Beatrice woke up in a sterile hospital room, with the beeping of machines as the only sound, feeling groggy and disoriented. As she blinked her eyes and tried to adjust to the bright light, she saw her mother sitting by her side, her eyes red and puffy from crying.
"Where am I? What happened?" she asked, groaning, trying to sit up.
Her mother gently pushed her back down on the bed. "Thank God, you're awake. You had a car accident with your sister, Eunice."
"Eunice?" she asked, confused.
It took her a moment to remember what had happened, but then it all came flooding back–the car accident, the sound of metal crunching, and the screams of her sister Eunice.
Immediately, Beatrice asked her mother about Eunice's safety.
"Is Eunice okay? Where is she?"
Tears welled in her mother's eyes, "She's still in surgery."
Beatrice was alarmed, "Surgery? Is she going to be okay?"
Her mother hesitated for a moment before answering. "I don't know, Beatrice. Her injuries are severe, but the doctors are doing everything they can."
"I need to see her. Can you take me to her?"
Her mother was hesitant, "Bea, I don't know if that's a good idea. You're still receiving fluids. You need to rest."
"No, I need to be with Eunice. Please take me to her."
Without waiting for another word, Beatrice ripped out her IV, didn't care that she was still hooked up to machines and receiving fluids–she stumbled out of bed and made her way towards the operating room, desperate to see her sister and make sure she was okay.
But as soon as she arrived, she froze at the sight of the nurses and doctors rushing around in a flurry of activity. Her heart sank as she realized that something was terribly wrong. Then, the doctor's words echoed in her mind.
"I'm sorry, we did everything we could, but we couldn't save her."
Eunice was gone. Beatrice felt her heart shatter into a million pieces as she realized that she had lost her twin sister, her other half.
Tears streamed down her face, "No, no, this can't be happening."
Just then, a hand grabbed her roughly from behind. It was Caleb, her brother-in-law. He was shaking with rage and blame, his eyes filled with hatred as he accused Beatrice of being responsible for Eunice's death.
"It's your fault! If you weren't driving, Eunice would still be alive!"
Beatrice couldn't believe what she was hearing. She had just lost her twin sister, and now her brother-in-law was blaming her for her death.
She could hardly breathe as she felt Caleb's grip tighten on her neck. She coughed and sputtered as the other medical personnel tried to pry him off of her. Finally, they succeeded, and Caleb was led away, still shouting accusations at Beatrice.
Beatrice collapsed on the ground, tears streaming down her face.
"That's not true. I would never hurt my sister."
But as she sobbed, another feeling began to rise inside her. Anger. She remembered the times when Eunice had confided in her about her unhappy marriage to Caleb. Beatrice didn't know the details, but she knew that Eunice had been considering divorce.
In her mind's eye, Beatrice saw Eunice's sad face and heard her sister's telepathic messages. She knew that Caleb was to blame for Eunice's misery, and now her death.
"You bastard!" Beatrice screamed as she lunged towards Caleb. "This is all your fault!"
"You don't know anything about Eunice," she said. "She was unhappy in this marriage, and you don't care."
Caleb's eyes widened in surprise. "What are you talking about?" he asked.
"She told me she was thinking about leaving you," she said.
Caleb shouted, "You're lying! You're just trying to cover your mistakes!"
The doctor intervened, "Sir, please calm down."
Alice, Beatrice’s mother, sobbing, "Please. This is not the right time or place for this. Eunice wouldn't want this."
The two siblings-in-law continued to argue until they were separated by the nurses and security guards. Eventually, Caleb was led to an empty room, wherein he could cool down. While Beatrice was assisted by her mother going back to her room.
—
Beatrice lay in her hospital bed, staring up at the ceiling. She couldn't believe that her sister was gone. The pain in her heart was overwhelming, but it was nothing compared to the guilt she felt. Eunice had died protecting her, and she couldn't even remember why she needed protecting in the first place.
At the same time, she couldn't help feeling a simmering resentment towards Caleb. He had always been controlling and possessive, and now he was trying to blame Beatrice for something that wasn't her fault.
As she lay there, she couldn't help but think about Eunice's unhappy marriage. She wished she could have done something to help her sister before it was too late. She wished she had known what was really going on.
And now, Beatrice wonders what the future held for her? How could she go on without Eunice? And what would happen to Daisy, her adorable niece, now that Eunice was gone? She didn't know the answers, but she knew one thing for sure–life would never be the same.
Suddenly, her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. It was her father, Arnold. The white envelope in his hand caught her attention first, but even before she could ask about it, he handed her the letter.
"What is this? Caleb is suing me?" she asked, upset.
"Yes, he is. He's claiming that the accident was your fault, and he is seeking compensation for his loss."
"This is ridiculous! It's not my fault that Eunice died! He's just trying to shift the blame onto me!"
"We'll fight this, Beatrice. We'll do everything we can to prove your innocence." Her father hugged her tight, giving her assurance that she's not alone in this fight.
"I hope so. I just can't believe this is happening. Eunice is gone, and now Caleb is trying to ruin my life too."
