Kalia.After staying with my dad for a while and it was time for him to take his nap, I slowly slipped out of the hospital unnoticed by anyone, including Paul who always seemed to notice everything. I took a cab straight to Eric's house, it was late so I knew he would be home. I wanted to call him first, but I had no idea if they had tapped my phone or not. I had to be careful, especially with the information I had. It took me almost an hour to get to his house since he lived all the way across town. I switched off my phone before I rang the doorbell. I was about to give up and walk away when the door opened, "Hey, what are you doing here?" Eric said, looking around. "Now that's no way to greet your best friend, come on now." I said walking towards him. He looked like he was sleeping or something, "I am so sorry, were you asleep already?""No, no," he said, turning me around, his hands on my shoulders. "What's wrong? You are acting funny." "Whaaaat?" "Why don't you want me in
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
Naima.Eric got up and came and sat next to me. He took my hands in his, "What are you talking about?" he asked me, looking me directly into my eyes. " I can't." I say immediately getting up, "I just need to go and see him." "Naima, he is in a coma, there is nothing you can do or say that can bring him back, do you understand that? But I can't have you going to that hospital, legsnot tonight at least. I will lose my oldest friend over that." "You can't tell me what to do Eric, you are not my father. I am going to see my…" I started stammering, I slowly went and sat back down, my face tear stained. "I am so sorry Eric." "What are you sorry for, just talk to me, please.""I can't, you will never forgive me if I told you what I did." I said my were shaking anxiously. "What did you do, and how will you know if I forgive or not, unless you tell me." "I just know," I said in tears, "You are all I have left Eric, you can't leave me too." "Hey, baby," he said, taking my hands, "I am n
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 tal
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 tal
Jake.Waking up from the coma. My head was heavy, even my eyelids felt heavy, I felt like I had just been ran over by a truck. My whole body was sore and in pain, I could not even move my legs. I blinked against the overhead lights, my eyes struggling to adjust as I tried to open them despite how uncomfortable it felt. For a moment, I felt lost, floating in a hazy void where time had no meaning. The sounds of beeping machines and muffled voices swirled around me like distant echoes. Panic gripped me momentarily. Where was I?I had no memory of how I even got here. Was I dreaming? “Jake?” A soft, familiar voice cut through the haze, so I was definitely not dreaming . It was Kalia, my wife, her face a mix of relief and anguish. I tried to speak, but my throat felt raw and unresponsive. Instead, I focused on her, the warm familiarity of her presence, she seemed like she had been crying, her eyes were bloodshot and her face puffy. I never thought I will ever be this hapoy to see Kali
Kalia. "I have been looking everywhere for you." I heard Jake's voice from behind me, I slowly got my legs that were dipped in the swimming pool out, looking up at him. He sat next to me, he only had his shorts on and nothing else. "Well you found me." I said, faking a smile. "What's wrong, you look like you were crying." "Well, I just talked to my dad. He is not doing so well." I said, rubbing off a tear that was threatening to fall. "You know I can have him transferred to a different hospital, a more private and exclusive one where he can be treated quickly." Jake offered. "I don't want to talk about my father right now, please. Can we talk about something else, like why you were looking for me." I said facing him, our gazes meeting. Something felt different about him, I could see it. Since he woke up from the sofa something was off. " I was just wondering where my favourite person in the world was. That's all. "" Favourite? "" yeah Favourite." he answered confidently wit
Jake.I don't know how long I sat in that room, in total darkness. This wasn't happening to me, I could not believe it. I felt like I was dreaming, like all my worst nightmares were just happening. A part of me had wanted to follow her, apologize to her, tell her I couldn't be more happy that I was going to be a father. This was the only best news I had received since I woke up. I had a purpose in life. But another part of me hated the timing of everything. How could I even be so sure she hadn't done all this on purpose. Our whole relationship was based on lies, how could I know if the pregnancy was all part of the big elaborate scam she had to take me down. I got up, pissed as sweat tricked down my face. I had to have a real conversation with her. I picked up the now half bottle of whiskey and walked out, straight to our room first, she was not there. I rushed downstairs, bottle in hand, I was ready to get to the bottom of all this. Since I married Kalia, I had lost my touch t
Kalia.I turned around and it was Maya, she slowly sat on the cold pavement next to me. She seemed to be in so much pain. "You should be in bed." i said helping her sit comfortably. "No, I should be on a bed next to Jake in the ICU," she said looking away. "Everyone keeps saying I am lucky, but i don't feel lucky at all, not when it was my fault""Maya, accidents happen. It's not your fault, it's not your fault he is in there and you are out here." "But it is, I could have taken a cab, but instead I let him come pick me up." "I know Jake, there is no way he would have let you take a cab and you know that too. He will be fine, he will wake up from there, he is a fighter.""You really believe that?" "I have to believe that, I have to have hope that he will fight, that this is not how our story ends. He has to fight.""You know he talked about you, he told me alot about you." Maya said, catching me off guard. A part of me got excited, with little butterflies in my stomach. "Let me
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
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
Kalia. I had been working overtime for the money and the hours were starting to get to me. I was exhausted, but I needed the money. I turned away from the cashier’s counter closing it and slammed into a hardwall.. well, it felt like it was a hard wall, but in fact, it was a man’s solid chest. Large,powerful hands came around and gripped my upper arms to steady me.For a second it was all right. I had the apologetic, slightly flirtatious smile and appropriate words that passed for polite regret ready, I’m so sorry. But when my eyes flew past the broad shoulders up to his face my whole world tilted crazily. I felt the blooddrain away from my head and my face whiten. A part of my brain screamed, No. No. No.No fucking way. Not halfway across the world. Not after all this time.I had done a pretty good job of starting afresh, far away from my previous life, far from anyone that knew me. And for a while it had worked, or atleast I had thought so. I opened my mouth and… Closed it like som
Jake. I stood at the end of the cracked asphalt driveway, staring up at the old, two-story house that had loomed large in my childhood. The faded blue paint peeled in the corners, and the once vibrant garden lay choked with weeds. It felt both alien and achingly familiar. I had driven here straight from the hospital, I needed the drive, it was therapeutic and helped my mind no to focus on Kalia kissing that man. I stepped onto the porch, the wood creaking beneath me like the groan of old bones. The door, a relic of better days, swung open with a reluctant push, revealing a dim interior that smelled faintly of mildew. Dust motes danced in the shafts of light that filtered through the grimy windows. I hesitated on the threshold, recalling a thousand small moments the laughter, the fights, the palpable fear.I was a rich man who lived lavish, but so was my father. He used to be among the richest self made men, but after my mother left, he started getting reckless, gambling, drinking an
Pregnancy. "Oh my God, I don't feel so good." i said standing up, my hand on my lower abdomen. A few minutes I was kneeling by the bathroom vomiting my guts out. Maybe it was something I ate, it had to be something I ate. I said to myself going in for another round of vomiting. Now that I was thinking about it, I had been feeling nauseated and tired for almost a week now. I just thought I was coming down with something, but this was getting too serious. Maybe I needed to take a test. I slowly got up from the ground, washing my hands and mouth, before I looked at myself in the mirror touching my stomach. I tried to portrude my stomach a little bit, to get a glimpse of what I would look like pregnant. ' I can't be pregnant, not right now atleast.'I fished my phone out from my pocket and went straight to my period tracker. I was definitely a few days late. All I had to do now, was get a few pregnancy tests from the hospital. I slowly picked up my phone and walked out of my ro
The small town ice cream parlour buzzed with the sweet chatter of families enjoying their afternoon treats. Lively music played softly in the background, mixing with the hum of the old-fashioned soda fountain and the occasional scrape of spoons against cold, creamy bowls. Emma sat across from her son, Ryan, both savoring their chocolate and vanilla ice cream cones. She smiled at her six-year-old, his face covered in a delicious mess of chocolate smears. The sun streamed in through the big front windows, casting a warm glow on the tiled floor and the colorful, vintage décor of the shop.Ryan, as always, was full of energy. He hopped out of his seat to peer at the ice cream flavors on display, his eyes wide with excitement. He was a curious child, often getting distracted by the smallest of details. Emma watched him, content, her own cone forgotten for a moment as she admired her son’s wonder at the world.Then, a loud clink interrupted the peaceful moment. A man, tall and slightly dish
Jake.. No matter what happens, we will always be infinite. I looked up from my phone, and for a moment the whole world came to a standstill. I knew her. She was a brunette with all her hair held up in a bun, she was wearing a yellow sundress, and some sunglasses. She looked beautiful, but that was not what caught my attention, it was whose hand she was holding. A boy that seemed to be around two years was tugging on her dress. I didn't even realize I was staring until our eyes met, she almost gasped, one hand on her mouth, she looked horrified to see me, scared even. She quickly took the child's hand and seemed like she was about to run away when a man approached them with candy. He handed it over to the enthusiastic little boy who beamed with excitement. "Excuse me, do I know you from somewhere." I said touching the lady's arm and they all turned to look at me, including the little boy. "Are you my daddy?" the little boy said, looking up at me, with ice cream smeared all ov
Kalia. "Nothing really. It was just that while we were in the Park today Ethan started asking about his father. He is very intelligent, you know, Kalia. He sees that the other kids have a mummy and daddy and constantly he asks me what has happened to his daddy." anguish and pain cut through me. This broke my heart, that I was not able to give him a fully functional family. " Can it really be that his father does not want him? Surely." Ella asked, still holding my hand, caressing it gently. " His father doesn't even know he exists," I told told her harshly, taking a deep breath. "Oh, Ella, please don't ask me about him. Not tonight of all nights. I just couldn't bear it. . . ." "For Ethan's sake you must," Ella said gently. "You cannot fob him off forever. Soon he will be old enough for play school, and children can be so unkind. . . ." "One-parent families are nothing unusual these days," I said defensively, "and surely Ethan is better off with me than with two parents who fight