After five long years of pain and suffering for the tragic loss of her daughter and her son-in-law, Miriam felt like she needed some time for herself. Yet, the thought of never seeing her daughter again shattered her heart into a million pieces over and over again.

No matter how much she tried, she couldn’t overcome the sorrow that settled in her soul after her daughter’s passing following a car accident.

The trip Miriam took was a gateway from the reality that haunted her. What she didn’t know, however, was that the trip would change her life forever.

Once at the reception, the receptionist asked for her ID. She took it out and handed it to the worker, who began tapping away at the computer. While she waited, Miriam’s gaze wandered. To her disbelief, she spotted a couple who resembled her daughter and her-son-law.

At first, she thought she was only imagining things, but as she looked closer she realized that the woman was in deed her daughter Pamela, and the man next to her was Frank, her son-in-law. But how could that be? They were both tragically killed. She buried them, and cried over their loss for five long years. What was going on, how could they be alive and where were they all those years.

Miriam started shaking, but she still gathered strength to go after them.

When they spotted her, they sped up their pace, but Miriam yelled: “Stop or I’ll call the police.”

It was then that Pamela and Frank stopped and turned towards Miriam. Pamela started crying, and said, “Mom, I can explain everything.”

Miriam was beyond angry and confused. She was happy her daughter wasn’t dead, but she couldn’t possibly understand how she could fake her own death and let her mom and the entire family suffer and mourn her loss.

“Start talking,” Miriam demanded firmly.

Frank then said, “Miriam, it was never our intention to hurt you.”

“Hurt me?” Miriam let out a bitter laugh. “I buried both of you. I mourned for five years. And now you’re here, telling me you never intended to hurt me?”

Pamela started to apologize. She tried to explain to her mother that they had their reasons. But what reason is good enough to fake your own death and leave your own mother mourn?

As they started telling their story, they confessed that they did what they did because they won the lottery. It was a lot of money and they wanted a fresh start. They believed that if their families learned about the money they would start asking for it, and they didn’t want any obligations.

Miriam couldn’t believe her ears. How could her daughter be so selfish?

What obligations were they talking about? Paying back the money they borrowed from Frank’s parents? Being there for their cousin’s kids after they parents died? Were those the obligations they ran away from?

Miriam was beyond shocked and disappointed. She somehow knew that one of the real reasons for Pamela and Frank’s stupid and selfish decision was to avoid paying taxes and once she mentioned that to them they started shifting the blame onto each other.

Miriam had it enough. Her vacation was already ruined so she decided to return home and have no contact with her daughter and her son-in-law.

She thought hard and the thought of what they did haunted her, but she eventually decided not to tell anyone about Pamela and Frank and not to report them to the police.

Three years passed by, and one cold and rainy night someone knocked on Miriam’s door. When she answered it, she saw her daughter, all wet and shaking.

“Mom, I have nowhere to go, please let me stay with you.” Miriam was hesitant. The last time she saw Pamela she wore expensive clothes and now she had an old shirt and ripped jeans on.

After a few minutes, she let Pamela in.

“Mom, Frank got involved in some bad investments. He lost almost all of the money and left with what was left. I have no idea where he is now,” she explained. “I miss you, Mom. I’m so sorry. For all of it.”

Miriam needed time to process that information. She was mad at Pamela, but at the end of the day, she was her daughter and Miriam was determined to make her do the right thing.

Explaining to Pamela the severity of the decision to fake her own death and avoid paying taxes, Miriam convinced Pamela to talk to the authorities although she was aware she could get prison time. But those were the consequences she was supposed to pay for forcing her mother and the entire family go through an ordeal.

Pamela agreed it would be for the best if she went to the police, because no matter the aftermath, that was the only way she could get the chance for a fresh start in life.