I've never felt this frozen before.

There are a million little unformed thoughts running inside my head, but I cannot single out any.

Is she lying? Is she really my mother? And how?!

The woman notices my distress, so she speaks. "I should've guessed Patrick never told you the truth."

"My mother is dead," was all I managed to utter.

She smiles mirthfully. "I guess you are right in a way. I did die. I just didn't stop existing..."

I swallow hard. She is lying. "So, what are ...