The landline rang.
We rarely use it anymore, so the sound startled me so badly that I almost let it go unanswered.
Neil told me Grace was brain-dead.
« Ma’am? » a careful voice asked. « This is Frank, the principal at the middle school your daughter used to attend. I’m sorry to disturb you, but we have a young girl here who came into the office asking to call her mother. »
« What girl? You must have the wrong person, » I said automatically. « My daughter is deceased. »
There was a pause on the line.
« She says her name is ‘Grace,' » Frank continued. « And she looks remarkably similar to the photo we still have in our student database. »
My heart started pounding so hard it hurt.
« My daughter is deceased. »
« That’s impossible. »
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