• I am Emilee, I am six.
    I live with my daddy.

    "Daddy, how did Mummy die?"

    "I'll tell you when you're older."

    * * *


    I am Emilee, I am nine.
    I live with my dad.

    "Dad, how did Mum die?"

    "I'll tell you when you're older."

    * * *


    I am Emilee, I am twelve.
    My dad is sick.
    I live with my aunt.

    "Aunty Beth, how did Mum die?"

    "I'll tell you when you're older, sweetie."

    * * *


    I am Emilee, I am sixteen.
    My father died two years ago.
    I live with my aunt.

    "Aunty Beth, how did Mum die?"

    "I'll tell you another day, honey."

    "But I want to know now. I'm old enough aren't I?"

    Aunty Beth sighs. "Okay." she says.

    We sit down.

    "If you want me to stop at any time, sweetie, just say so." Aunty Beth says.

    I nod. She starts talking.

    "Your mother was about your age when she met your father. She met him on a chatroom. They first met when she was eighteen and he was nineteen. They fell in love straight away. They got married five years later."

    Aunty Beth stops to take a breath.

    "Keep going." I say quietly.

    "Your mother and your father were married for seven years before you came along. When you were one, they began to fight a lot. I had to babysit you quite often, and sometimes your mother would stay over for a few days too. Three weeks before your mother's birthday, she decided she wanted a divorce. The only problem was, she demanded the house, half the money, the car, and you. Your father wouldn't hear of it."

    By now, I could see that Aunty Beth was crying. She took a deep shuddering breath as she reached for the tissue box.

    "But how did she die?" I asked. But I think I already knew.

    Aunty Beth took another deep breath. And another. And another...

    "He killed her." she said, her eyes closed.

    "What!" I shriek. "No! No way! Dad didn't kill Mum! He loved her!"

    Aunty Beth sighed. "He killed her, honey. I'm sorry."

    I couldn't wrap my brain around what I was hearing. Tears rolled down my cheeks. I wiped them away on my sleeve.

    Aunty Beth offered me some tissues from the box.

    I shoved it away and ran to my room.

    I would never be happy again.