Gaslit by Reality: Daughter or No Daughter?

In the end, Gabriel couldn't talk me out of going to the police station.

Taylor had tagged along with us. She insisted that she was innocent and that she could prove it.

The police officer who spoke to us was a young man.

I told him everything about the cycles, the deaths, and James' and Taylor's smiles.

I spoke until my throat was parched.

By the end of it, the police officer's stern expression had morphed into a sympathetic one.

Gabriel kept sighing next to me. "My apologies, officer," he said. "My wife… She's not right in the head. She spouts nonsense all the time."

"Don't talk about Nat that way, Gabe," Taylor retorted, pretending to admonish Gabriel. "I'm sure that Nat's not doing it on purpose. She's just too upset."

My fury only burned hotter at her antics.

"Shut your mouth, you despicable woman!"

"Natasha!" Gabriel scolded.

The police officer rapped his knuckles against the table and said, "Please calm down, ma'am."

"I'm very calm!" I exclaimed as I pulled my phone out of my bag and tapped on a video. "I have proof!"

An ominous feeling had festered in my heart when Marilyn and I were at the amusement park during the 109th cycle. So I had pulled out my phone and started recording everything.

The video clearly captured Taylor standing among the crowd, watching as Marilyn fell onto the tracks. She didn't look shocked at all. On the contrary, there was an eerie smile on her face.

The video had also clearly recorded her words when she leaned down to whisper into my ear.

"No one can get in our way this time."

Both the police officer's and Gabriel's faces twisted.

Gabriel stared at Taylor in disbelief, asking, "W-what did you say?"

The color drained from Taylor's face. "I-it's not like that! That's not me! She must have created that video using AI!" she shrieked.

"The tech department can verify if the video was created with AI," the police officer said coldly.

Taylor collapsed onto her seat.

A flurry of complicated emotions crossed Gabriel's eyes when he looked at me.

I thought that I would finally be able to find out what was going on. However, the police officer's next words made me feel as if my entire world had come crashing down.

"We've sent the video to our tech department for verification. However, regarding the cycles and the issue with James Cook that you described, Ms. Wilson…"

He paused and pulled out a file before continuing, "We've also looked into them. The bus driver, James Cook, did indeed pass away in a car accident a year ago. However, we haven't received any reports about your daughter's death."

The police officer looked at me sympathetically. "Not only that, but we also contacted your friends and family, as well as your colleagues and neighbors. Everyone said the same thing. You and Mr. Lopez never had a daughter together."