Chapter 2 - The Hero Everyone LovedBy morning, Dylan was everywhere.
News websites.
Social media.
Local television.
The headline appeared on my phone:
LOCAL FATHER SAVES CHILD FROM FALLING CHANDELIER
The article described him as courageous.
Selfless.
Heroic.
A devoted father who risked his life to save a child.
Nobody mentioned Haley.
Nobody mentioned me.
Nobody mentioned that I had thrown myself over my daughter.
Dylan had given interviews from the hospital.
He talked about instinct.
He talked about protecting children.
He talked about how Ryan had been terrified.
Then he posted a photograph.
Sierra stood beside him.
Ryan was between them.
The caption said:
“Thank God I was there when Ryan needed me.”
I stared at it.
My stomach turned.
Haley was still asleep beside me.
She didn't know any of this.
She didn't know her father had become a hero to the entire city.
She didn't know he hadn't asked whether she was okay.
Then my phone rang.
It was my mother.
“Elena?”
“I'm here.”
“Are you all right?”
“Yes.”
“Haley?”
“She'll be okay.”
My mother was silent.
Then she asked:
“Where is Dylan?”
I looked toward the window.
“With Sierra.”
“What?”
“He left with them last night.”
My mother inhaled sharply.
“Elena, I think you need to come home.”
“I can't.”
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“Why?”
“Because I don't think that's my home anymore.”
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