Mother's True Love.

Shattered Echoes.

Linda paced back and forth in her dimly lit living room, the weight of her emotions pressing down on her like a heavy blanket. Anger swirled within her, a tempest that threatened to consume her whole. What had become of her family? She felt like a puppet on a string, jerking between rage and despair as she replayed the events of the past few days.

Jules was gone, and the police had deemed it a suicide. The word echoed in Linda's mind, stabbing at her with each repetition. How could it have come to this? She had been so focused on protecting Jules, on keeping her away from people like Emily, yet here she was—facing the stark reality of her daughter's death.

Linda's fingers clenched into fists as she fought back tears. How could Jules leave her like this? She was mourning hard, the grief rising like bile in her throat. It felt like a wave of suffocating darkness closing in on her, and she couldn't escape it.

Yet beneath the sorrow lay an unsettling anger—a boiling rage directed at Emily. What right did she have to intrude in their lives? Linda felt her blood pressure rise at the thought. Emily's very existence felt like a thorn in her side, a constant reminder of the chaos swirling around her family. It was her fault that Jules had been dragged into this mess. If it wasn't for that girl, maybe Jules would still be here, laughing, living.

She was supposed to protect her daughter, to shield her from the world's cruelty. Instead, she had failed. Linda ran a trembling hand through her hair, her thoughts spiraling. Did she really believe that cutting Emily out of their lives would fix everything? A part of her questioned whether her actions were justified or merely a manifestation of her grief-stricken mind.

As the memories flooded in—of Jules laughing, of her vibrant spirit dimming under the weight of Linda's expectations—Linda felt a sharp pang of guilt. Had she pushed too hard? Had her incessant warnings and demands driven her daughter to a point of no return?

Her heart sank at the thought. But then, anger bubbled back up. How could Jules betray her? How could she leave without even a goodbye, leaving nothing but a mess for Linda to clean up? Linda couldn't shake the feeling that someone was pulling strings behind the scenes, orchestrating this tragic play. It was too neatly wrapped up, too convenient for someone to just accept.

Linda grabbed her phone, scrolling through the contacts until she found Sarah's name. She had to know what was going on. Sarah was close to Emily—perhaps she could shed some light on this twisted situation. But as she hovered over the call button, a surge of resentment took over. No. Sarah was part of this problem too.

Frustrated, Linda tossed her phone onto the couch and leaned against the wall. The shadows of her home felt suffocating, reminding her of her own failures. She was losing her grip on reality, her thoughts darting from fury to sorrow and back again.

The room felt too quiet, amplifying her chaotic emotions. She felt so alone. It was as if the world had turned against her, leaving her standing on the edge of an abyss. A part of her wished she could go back in time, to shield Jules from the pain she believed Emily and her friends brought into their lives.

As tears finally broke free, she slid down to the floor, her back against the wall. The grief was overwhelming. She pressed her palms against her eyes, trying to block out the memories of Jules—the laughter, the arguments, the moments that should have mattered but now felt like daggers to her heart.

Linda knew she couldn't let this continue. She had to take control. Emily had already crossed a line, and Linda was determined to draw a line in the sand. No more.

She stood up, her resolve hardening like iron. She would protect what was left of her family, no matter the cost. Whether it meant confronting Emily, digging deeper into the web of lies surrounding her daughter's death, or fighting tooth and nail to keep Sarah away from the mess, she would do it.

Nothing would stop her from seeking the truth. Not Emily, not the police, and certainly not anyone else who dared to interfere in her life again. As she glanced at the photo of Jules on the wall, Linda felt a dark determination settle in her chest. For Jules, she would rise from the ashes.