.” I didn’t argue with him. I didn’t allow him to hear my voice break.

I had always promised her that I would take her to see the vast ocean whenever she became strong enough to travel.

Standing on a high cliff above the Pacific Ocean, I held her close against my chest while the cold coastal wind moved through my hair.

I opened my phone and found Brendan’s contact information.

For months, I had kept his phone number saved without really knowing why.

Then I tapped the screen and deleted it forever.

“First we will watch the ocean, sweetheart,” I whispered softly into the wind.