(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
(Lydia)I close my eyes, letting the back of the cold hospital chair press against my head as the wave of dizziness takes over. The blood draw left me feeling hollow, like a drained version of myself, and though I know I’d do it all again in a heartbeat, the faintness in my body is an unsettling reminder of the helplessness I keep pushing aside. It’s all just hitting me now, Mama’s surgery, the weight of what it means, the sliver of hope we’re clinging to. And the fear. It’s a dark, looming cloud, the kind that sits heavy and constant.Ruby’s gentle touch on my arm pulls me back. She’s holding a small carton of orange juice, her eyes shimmering as she offers it to me with a soft, supportive smile. “Here,” she whispers, her voice thick with the same emotions I’m barely managing to hold down, “Drink this. It'll help.”I take the juice, sipping it slowly, feeling the coldness soothe my throat and slowly ease the wooziness. I don’t realize I’m crying until I taste the salt of my tears. T
(Lydia)Ruby’s hand squeezed mine, grounding me. As the rush of emotions settled and my breathing steadied, the room seemed to right itself, and my head cleared enough to sit up a little straighter."Lydia," Ruby began gently, her voice full of concern, “You should go home for a bit. Get some rest, maybe a shower, something to eat…I know you haven’t left this place since we got here.”I shook my head immediately, "No, I can’t leave now. I need to be here when Mama wakes up.""Lyd, you’ll do her no good if you’re half-conscious from exhaustion," Ruby pressed, “You can come right back after a break. Just a couple of hours. I’ll stay here with her.”I gave her a look that I knew was as stubborn as I felt. “Ruby, I’m staying. I have to be here for Mama when she opens her eyes. And besides,” I added, “You’re the one who should take a break. You have the boutique to look after. It must be exhausting, getting it all up and running. This is your dream, you need to be there, not sitting around
(Ruby)The hallways of the hospital stretch on endlessly as I pace, my nerves fraying as every second passes. We’re well over two hours into waiting, and the silence around me feels like it’s pressing down, making it hard to breathe. Lydia is seated with her head in her hands, not daring to lift her gaze from the floor. I want to comfort her, but I can barely keep my own hands from trembling, my own heart from racing in anticipation.Just when I think I can’t stand another second of it, the door swings open, and Dr. Roberts steps out. Lydia and I both stand immediately, the question hovering in the air between us, unspoken but so painfully loud.He looks tired, his face drawn, but he offers us a small smile. “The surgery was a success,” he says, and those words hit me like a weight being lifted. My knees go weak as relief floods through me, and I feel a small, disbelieving laugh slip out of me. Mama made it. She fought, and she made it through. Lydia lets out a choked sob of relief,
(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