The Woman Who Died

THE SECRET MY HUSBAND BURIED

Chapter 2: The Woman Who Died

“That woman died five years ago.”

Emily's words echoed through the room.

I stared at her.

Then at David.

Neither of them moved.

“What did you just say?” I whispered.

Emily covered her mouth.

She looked like she had seen a ghost.

David, however, looked strangely calm.

Too calm.

He slowly walked toward me.

“Sarah…”

I stepped backward.

“Don't come near me.”

He stopped.

For the first time since I had known him, I saw something unfamiliar in his eyes.

Fear.

Not fear of me.

Fear of what I might remember.

“What is going on?” I demanded.

David glanced at Emily.

“Leave us.”

Emily shook her head.

“No.”

“Emily.”

“I said no!”

Her voice cracked.

She walked toward me and stood between us.

“Sarah, you need to leave this house.”

I stared at her.

“Why?”

“Because you're in danger.”

“I already know that!”

My voice broke.

“I followed my husband tonight and found him digging a grave for me!”

Emily's eyes widened.

David closed his eyes.

“Sarah, you don't understand.”

“Then explain it!”

He remained silent.

“Explain it!”

I screamed.

The silence that followed was unbearable.

Finally, David looked at me.

“You really don't remember?”

“Remember what?”

He swallowed.

“Five years ago.”

I shook my head.

“What happened five years ago?”

Emily began crying.

David looked at her.

“Tell her.”

Emily stared at him.

“You tell her.”

“No. She deserves to hear it from you.”

David looked back at me.

“Five years ago, you died.”

I laughed.

A nervous, broken laugh.

“This isn't funny.”

“I know.”

“You're telling me I died?”

“Yes.”

“And yet I'm standing right here.”

David took a slow breath.

“The woman who died five years ago was Sarah.”

I felt dizzy.

“What does that even mean?”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.

He opened a photograph.

Then he turned the screen toward me.

My knees almost gave way.

It was a photograph from our wedding.

Me.

David.

The same white dress.

The same necklace.

The same face.

But something was wrong....