Robert yelled back, “Six years? Did I ever shortchange her? Who worked his ass off to provide for her? You spent all day playing mahjong, buying clothes, keeping up with the Joneses! Did you ever contribute a dime?!”
11:24
Carol’s voice was shrill. “You bastard!”
- 32.
As the story spread, more details emerged. Elementary school classmates remembered Ashley’s bloody urine, her scavenging for food in the trash. Neighbors recalled hearing Susan’s constant berating, the boasts of the two men. Teachers remembered Ashley’s blank test
paper, titled, “The Person I Love Most.”
Carol followed the news obsessively. She suddenly missed her daughter. But all the photos of Ashley were gone. She’d torn them up during an argument, right in front of Ashley.
What had she said?
That Brittany was a thousand times better than Ashley. That she didn’t want Ashley anymore.
Carol’s eyes stung. She wiped them with the
back of her hand, then found Ashley’s diploma
and certificates in the cardboard box. “Ashley
11:24
47
single picture of her. Not even a glimpse of her
back.
She couldn’t remember what Ashley looked like.
Her features, her eyes, her hair…it was all a
blur.
Ashley had been home just a month ago,
constantly underfoot, arguing with her. How
could she not remember her own daughter’s
face? She apologized to Ashley in texts and
emails. No response. Her phone was still off.
- 33.
The two men were dead. One fell off a tractor
and was run over. The other drank pesticide. It
happened shortly after the local police, citing
lack of evidence, refused to open an
investigation.
On February 14th, Robert was fired. A three-
year–old accounting error had surfaced. He
<
11:24
47
didn’t even get severance pay. He’d pleaded with his boss, humiliated, begging to see Jason, his future son–in–law. Security had to drag him
out.
When he got home, another blow: Carol wanted a divorce. She’d received an email from Ashley, a recording of an argument between Ashley and Robert about the rape. Robert had known all along, for fourteen years, and had told Ashley
to keep quiet.
“What kind of father are you? Your own
daughter is suffering, and you do nothing!”
“What was I supposed to do? Dig up your
brother and his wife? They’re dead! How was I
supposed to get justice for her?”
“Those two bastards were still alive!”
“They’re dead now, too.
<
11:24
4
“Because of you? How could you let them live knowing what they did to your daughter? Don’t you have a heart?!”
Robert scoffed. “Karma’s a bitch. See? They
got what they deserved.”
“You’re a coward! A pathetic, spineless. coward!”
“SLAP!” Robert hit her. Carol held her head
high, her cheek stinging. She glared at him, her
eyes filled with contempt. “So you can hit someone. You just don’t hit strangers.”
- 34.
February 28th. The day before Ashley’s 27th
birthday. Carol received one last email, timed
perfectly. It contained the password to the debit
card and a short message:
“By now you probably know I’m dead
11:24
Carol’s heart lurched. The room spun, the
words blurring on the screen. She gripped the
arms of her chair, hor knuckles white, until the
words came into focus.
Robert, seeing her distress, peered over her
shoulder.
“Stage IV lung cancer. There’s no cure.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t the daughter you wanted.
I’m sorry I couldn’t live up to your hopes and dreams. Before I go, I want to tell you about my life.”
“I was a latchkey kid for six years, a boarding student for six years, spent eight years in
Seattle for school and work.”
“I tried General Tso’s chicken and dan dan noodles.”
“I rode trains and subways.”
<
11:25
“I saw mud and dew in the countryside, rain
and stars in the city.”
“I read a lot of books, met a few people.”
“I spent most of my life wandering, but never
had time to see the sights.”
“I never saw a movie in theaters, never ordered
takeout, never wasted a single day off, never
spent a penny I shouldn’t have.”
“I tried to live a good life, but I failed.”
“February 28, 2023. I’m sorry I couldn’t make it
any further.”
“I lived, I experienced things, I have no regrets.”
“Mom, I’m giving you back your 27–year–old
Ashley.”
“Along with every memory, every penny, every
<
11:25
ounce of flesh and blood that came from you.
I’m returning it all.”
“Carol Roberts, I wish you happiness.”
Carol reread the message several times, then grabbed her coat, stuffing her purse with keys, her ID, bottle caps, a toothpick holder… She was frantic, Robert couldn’t stop her.
“Don’t touch me! Ashley’s going to kill herself! I
have to find her!”
“Where’s the card?” she asked Robert, her lips bloodless. “The debit card Ashley gave us?”
“Give it to me! I have to give it back to her!”
