We touched Ashley’s right arm as there was nothing we could further damage there. Her neck was still red and displayed black and purple bruises all over from when Tom choked her three weeks ago. Jessie kissed her hand, and I did the same, cherishing every second we had with our daughter who came back from the dead. We were living in another world at this moment. Even when we had signs that she might still be alive, I never honestly thought that she was. I tried to convince myself that we would find her, but the more time passed by, the less I believed that to be true.
