My Husband Asked Me Why I Survived a Tragedy That Happened 18 Years Ago and His Daughter Didn’t

Maggie took Emily, her boyfriend’s daughter, to the amusement park, hoping to bring some joy after the death of Emily’s mother. They laughed, rode the Ferris wheel, and spent the day together. But a roller coaster malfunction shattered their happiness. Maggie survived, but Emily didn’t.

Eighteen years later, David, Emily’s father, asked Maggie, “How did you survive, and she didn’t?”

Maggie’s voice trembled as she answered, “I don’t know, David. I wish it had been me.”

David’s face twisted with grief, searching for an answer that would never come. The question lingered between them, heavy and unanswered—why her, and not Emily?