(Jack)The sterile smell of the hospital hallways clung to me as I paced the waiting room. My mind was still a tangled mess of thoughts, unsure of where to go or what to do next. I hadn’t expected to end up at the hospital today, let alone feel so helpless while Lydia and Ruby dealt with everything. My thoughts were a bit all over the place, drifting from Adeline’s surgery to the unspoken tension in the air between Ruby and me.Then my phone rang. The sudden buzz in my pocket startled me, and when I glanced at the screen, I saw Amanda’s name. I hadn’t heard from her in hours, maybe even a day. I pressed the phone to my ear, half-expecting her usual cheery voice, but instead I was met with an edge of panic in her voice.“Jack,” she said, her voice shaking, “Jack, I think someone’s been following me.”My stomach dropped. The way she said it made everything feel wrong, and I couldn’t ignore the knot that formed in my chest. I wasn’t sure if it was just the fear I could hear in her voice
(Adeline)The sterile smell of the hospital room clung to me as I sat on the edge of the bed, the soft beep of the machines providing a steady rhythm to the quiet. The room was dimly lit, but I didn’t mind. My thoughts had been racing all day, a whirlwind of what-ifs and fears that I couldn’t quiet. This wasn’t a new battle for me, after all, I’d been fighting this damned cancer for a while now, but each time a new step came, a new procedure, I couldn’t shake the sense of unease.I glanced across the room, where Lydia sat in a chair beside me, her face a mixture of worry and exhaustion. I could see it in her eyes, the concern that weighed her down. She’d been so strong throughout this entire ordeal, and it hurt me to see her carry such a heavy burden. I wanted to tell her everything would be okay, but the truth was, I didn’t know.I reached out for her hand, offering her a smile, though I could tell she wasn’t buying it. She squeezed my hand in return, her fingers trembling slightly.
(Margaret)The minutes seem to stretch into hours, each one slower than the last. I walk through the empty halls of the mansion, my heels clicking against the polished floor, but the sound feels distant, almost muffled by the restless thoughts churning in my mind. The air is thick with an uncomfortable silence, the kind that only comes when something heavy is hanging in the air. Lydia is not at home and Thomas is busy with the kids. Jack….well, Jack ran away at the sight of me. He still thinks that I am out to make his life more miserable. Truth is, I didn’t try hard enough to make him believe otherwise. In his mind, I still am the villain that destroyed everything.Adeline’s surgery is tomorrow. My mind keeps circling back to it. I’ve been thinking about it more than I should, more than anyone should. It’s strange, really. I’ve never been one to let myself get too caught up in other people’s drama, especially not when it’s family. But seeing Lydia struggle, seeing her face so worn
(Thomas)Working from home always sounds like it should be easier, a chance to find some balance, especially when the kids need a break. But today, with Miles and Mabel out of their usual routine and missing Lydia, it's proving to be anything but calm. My home office, which is usually a space of focus, a place to think through issues without constant interruptions, has become a revolving door of giggles, questions, and requests for snacks, stories, and, recently, a makeshift fort on the couch. I pause, looking at my email, inbox full of messages waiting for replies, urgent meeting notes piled up. But over in the next room, Miles and Mabel are arranging a kingdom of pillows, draping blankets over chairs and asking if I’d be the dragon guarding the treasure. I can't help but smile at their boundless creativity. A part of me feels frustrated that I can’t focus the way I need to, but another part of me feels something even stronger. Gratefulness.These moments are what I missed for so
(Lydia)I watch as they wheel Mama through the double doors toward surgery, my heart sinking with each squeak of the wheels against the sterile hospital floor. I’ve seen her face dozens of things with more courage than most people could muster, but something about this, knowing she’s going in for surgery, knowing she’s been fighting so hard against cancer, against the odds, it makes me feel helpless. I grip the edge of the chair, struggling to hold on to something real as she disappears around the corner.Even with Ruby beside me, staring straight ahead with a tightness in her jaw that matches my own, and Margaret across the room, flipping through her purse for tissues, I feel like I’m floating on some isolated, vast ocean. The faint hospital smells, the sounds of hushed conversations, the clattering of metal from a distant surgery room, they all press in around me, adding to this thick fog of helplessness. Mama’s always been my rock, my unfailing source of strength, and as I sit he
(Lydia)The hours crawled by, each one heavier than the last, as I sat here waiting for any news from behind those sterile white doors. Mama’s operation has been going on for hours now, and all I can do is watch the seconds tick by, hope growing harder to cling to with each passing minute. Suddenly, Ruby comes over, balancing two cups of coffee and a couple of pastries wrapped up in napkins. She hands one to me with a small, sympathetic smile, and I take it gratefully, realizing that I’d forgotten to eat anything since we got here.“Thought you could use some fuel,” she says softly, sitting down beside me. Her presence is warm, grounding, and I can’t help but feel a little bit of relief knowing she’s here. Ruby and I have always had each other’s backs, but today, it means something even more.“Thanks,” I murmur, taking a sip of the hot coffee, “I don’t think I could’ve managed to leave this seat even if I’d tried.” I give her a small, wry smile, and she chuckles, though it’s tinged w
(Lydia)Dr. Roberts walks out of the double doors leading from the operating room, his expression serious. My heart skips a beat, and I immediately rise from my seat, Ruby standing beside me, both of us desperate for any news. I hold my breath as he approaches, bracing myself for what he’s about to say. "Lydia," Dr. Roberts begins, glancing between Ruby and me, "We’ve run into some complications."I feel a tightness growing in my chest, and I can barely speak. “What happened?” I manage to ask, my voice shaking.Dr. Roberts sighs, looking down briefly before meeting my eyes again. “The cancerous growth was larger than we initially anticipated. It was intertwined with more tissue than the scans showed, which means it’s going to take us longer to remove it all safely.”I feel the words hitting me like weights, each one heavier than the last. More invasive. More complex. Longer. This isn’t what we wanted to hear, not after all the worry that led up to today. I search his face for any hi
(Thomas)When I get the call, I feel myself tense even more. I feel a surge of urgency flood through me, a raw helplessness I don’t know what to do with.“I'll be fine, Thomas,” she says softly, like she can sense my unease through the phone, “It’s the least I could have done. Mama needs me.”I can almost see her sitting in some sterile hospital room, rolling up her sleeve without a second thought, resolute in that gentle way only Lydia can manage. It stings me that I can’t be there, standing beside her, watching over her the way I want to. I want to tell her to sit down, to let someone else do this; but I know how Lydia is when her heart is set on helping. She’s spent her life giving everything she has to the people she loves, and right now, it’s her mother who needs her.I take a breath, forcing myself to keep calm for her sake. “Lydia, just…make sure to rest, okay? I don’t want you pushing yourself too hard.”Her quiet laugh on the other end softens my anxiety a fraction, “I am, I
(Thomas)The last time I saw Jack, he was deflecting my questions about what had happened to leave him injured and refusing any professional help. Typical Jack, always shielding others from his chaos, carrying the weight of his decisions like a stubborn mule. I knocked firmly on his apartment door, which was closed this time, knowing he’d hear the sound even through the thick, industrial-style door. After a moment, the door creaked open. Jack stood there, shirtless, a fresh bandage wrapped around his side. He looked tired but not beaten. That was my brother, gritty, relentless, and unyielding even when life knocked him down.“Thomas,” he greeted with a nod, stepping aside to let me in, “Didn’t expect you to drop by.”“Clearly,” I replied, gesturing to his appearance, “You could’ve at least put on a shirt for the occasion.”He smirked faintly, closing the door behind me. Jack’s apartment was neat but lived-in, a mix of modern decor and personal touches that reflected Jack’s no-nonsen
(Lydia)The morning passed quietly, but my mind was anything but still. Talking to Mama in the garden earlier had eased some of the heaviness pressing down on my chest, but it hadn’t erased it entirely. It felt like smoothing a wrinkle in fabric only to have another one pop up. There were so many reasons for my hesitance, and the biggest one gnawed at me: I hadn’t told Thomas. I could still see his face from last night, relaxed and content, the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled at me over dinner. It had been a perfect evening, something we hadn’t shared in a long time. I hadn’t wanted to taint it with this...complication. But now, the silence I’d kept about Clara weighed on me like a stone. I stirred my coffee absently at the kitchen counter, staring out at the bright day outside. Mabel and Miles were at preschool, their laughter and chatter missing from the house, leaving it quieter than usual. Thomas had kissed me on the forehead before leaving for work, his expression one of
(Thomas)The faint hum of my office phone was drowned out by the stack of emails I had been working through since the moment I arrived at work. The buzz of productivity was always welcome, a way to focus my mind, especially after the whirlwind of emotions from last night. The date with Lydia had been everything I hoped it would be, a moment of calm amid the chaos. I found myself smiling as I clicked through a report, her laughter from last night still echoing in my mind. It had been a while since I’d seen her truly happy, her guard down, and it reminded me of why I fought so hard to protect what we had built together. My cell phone vibrated on the desk, breaking my thoughts. I glanced at the screen: Aiden. That name always brought a mix of feelings. Reassurance, because he was a solid ally, and apprehension, because his calls often came with heavy news. I picked up, leaning back in my chair, "Aiden, what’s the update?" His voice was steady but carried an edge, like a surgeon
(Adeline)The front garden was always my favorite place to sit, especially in the morning. The air carried a crisp freshness, and the soft rustle of leaves felt like nature’s whisper of reassurance. Today, I felt lighter, less weighed down by the fog of fatigue that had wrapped around me since the surgery. A week had passed, and though I knew there was still a long road ahead, scans, radiotherapy, and who knew what else, I was grateful for small mercies like this. Lydia sat beside me, her posture relaxed but her eyes distant. She should have been glowing after her date with Thomas last night; I’d seen her excitement all day leading up to it. Yet, there was something off about her today, a subtle undercurrent of worry she couldn’t quite hide. I reached over and patted her hand, drawing her out of her thoughts, “You seem troubled, my dear. What’s on your mind?” She blinked, then gave me a soft smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes, “Nothing to worry about, Mama. Just…think
(Margaret)The mansion was quiet, its grand halls and rooms bathed in moonlight, but I was still awake, as I often was these days. Sleep came sparingly. I’d taken to wandering the mansion late at night, a habit born of restlessness and regret. Tonight, I found myself seated in the parlor, nursing a lukewarm cup of tea, when I heard the faint creak of the front door. Ruby. Her steps were light but purposeful, and as she crossed into the hallway, I caught a glimpse of her face. She looked lost in thought, her brow furrowed, her lips pressed into a thin line. There was something about her expression that tugged at me, a pang I couldn’t quite place but that settled uncomfortably in my chest. “Ruby,” I called gently, my voice cutting through the stillness. She froze for a moment, her back to me, before turning slightly, her posture tense. Her eyes met mine briefly, a flicker of something unreadable passing through them, before she resumed her stride, heading toward the staircase.
(Jack)The room was bathed in the muted glow of the television, the credits of the movie rolling silently on the screen. Ruby lay beside me, her head resting lightly against my shoulder, her breathing slow and even as she slept. I didn’t dare move. Instead, I let my gaze linger on her, taking in the soft lines of her face, the way her lashes rested against her cheeks, the slight rise and fall of her chest. Her hair framed her face, catching the dim light in a way that made her look almost ethereal. I shouldn’t be doing this, shouldn’t let myself get caught up in the illusion. But in that moment, it felt impossible not to. For years, this apartment had been a space I’d tried to keep void of emotion, a place where I could compartmentalize my life, separate work from personal chaos. But Ruby had changed that. When she’d been here, this place had felt alive, warm. And now, with her asleep beside me, it felt like a dream I didn’t want to wake up from.My mind wandered back to the few
(Ruby)I stood outside Jack’s apartment door, my hand hesitating over the knocker. I shouldn’t be here. I’d already done more than enough, stitched him up, watching him avoid my questions like he always did. But despite every logical reason to stay away, I was here. Because this wasn’t just anyone, it was Jack. The Jack who had once made me laugh so hard I cried, who had shared countless quiet evenings with me in this very apartment. The Jack who, despite all the hurt and chaos, still managed to make my heart skip a beat when I thought of him. I pressed my lips together, pushing the memories aside. This wasn’t about rekindling anything; it was about making sure he was okay. He had shown up at my door injured and vulnerable, and no matter how much time had passed or how complicated things had gotten, I couldn’t ignore that. Taking a deep breath, I knocked. When Jack opened the door, his surprise was clear, though he quickly masked it with that practiced cool demeanor of his.
(Jack)I sat on the edge of my couch, staring at the bandage on my side, frustration boiling just beneath the surface. The room was quiet, save for the faint hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen. The family doctor had left about an hour ago after re-dressing my wound. He was efficient and professional, as always, and I appreciated the care. But damn it, why hadn’t I thought to call him in the first place? The moment I got injured, my instincts hadn’t pointed me toward practicality or logic. No, instead, I’d ended up at Ruby’s apartment, bloodied and in desperate need of stitches. I didn’t even remember the exact route I’d taken to get there, just that I had. Like my brain had been hardwired to seek her out, even when it made no sense. It embarrassed me now. Ruby had been nothing but calm and steady as she stitched me up, but I could tell how unsettled she was underneath that brave exterior. And I’d put her in that position, dragged her into something she had no business being
(Lydia)The drive back to the mansion felt electric, charged with an energy I couldn’t quite put into words. Thomas’s hand rested on my thigh as he navigated the quiet streets, his fingers brushing gently against my skin. Neither of us said much; the connection between us was palpable without needing words. By the time we reached the house and stepped through the door, it was as if the air around us crackled with anticipation. Ruby had left a note on the counter saying the kids were asleep and she’d see us tomorrow. I smiled, grateful for her support, but my focus was entirely on Thomas. As soon as the door to our bedroom clicked shut behind us, it was like a dam broke. His lips were on mine in an instant, hot and urgent, pulling me into him as if the space between us was unbearable. My hands found their way to his shoulders, then his hair, as I pressed closer, feeling the hard lines of his body against mine. “Lydia,” he murmured, his voice low and thick with desire. I didn’t