The Blackwell Legacy

Chapter 3

The day started off perfectly. Mom and I had breakfast together, sitting across from each other at the kitchen table. The sunlight streaming through the window made everything feel warm, safe.

"So, what do you plan on doing today?" she asked, smiling as she sipped her coffee.

I took a bite of toast and shrugged. "First, school. Unfortunately," I said with a smirk. "But after that, I'll probably take my e-scooter out for a ride. What about you?"

"I'll be working late today," she replied. "You'll have to eat dinner without me, okay?" Her tone was casual, her smile soft.

I nodded but didn't really respond, distracted by my plans for the day.

After Hours

I got home from school later than usual, exhausted and hungry. Kicking off my shoes and leaving them in the corner, I trudged to the kitchen to find something to eat. The house was quiet.

Mom wasn't home. Not unusual.

Still, something felt... off. She was often out when I got home, but she was never this late. I glanced at the clock above the kitchen door.

4:00 PM.

Why wasn't she back yet? My stomach churned with a sudden unease. Was I overthinking? Maybe. But what if something had happened? What if she got robbed? Or hurt? No, no. That was ridiculous.

I shook my head, trying to push the thoughts away. Still, I grabbed my phone and dialed her number.

Voicemail.

I stared at the phone in my hand, my anxiety rising. Was I still overthinking? Maybe. But now it didn't feel like it. I tried to calm myself, deciding to wait by the door. She'd walk in any moment, and I'd greet her with a hug like always.

The doorbell rang, jolting me from my thoughts.

Finally.

I hurried to the door, already smiling, ready to see her face. But when I opened it, my heart sank.

It wasn't her.

Two police officers stood there instead. A man and a woman. Their uniforms seemed too crisp, too formal, too out of place against the warmth of our little house.

"Police Officer John Cuper," the man said gently, his tone heavy. "May we come in? We need to talk to you."

I froze. My chest tightened, and I couldn't breathe. The world around me tilted as a cold, numbing dread spread through me. Why were they here? Where was Mom?

The officer stepped closer, placing a hand on my shoulder. "Hey, kiddo," he said softly. "I'm so sorry, but... your mother was in a traffic accident."

The words hit me like a punch to the stomach.

"She didn't make it."

His voice blurred into static. The air felt too thick to breathe, my vision swimming as tears welled up. My body started shaking uncontrollably. This couldn't be real. This couldn't be happening.

"She'd want you to know," he continued, his words barely registering, "that this isn't the end of the world."

But it was. It absolutely was.

I wanted to scream, to cry, to beg him to take it all back, but no sound came out. My legs gave way, and the last thing I felt was the officer trying to catch me as the world went dark.