The Sled of Death, A Child's Silent Mourning

The horse trainer my dad hired said I broke her brand-new saddle.

She claimed my mom made me do it.

To punish Mom, Dad tied her to a horse and played a game he called The Sled.

I couldn't stop the galloping stallion. I could only stand there and cry.

Mom became the sled. She eventually fell asleep in the stable, and no matter how much I called her, she wouldn't wake up.

I was so scared. I kept calling my dad's phone like crazy.

"Daddy, Mommy's asleep. I can't wake her up."

"Gabbie will never go near the stables again. Please, just wake her up!"

On the other end of the line, I heard Dad swear impatiently.

"She's just sleeping, she's not dead! If you can't wake her, then let her stay asleep!"

A few days later, Dad came back with the trainer.

"Tell your mother to come out and apologize, and I'll forgive her."

I looked up at him. "Mommy turned into a sled. She's all dried up now."

Our neighbor, Mrs. Higgins, was grooming her horse in her stable when she suddenly covered her nose and frowned.

At that moment, I was clutching some leftover horse pellets, stuffing them into my mouth.

She looked around and finally saw me. "Gabbie, what is your family feeding that horse? Why does the manure smell so awful?"

I reached out my hand and showed her the pellets. "This tastes good. It doesn't smell bad."

Mrs. Higgins immediately climbed over the fence and slapped the feed out of my hand.

"You can't eat this stuff, honey! Where are your parents? Why are you out here all by yourself?"

I brushed the dust off my clothes.

"Daddy went riding with the trainer. Mommy turned into a sled and fell asleep."

Mrs. Higgins found the sled tucked away in the corner of the stable.

When she saw what was inside, she nearly fainted from the shock.

"Margot? How could she be in here?"

"This is monstrous! Who would shove Margot into a sled like this?"

Mom's skin felt cold and hard. I called her name, but she still wouldn't wake up.

"How many days has she been dead? She's completely bled out. Poor Gabbie... she actually thinks her mom is just sleeping."

I didn't understand. Wasn't Mom just sleeping?

Mrs. Higgins made a call, and soon a group of officers in black uniforms arrived.

They took Mom away.

That was when I finally understood what Mrs. Higgins meant by "dead." It meant sleeping forever, never to wake up again.

I chased after the police car for a long time until I tripped and fell.

The gravel scraped my arm, and the pain was sharp and stinging.

Mrs. Higgins caught up and pulled me into her arms.

I screamed and cried. "I don't have a mommy anymore! Gabbie doesn't have a mommy!"

On the giant screen downtown, news was playing about the successful opening of the Lexington Horse Derby.

Dad was cutting the ribbon at the opening ceremony. The trainer was smiling, her arm linked tightly with his.

People on the street were whispering.

"What a tragedy. She was only thirty. That poor five-year-old lost her mother. And where is the father? He hasn't even shown up yet."

"Yeah, but look at that other woman. So young and successful. Her billionaire husband even takes her to his ribbon-cutting events. Talk about different fates!"

Mrs. Higgins took me home and brought me some real food.

"Stop eating that horse feed. Eat this for now. If you're ever hungry, just come find me."

"We can't count on your father, but I can at least make sure you have a meal."

I took a bite of the bread, staring at our empty house. I couldn't swallow through the tears.

I finally realized I didn't have a mom anymore. It hurt so much.

I used my little smartwatch to call Dad.

The cartoon ringtone played for a long time, but he didn't answer.

Mom had set that ringtone for me. Hearing it felt like she was right there, whispering in my ear.

I wanted to hear it again, so I kept calling.

After the fifth time, the call finally went through.

An angry voice exploded from the speaker. "Margot Sterling! If you still can't control your daughter, then both of you can get the hell out of this house!"

Margot was my mom's name. She told me she was named that because she was the pearl of her mother's eye.

She named me Gabbie because I was her and Dad's precious treasure.

Dad still didn't know Mom was dead.

"Daddy, they say Mommy is dead. The men in black uniforms took her away..."

Dad sounded even more furious. "Margot, what kind of sick scheme is this now? Do you have any idea how much this will ruin our daughter?"

"I didn't even tie those knots tight! Besides, the horse was tied to the hitching post! You're really using these low-life tricks just to lure me home?"

"You're actually teaching our daughter to lie and say you're dead? Do you really want to die that badly?"

"How many times do I have to tell you? I've always loved you! Only you! I'm only with her so she can give me a son. Once the boy is born, I'll be back. Don't you get it?"

"Just wait. I'll still spend our anniversary with you this year. Can't you wait just a little longer?"

Dad finished his rant and hung up.

I didn't get a chance to tell him that after he left, the trainer had retied the knots and unhitched the rope.

Mom was really gone.

I couldn't stand being alone in this big house without Mom anymore.

I called my grandmother and asked her to come pick me up.

When she arrived and found out what happened, she broke down, screaming and cursing my father.

"Leo Sterling, you absolute monster! How could you conspire with a stranger to harm my daughter and granddaughter?"

"You're going to rot in hell for this!"

Grams pulled me into her arms and rubbed my back.

"Don't be scared, Gabbie. Grandma is here. We aren't leaving until we get justice for your mother!"

"I will make sure that animal goes to prison for what he's done!"

I huddled in her lap, crying.

"Daddy doesn't want me anymore. He has a new lady and a new baby."

Grams cried and cursed so hard she could barely catch her breath.

The officers who took Mom away eventually came back.

They gave Grams a small box and told her they had brought Mom home.

Grams collapsed on the floor, clutching the box and sobbing uncontrollably.

I let out a gut-wrenching scream. "I want Mommy! I want Mommy!"

Grams handed me the small box and told me to hold it tight. She said Mom was inside.

I hugged the box to my chest. I pressed my face against it, but it was so, so cold.

I didn't understand how Mom had become so small. How could she fit inside such a tiny, icy box?

I whispered to Grams.

"I don't want Daddy anymore. Let's take Mommy back to your house."

Grams said Mom passed away here, so we had to hold the service here.

She said it was the only way Mom could find peace and sleep soundly. Otherwise, she would have nightmares forever.

Mrs. Higgins came over to help. She and Grams hung white banners and decorated a memorial for Mom.

Mom was smiling in the black-and-white photo.

Grams had found it in her old photo album. It was a picture of Mom before she got married.

I looked at the photo. Mom was so beautiful and young. She was much prettier than that horse trainer woman.

But Dad still chose to leave with that woman.

For several days, Dad never showed up.

He wouldn't answer his phone. Grams kept pestering his assistant for his location.

The assistant finally stammered out the truth. "Mr. Sterling and Ms. Miller are on their honeymoon in the Maldives."

"Please, don't tell him I told you. Mr. Sterling gave strict orders not to let anyone know."

"That soulless, godless animal! My daughter's body isn't even cold, and he's on a honeymoon with his mistress!"

"He's an ungrateful, cold-hearted piece of trash!"

Grams was so angry she was shaking. Her eyes were dry from crying, but the curses kept coming.

I sat nearby in a daze, staring at the little box that held Mom.

I found my favorite crystal case and used markers to draw colorful patterns all over it. Then, I placed Mom's box inside.

Now, Mom would be able to sleep even better.

Grams pulled me into a hug, her face full of guilt.

"I should have never agreed to this marriage. Your mother was so in love with him, and that animal even knelt at our door to propose."

"He knelt there for three days until your grandfather and I were moved. He was your grandfather's protg. Your grandpa said he could die in peace knowing the company was in his hands."

"He swore he'd only ever love your mother. God, how could I have believed his lies? I was so blind!"

Grams' tears soaked my arm. I hugged her back. "It's not your fault, Grams."

Grams grabbed my hands when she heard that.

"When your mom was young, she had the chance to go to grad school abroad. But she gave up her studies just to marry your father."

"She never imagined it would end like this!"

"Gabbie, promise me. When you grow up, no matter what, never give up on your education or your future for a man. Do you understand?"

I didn't really understand what education or a future meant, but I nodded anyway.

"Grams, when are we leaving?"

Grams said, "Once the seven days of mourning are over, I'm taking you away."

On the seventh day, Grams went to the police station with some security footage. She wasn't home.

That was when Dad returned, accompanied by the pregnant trainer.

The two of them were kissing the moment they stepped through the door. But when they saw the funeral decorations in the living room, they stopped.

Tamsin let out a scream and hid in Dad's arms.

Dad looked at Mom's photo, his face turning pale and then red with rage.

"Margot Sterling, get out here right now! Have you lost your mind just because you're jealous? Why the hell did you turn the house into this?"

"You're making our child play along with a fake funeral! Haven't you had enough?"

Tamsin stared at the photo, her brow furrowing.

"Margot knows she's lost her looks, so she had to use an old photo!"

Dad suddenly grabbed the framed photo of Mom and smashed it onto the floor.

"You think you can just glare at me? I'll smash this piece of trash!"

Dad looked terrifying. I was shaking all over.

I said in a small, trembling voice:

"Daddy, Mommy is dead. She's sleeping in that little box. She can't come out anymore."

SLAP!

Dad gave me a stinging blow to the face. I fell to the floor.

"Margot, get the hell out here! Look at what you've taught our daughter! She's full of lies and manipulation, just like you!"

"If you don't show yourself right now, pack your bags and get out of this house!"

The villa was eerily quiet. The only sound was the distant neighing of the chestnut stallion in the stables.

Dad turned around and saw the saddle in the corner.

It was the same saddle from before. I hadn't even touched it, but Tamsin had insisted I broke it.

That was why Dad got so angry at Mom and made her play the sled game.

Tamsin spoke up. "It's all that woman's fault. If she hadn't put the kid up to it, my brand-new saddle wouldn't be ruined."

Dad picked up the saddle and started hitting me with it.

The heavy leather kept slamming into me, tearing my skin.

"Daddy, it hurts..."

"Daddy, I didn't break the saddle..."

"Daddy, Mommy... she's really dead..."

Seeing me cowering only made Dad angrier.

"You still have the nerve to lie! You're teaming up with your mother to trick me, even faking a death! If I don't give you a proper beating today, my name isn't Sterling!"

WHAM!

The saddle hit me so hard it actually split in two.

Tamsin frowned. "I can't believe the quality of these imported saddles is so poor. What a waste of money."

Dad roared, "Margot! Are you still not coming out? You used to be so protective of her. Are you really going to let her take a beating just for your little act?"

I whispered weakly, "Daddy, Mommy... she's really dead. That trainer lady killed her..."

Dad froze for a second, then picked up half of the broken saddle and kept hitting me.

"Still lying! And now you're dragging Tamsin into this? Did your mother teach you to say that?"

"I told you I'd be back for our anniversary. Are you really that insecure?"

"Your health is too poor for another round of IVF. I just wanted a son, and I did it all for your sake. How can you be so selfish?"

CLATTER!

The broken piece of the saddle flew out of Dad's hand and smashed into my pink crystal case.

"Mommy!"

I crawled toward it. The crystal case was sturdy and hadn't shattered yet.

"Daddy, please don't hurt Mommy anymore!"

Dad picked me up by my collar. "What did you say?"

I hugged the crystal case containing Mom as tight as I could. "Daddy, Mommy's sleeping. Please don't wake her up."

"Leo, my stomach hurts!"

Tamsin clutched her belly and collapsed onto the floor.

"My baby! Our baby!"

Dad dropped me and rushed to her side, looking frantic. He carried her into the bedroom.

A short while later, the family doctor arrived.

The doctor said, "There isn't much bleeding. Have you two been intimate in the last couple of days?"

Tamsin nodded, her face turning red.

"Everything else seems fine. Just avoid any physical intimacy for the rest of the pregnancy."

After hearing the doctor's instructions, Dad asked suspiciously:

"She lost so much blood. Doesn't she need a transfusion?"

The doctor shook his head. "No, she just needs some rest and iron-rich food."

Dad scowled and yelled:

"You hack! She lost all that blood and you say no transfusion? Are we paying you to sit around?"

"My daughter is Type B, just like Tamsin. Draw her blood and give it to Tamsin!"

Dad walked out and snatched the crystal case from my arms, throwing it aside.

He dragged me to the doctor. "Draw her blood now! Fix Tamsin up!"

The doctor looked at my fragile state and said hesitantly:

"The girl is so young, and she looks very unwell. She really isn't fit to give blood."

Dad roared, "I told you to do it! Stop talking and do your job! If you don't draw that blood, you're fired!"

Dad pinned me down, and the doctor's hands shook as he drew my blood.

A needle as thick as my finger was pushed into my arm. The pain was so intense I nearly blacked out.

When Mom was pregnant with me, my paternal grandmother hated that I was a girl and wanted Mom to get rid of me.

Dad had knelt before Grandma and said, "I don't care if Margot has a boy or a girl. I'll accept them both!"

Grandma was furious. "What use is a girl? Carrying on the Sterling name is the only thing that matters!"

Dad had defied her again. "I don't care. I just want Margot and my baby to be safe!"

Now, that same father was hurting me for the sake of the son in the trainer's belly.

After the transfusion, Tamsin let out a cry and fainted.

"Quick! Draw another vial!"

"Mr. Sterling, I really can't. Any more and Gabbie's life will be in danger!"

Dad glared at the doctor and tried to grab the syringe himself.

"The baby Tamsin is carrying is Gabbie's brother! Gabbie should be happy to help her brother!"

The doctor glanced at the unconscious Tamsin and said:

"If we continue the transfusion, it might actually harm the baby in Ms. Miller's womb."

The moment those words left his mouth, Tamsin's eyes flew open. "Leo, I'm okay now."

Dad immediately let go of me and rushed to the bed, clutching Tamsin's hand.

"Leo, seeing those things in the villa makes my head and stomach hurt."

"Margot clearly set all that up because she doesn't want this baby to be born. She's trying to kill us!"

Dad squeezed her hand. "Don't worry, Tamsin. I'm going to smash all that junk right now!"

Dad turned and grabbed a golf club from the corner. He headed straight for Mom's memorial.

I crawled over and grabbed Dad's leg.

"Daddy! Grams said those things are so Mommy can sleep peacefully! If you break them, she'll have nightmares every night. Please don't!"

Dad kicked me away without a hint of mercy. My head slammed into the doorframe, and white spots danced before my eyes.

"Gabbie, how long are you going to keep up this lie? I'm going to smash everything, and we'll see if your mother finally shows her face!"

He gripped the golf club and stormed over to the memorial.

I struggled to crawl after him.

Dad swung the club with all his might at the pink crystal case on the floor.

CRASH! The case shattered into a million pieces. Shards flew everywhere.

A sharp fragment sliced into my arm. It felt like Mom was crying out in pain through me!

"Daddy, I beg you! Don't hurt Mommy!"

"You think your mother is inside this toy? Don't be ridiculous. You don't have a single honest bone in your body!"

Dad swung again. The pink case was completely pulverized, revealing the black urn inside.

For a split second, Dad froze.

Tamsin leaned against the doorway. "Ugh, what a creepy box. Just looking at it makes my stomach ache."

Without another word, Dad swung several more times, completely smashing the black urn to bits.

I crawled to the pile and tried to protect the remains.

Mom's ashes were mixed with the sharp shards of crystal.

"Mommy! It's all my fault! Please keep sleeping, Mommy. Don't wake up!"

My voice was raw and hoarse. I tried to pick the crystal shards out of the ashes, but the glass sliced my fingers open.

Dad kicked me again. "Stop acting! It's just a toy from a game. I'll buy you another one!"

"This is all a trick you and your mother cooked up. If anything happens to your brother, I'll never forgive either of you!"

Tamsin said in a whiny voice, "Leo, I'm so worried. I've been so humble, yet Margot still treats me like this. Will Gabbie bully her brother later on?"

Dad swung the club around the room, smashing everything else in sight.

"Don't worry, Tamsin. I'm going to lock her in the stable to teach her a lesson. By the time I'm done, she won't dare to lay a finger on her brother!"

Dad dragged me toward the stables. I didn't even have the strength to struggle anymore.

The chestnut stallion was a massive beast from the northern plains. One of its hooves was almost as big as my head.

Tamsin gave a sharp whistle. The stallion snorted, blowing air loudly from its nostrils.

I was terrified, and I hadn't eaten all day.

I was starving.

I reached out trembling fingers to grab a handful of leftover grain from the trough.

The stallion suddenly got aggressive. It reared up and brought its front hoof down on me like it was protecting its food.

I felt my ribs snap.

"Daddy, help me!"

"Gabbie doesn't want to die!"

"Stop acting so pathetic! Tamsin trained this horse herself. It's the gentlest creature alive. You're staying here until your mother apologizes to Tamsin!"

Dad left, just as Grams was returning.

She was carrying bags of food and calling out for me.

"Gabbie! I brought your favorite takeout! Come and eat!"

When she saw the smashed memorial, she panicked. She searched the entire villa for me.

"Gabbie! Where are you?"

After searching everywhere, Grams collapsed by the front door, exhausted.

"Grams... I'm here... Gabbie is here..."

My weak voice finally reached her. She stumbled toward the stables and saw me tied up next to the feeding trough.

"You monster!"

"I will tear that animal to pieces!"

Grams rushed me to the hospital. I clutched the small box with Mom's remains to my chest the whole way.

When the anniversary arrived, Dad got up early and dressed in his best suit.

Tamsin was thrilled. "Leo, are you finally taking me to do our wedding photos?"

Dad looked annoyed and shoved her hand away.

"I'm going home to be with Margot today. You stay here and focus on the baby. I'll come see you later, but you need to remember your place."

A look of pure resentment flashed across Tamsin's face.

When Dad got to the house, the butler met him, looking panicked.

"Mr. Sterling, the young miss is gone!"

Dad didn't care. "Where could she possibly go?"

"Her grandmother came and took her away."

Dad frowned, but then he took on a magnanimous tone.

"Did Margot tell you to play along with her little drama? Fine. I'm in a good mood today, so I won't hold it against you. Tell her to come out."

The butler stammered, shaking with fear.

"Mr. Sterling... the Mistress is dead..."

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