Miriam’s peaceful beach vacation suddenly turned into a nightmare when she spotted a familiar pair standing in the hotel lobby – her daughter Pamela and her son-in-law Frank. She had wept for them at their funeral five years prior.
Her heart pounded in her ears. She questioned whether it was a mental trick or if reality was truly crumbling. She had to make a swift decision: should she pursue these ghosts from her past or let them vanish among the vacationers?
While the receptionist typed away on the computer, Miriam’s attention wandered. That’s when she saw them. Just beyond the check-in desk, near some colorful seashell souvenirs, stood two people – laughing and relaxed, very much alive.
It seemed inconceivable. Pamela and Frank had been gone for half a decade… hadn’t they? But there they were, clearly in front of her. How could this be? Could two strangers resemble them exactly? Or had everything she believed about their deaths been a lie?
“Ma’am, here’s your room key,” the receptionist said, but Miriam scarcely heard.
Without shifting her gaze, Miriam blindly reached out and snatched the key. Her eyes remained fixed on the couple as they walked away from the gift shop and toward the exit.
“Take these,” she said, shoving her bags toward the nearest bellhop. “I need to go.”
She rushed forward, gasping for air. She was out of shape and the couple was almost out the door.
“Pamela!” Miriam’s voice echoed through the lobby.
The woman halted in her tracks and slowly turned around. Her eyes widened in shock. It was undoubtedly Pamela.
“Mom,” her daughter said softly. “It’s not what it seems… We can explain.”
She stood rigidly, arms crossed. “Explain now,” she said firmly.
Pamela hesitated before taking a step forward and tentatively reaching out. “Mom, please just listen. We had our reasons. We won the lottery.”
Miriam’s face remained expressionless. “So you thought the best way to handle it was to pretend you were dead?”
“It wasn’t just a small sum of money, Mom. It transformed our lives. If people knew, everyone would want a share. We just desired a fresh start, free from obligations.”
Miriam’s tone grew sharp. “No obligations? Such as not repaying the money you owed Frank’s family after the failed business? Like deserting your cousin’s kids when they had no one else?”
Frank’s face darkened. “We didn’t owe anyone anything. This was our opportunity to live as we pleased.”
