The projection wavered slightly, as if Althea’s mother knew her time in the message was running short.

“If I could have stayed,” she said, voice trembling, “I would have told you myself. But if something happened to me… I needed you to have the truth because you deserve to know it.”

Althea covered her mouth, trying to breathe. Her mother gave one last soft smile, the kind that lit up Althea’s earliest memories.

“I love you, Althea,” she whispered. “More than my own ...