Kalia. This was the first time we were all having dinner together, we never had any meals together, someone was always missing or mad at someone else. But today after we had the doctor, We were all giddy and happy, which is why we were all sharing the table. "wish we could do this more often" Maria said, we all just nodded, but I Wished we would doAs soon as everyone was settled in, Maya looked at the both of us smiling and I knew she was going to stir up some trouble. “You know, you have never really told me the story of how you two met. I mean, I have heard bits and pieces, but not the whole thing. And more importantly,” she added, leaning forward with a glint in her eye, “how did you know Kalia was the one?” Jake and I exchanged a glance and he smiled smiled softly, his fingers gently brushing mine under the table. Jake chuckled, leaning back in his chair. “Ah, the famous ‘how we met’ story. Well, I guess it’s about time we told the whole thing.” Maria, his mother, perked u
Kalia. After dinner, I went out by the pool. It was a beautiful night, the full moon out along with a sky full of stars. It was so beautiful and calming out here tonight and generally in the country. I had always wanted to raise my family in the country, away from the buzz of the city.I dipped my bare feet into the cold water, getting a certain satisfaction. I was still reeling from dinner, from that made up how we met. I had watched Jake all night, he seemed happy, he was so committed to the fake story that I wondered if he really did remember how we met. He could be a good actor because even I bought it. Which is why it was going to be difficult to read him, to trust him. My phone buzzed, and I looked at the watch on my wrist, it was past eleven almost midnight. Who would be texting me at this hour? Maybe something was wrong with my dad, that was the only reason I could think of why someone would be texting me this late. I quickly got out of the water, rushing to the table
JAKE.I watched as Kalia walked back to the house in tears, a part of me wanted to follow her, but I couldn't, she was right to want to leave and I was not going to stop her, but it was not because of what she thought, I was not going to choose Naima over her.My private investigator had just called a few minutes before I walked to join her by the pool. He had told me who was behind the accident, thats what I had come to tell her.But this was my fight with Naima and whoever else was coming after me, I could not drag her into it, especially not when she was carrying my child.Her leaving was for the best for both of us and I needed her to leave angry at me, it was harsh but it was going to work.If Naima found out we were no longer together, she would be off the hook. She would hate me, but she will be safe together with my son.I was not going to be here when she left, I couldn’t. I knew if I stayed there I would never let her leave me, not like that, and telling her my plan would ru
Kalia.My whole body felt numb, my hands sweating profusely, my legs shaking. I had heard about this feeling, but I had never experienced it before. So deeply. I was in shock for what felt like eternity, but in reality I had only stood there for atleast a minute, mouth wide open in shock. I could not believe it, for a moment there I for sure thought I was dreaming.We had not even been broken up one hour and he was back in Naima's arms.I looked at their direction again, one last time. Despite how much it hurt to see them, to see him, I needed this picture glued to my mind, I needed the reminder of who he really was and that I was nothing to him."Come on, let's get out of here." Maya said pulling me, my feet could not move on their own clearly, I was in shock."I can't believe this." i said rubbing the tears off my eyes."I am so sorry Kalia, this is all my fault. If I had known what my brother was up to I would never have forced you to come here." Maya said as we walked back to her
Maya.It had been atleast a few hours since Kalia left. The guilt was killing me. Sitting there, wondering if she was okay. She never even mentioned where she was going, not that we deserved to know anyway after how we had treated her. I had tried calling her phone several times, but it kept on going to voice mail. I sat in the living room in silence, tears threatening my eyes. What had I done.I looked over my mother who seemed like she had just lost a child."I knew she couldn't be trusted from the word go, I knew it." she said painfully as she sat down across from me."Mom, please don't.." i started, but she held her hands up, to stop me."Maya, don't even think about making excuses for her anymore. She betrayed us. I highly doubt that baby is Jake's either""Mom none of this is true, none of it." i blurted out, I couldn't take it anymore.I had wanted a sister for the longest time, a friend I could confide in and I had finally found that in Kalia, and now she was gone.Her face
Kalia.I saw Eric immediately and our eyes locked as I ran towards him and straight into his arms. As soon as he held me, my whole body melted and I started sobbing uncontrollably, and he let me do it.I don't know how long we stayed that way before we finally left, his car was waiting fully loaded with all my suit cases." Where to pretty woman?" Eric said jokingly as soon as we got into the car."Is that even a real question, the hospital ofcourse. I want to see dad.""Do you know what time it is Kalia?" he said shocked, looking at me like I had lost my mind or something."I know and I don't care, I will sit there until he wakes up." i said, meaning every word."The hospital it is." we drove in silence for a few minutes and I actually appreciated the silence, but he must have been reading my thoughts because he started talking."So what happened? Why are you here and alone also?""What do you think Eric?" I asked looking at him, my blood boiling as it hit me she had gotten to him to
Jake. It had been almost a week now, since Kalia left and Naima moved in. I had tried to reach out to her, but her old phone was disconnected. But I knew she was back in New York living in her father's house. I picked up my phone and started to go through the gallery, looking at some of the pictures we had taken together. "You did this you know, and I don't think that it's worth it." Maria said from behind me. "It's rude to snoop mother." i said irritated. I looked at her as she joined me in the living room. I had not seen her since Kalia left, she had been avoiding me, not that I could really blame her. I had given her, her space and privacy, but maybe now she was ready to talk. " Are you still giving me the cold shoulder, or are you talking to me now?" I said turning to face her, on eye level. She looked so much like my sister Maya who was also not talking to me. "Is it worth it?" she finally said after a long pause of silence, "She is out there all alone, carrying your baby
Kalia. New beginnings. As the big city skyline lay ahead, towering over building as we drove under the evening sun, I couldn't help but reflect on my life in New York. This is the only city I knew as home. I was born here, raised her and even my parents died here and were buried here. This was my home. And now I was abandoning my home, a big part of me wanted to remain, to stay and fight, but how could I when so much was at stake. I was also not thinking about myself anymore, I had to think about the little human I was growing inside of me. I sat in tje passenger sit, my hands twisting nervously as my father sat in the back seat together with Eric . Paul was our designated driver for the night. “Are you sure about this?” Paul asked, his voice steady but laced with concern.I glanced out the window, watching familiar sights fade into the distance. “I have to be. I can’t go back. Not now.” I said meaning it. I knew Jake well enough to know he would never really be able to let me
40.Jake.A few days ago. My private investigator had just gotten back to me on Kalia's background. "So boss, I have some news." he had said, even his voice seemed troubled. "What's going on?" "Kalia is not really who you think she is who we all think she is." "Whats that supposed to mean?" "Well I did a little digging like you asked, it took a lot for me to get her file." Leo started, but I was running out of patience, " She is not really Kiari's daughter.""What doea that mean?" "I got a hold of Kiari's file, he was never married, he could not be able to have biological children, he adopted Kalia." Leo paused for a minute, letting the words sink in. It was all starting to make sense, I knew something was off about her story, and how she talked about her mom. " Kalia's parents died when she was only six years old, her mother died in a car accident, hit and run, and her father died a few weeks later.""Woow,that must have done a number on her." i said feeling sorry for Kalia,
Jake. It had been over nine months since Kalia dissappeared with no trace at all. It was like she had never even existed. But I never gave up, I still had people out looking for her. I stood by my bedroom window, or atleast what used to be our bedroom window, overlooking out, looking at the sky. It was a beautiful morning, and I could not stop thinking about her today..She must have already had the baby by now. My baby. Now looking back, none of this things mattered anymore, I had fought for my company which was not hard given Kalia left me half the company she shares that she owned before she disappeared. I had everything I ever wanted except her, I was in love with her and she was all I could think about. Wondering if she was okay, if my child was okay. "Hey," my mom said rubbing my shoulders gently from behind me. I had been so absent minded that I never even heard her get into my room. She stood next to me and we stood there together in silence, we understood each other a
44.Eric. I sat in the hospital parking lot for what felt like eternity, part of me wanted to drive back and act like I had never gotten this information. I wished I had not pushed Naima to be honest with me. But Kalia was my best friend, she was like family, like my own sister. I had to warn her. I slowly got out of the car, suddenly feeling a slight headache. I walked to the reception, but before I could talk to anyone, I spotted her and she ran towards me excited, all smiles. "Hey, you didn't have to come." she said, as she hugged me as she led me to a bench and we sat down. "I know, but what kind of friend would I be if I was not there for you when you needed me most?" she said, taking my hands in hers. "Thank you for coming, it really means alot that you are here." she said in tears. "But no crying please, I don't want to see any tears on your beautiful face." She just looked up at me with her big brown eyes, and smiled. "I love you." she whispered"I actually wanted to
The night was heavy with stillness, the kind that made every sound feel amplified and every thought reverberate like an echo in a cavern. Anna sat cross-legged on the edge of her bed in the guest room of her parents' house, her hands absently toying with the delicate lace of her wedding veil draped over her lap. The moonlight streaming through the window painted silvery streaks across her face, illuminating the turmoil in her eyes. Tomorrow, she would be married. Tonight, she wasn’t sure if she was ready.The house was quiet, save for the occasional creak of the old wood floors and the muffled hum of her father’s television in the den downstairs. Her mother had gone to bed hours ago, reminding Anna in her usual efficient manner to get some rest for "the big day." But how could she? Her mind was a storm, a whirlwind of questions and doubts she had kept at bay for months but now seemed impossible to ignore.Anna stood up and walked to the window, pushing it open to let the crisp December
Jake. The different lights of the club flashed in circles on the dance floor, casting a sickly glow over the crowd. The bass of the music reverberated through the floor, vibrating the glass of whiskey in my hand as i slammed it down, beckoning the bartender for another.I didn’t care for the taste anymore, the burn in my throat that felt like a fire that never quite went out. It was a reminder of the way i felt inside raw, scorching, and too damn much to handle. The glass was empty before i could think about it, and the bartender didn’t even look at me as he slid another one over to me.I could feel his eyes on me a couple of times, maybe judging me. “Tomorrow,” i muttered, almost to myself, staring at the amber liquid as though it held all the answers to my agony and pain. Tomorrow, she was getting married. Kalia was getting married. It sounded like a bad dream only that it was infact happening. She was getting married. Not to me. Never to me.She had made that abundantly clear.
Kalia.It had been a day since I found out I was pregnant, I kept hoping it was the hormone imbalance and weather and food, but none of it really mattered. I was pregnant with Jake's baby. I was dying to talk to someone, tell someone else and get advice on what to do. But I didn't really have any friends, so I thought about telling Maria, she was close to Jake, maybe she would help me break the news to him. I paced back and forth in the kitchen, my hands fidgeting as they clasped and unclasped, fingers twisting in anxious rhythms.The weight of the news I carried hung heavily on my chest, threatening to burst out in a rush of words that I hadn’t yet gathered the courage to speak. The pregnancy test had been sitting on the bathroom counter for hours now, its two pink lines glaring up at me like a truth I couldn’t avoid. I was pregnant. And the father was Jake. I leaned against the counter, my breathing shallow as I tried to make sense of the storm of emotions raging inside of me .
Naima. I was certain she had seen me, our eyes met or maybe I was imagining it. The last thing I needed was for Kalia to find out I was in bed with Eric, her best friend. I sat at the kitchen table, my hands curled around a mug of tea that had long gone cold. The quiet hum of the refrigerator was the only sound in the room, but my mind was louder. A familiar unease had settled in my stomach, one I had come to know well over the past year, ever since my daughter Bella died. What was she doing here? At this hour? They had been talking in that car for a while now, and I was dying to know what they were talking about.I had loved Jake, he meant the world to me and no matter how many fights we had, how many times we broke up, we always found our way back to each other. I had thought that was, what was going on during our last break after we lost Bella. I was the one that initiated the break, I needed time to heal and mourn my daughter, but I never expected him to move on, love someone
Jake.Flashback to when Bella died. I knew I was being unfair to Kalia, being harsh. But I needed to if I was going to get through this. I was in love with her, she was all. I could think about every morning I woke up and every night I went to bed. But I needed to look at her as an enemy, because that is what she was. I was just laying there, on my bed just staring at the ceiling. It was raining heavily outside. The sound of rain pattering against the window pulled me from the haze of sleep, but the stillness that followed was suffocating. I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the floor, my heart heavy as i tried to gather myself for another day. The quiet house, dimly lit by the morning light, felt too large, too empty. There was a time when it buzzed with life, when laughter bounced off the walls, and tiny footsteps echoed down the hallway. I exhaled slowly, trying to shake off the familiar ache that had settled deep in my chest. Yet, despite my efforts to remain in the p
Jake. I knew having that conversation was not going to end well, I didn't want to have the conversation but Kalia always knew how to push my limits. I was about to follow her when my phone beeped, it was from Paul. He knew I was at the hospital and he was not supposed to call unless it was an emergency, so I knew it must have been an emergency. I sat back down and dialled his number, he picked on the first ring. "Hey, Paul." I said, "What's going on?" "It's your father Jake, he is gone." my whole body froze at the mention of my dad. I had not seen that man for almost over a year, he always tried to reach out to me, wanted to talk, but I had no interest. I sat there my whole body suddenly cold. "Jake, are you there?" Paul said bringing me back to reality. "Yes," I said, trying to control my voice, "How did he die?" I finally asked through my crooked voice. I never had imagined over the years, what would happen if my father died especially the early years, but nothing really e