Chapter 3 - The Red Garment Bag
The garment bag was hidden beneath several storage boxes.
I found it while searching for Liam’s birth certificate for college registration.
Inside was a formal red gown.
It was expensive.
Much more expensive than anything we owned.
The satin bodice was fitted, with an off-shoulder neckline and a full layered skirt.
A dry-cleaning tag was attached to the zipper.
SOPHIE MERCER.
The name meant nothing to me.
At first.
Then I remembered seeing it on Liam’s phone months earlier.
Sophie calling.
Sophie sending late-night messages.
Sophie appearing in a photograph Liam quickly closed when I entered the room.
I sat on his bedroom floor holding that dress and wondered whether my son had been hiding a relationship.
Or something about himself he feared I would reject.
Either possibility broke my heart—not because of what it meant, but because Liam believed he could not tell me.
When he came home, I almost confronted him.
Then I noticed the hospital visitor sticker attached to his backpack.
He removed it quickly.
“Who’s Sophie?”
The question escaped before I could stop it.
Liam went completely still.
“You went through my things?”
“I was looking for your documents.”
His eyes moved toward the closet.
“You found the dress.”
“Yes.”
For several seconds, he said nothing.
“Are you going to wear it?”
His jaw trembled.
“Yes.”
I chose my next words carefully.
“You don’t have to explain anything you’re not ready to explain. But I need to know you’re safe.”
He looked at me then.
Not ashamed.
Grieving.
“I’m safe, Mom.”
“Who was Sophie?”
His eyes filled.
May you like
“The reason I’m still here.”
Then he walked upstairs before I could ask another question.
