Shatter Hope

Fifteen years had passed since that fateful day when Aubrey, a mere five-year-old girl, experienced a life-altering event. Clutching tightly onto her small bag of groceries, she trudged homeward with her mother, their routine trip from the store taking an unexpected turn. Out of nowhere, a stray ball struck Aubrey on the head, causing her to stumble and drop the oranges she held. Overwhelmed by the sight of the scattered fruit, tears welled up in her eyes. But in that vulnerable moment, a young boy named Evan appeared, coming to her aid. With gentle care, he picked up each orange, returning them to her one by one. As Aubrey looked up at him, her face flushed crimson, and her heart raced. From that day forward, whenever she encountered Evan, her heart fluttered, and her cheeks blushed, causing her to seek solace behind her mother's protective embrace.

Now, jolted awake by the sound of Evan's car pulling into the driveway, Aubrey sat up in bed, instinctively touching her head. It was difficult to comprehend how many years had passed since that vivid memory. Checking the time on her watch, she hurriedly got out of bed and made her way to the bathroom, splashing cold water on her face. Staring at her reflection in the mirror, she was greeted with a distressing sight—red marks on her cheeks and blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. Her mother-in-law had struck her, a jarring departure from her mother's unconditional love throughout her life. Tears streamed down her face as she made her way to the kitchen, determined to prepare breakfast for everyone, including Evan.

As she served Evan his food, he noticed her injured face, concern etching across his features. Mrs. Jane, her mother-in-law, was taken aback by Evan's inquiry, and Aubrey chose to remain silent, her voice trapped within her.

"Aubrey, please tell me what happened to your face," Evan pressed, his gaze fixed on her. Aubrey glanced hesitantly at her grandmother, who subtly shook her head, silently urging her not to reveal the truth.

"It's nothing," Aubrey managed to whisper, her voice barely audible, "just an accidental bump."

Though Aubrey tried to divert attention away from her face, she instinctively brushed her hair aside, attempting to conceal her wounded cheek. Witnessing her discomfort, Evan rose from his chair and positioned himself in front of Aubrey, gently sweeping her hair away from her face, exposing the truth.

"Who did this to you?" Evan inquired, concern furrowing his brow.

"No one," Aubrey evasively responded, avoiding direct eye contact with Evan. Aaron, her brother-in-law, noticed the escalating tension and furrowed his brows.

"Who hurt you?" he asked, his voice filled with worry. Aubrey's fear intensified, and she turned her gaze towards Evan, seeking his guidance. "Who?" Evan reiterated, his attention now directed towards Mrs. Jane, his mother. Their eyes locked, and a flicker of fear coursed through Mrs. Jane's eyes as she met her son's unwavering stare. Sensing his mother's apprehension, Evan spoke up, his voice heavy with disbelief, "Mom, did you do this to her?"

Mrs. Jane swiftly attempted to justify her actions. "What harm is there in a minor incident? Besides, it's her own fault for going to your office without informing us. We were all worried sick," Grandma interjected, trying to deflect blame from Mrs. Jane. Evan looked at his grandmother, astonishment evident in his wide eyes.

"Grandma, would you condone hurting her if she simply stepped out for a moment? Is that your definition of justice? I've never questioned your decisions because I know you always strive for what's right, but it is unequivocally wrong to harm someone," Evan stated, disappointment lacing his voice. Mrs. Jane retorted, anger seething in her voice, "I will never apologize to this maid."

"Mother, you must apologize to Aubrey and acknowledge the grave mistake you've made," Evan urged, determination coloring his words.

"I will never lower myself to apologize to this mere maid," Jane declared defiantly.

"Mom, I never expected such callousness from you," Evan expressed, his disappointment palpable. Consumed by anger, Mrs. Jane abruptly stood up and stormed towards Aubrey, scowling at her injured face.

"Mother, what on earth are you doing?" Aaron's shocked and concerned voice rang out. Overwhelmed with emotions, Aubrey couldn't hold back the tears any longer. "You're choosing to fight with me because of this maid," Mrs. Jane accused, animosity dripping from her words.

"Mom, please stop this," Aaron pleaded with his mother, desperation evident in his voice.

Incensed, Mrs. Jane retreated to her room, leaving a tense and heavy silence in her wake. "I'm sorry," Evan said softly, addressing Aubrey before retreating to his own room. Aubrey, tears streaming down her face, stood silently with her head lowered, profoundly affected by her grandmother's piercing glare. With a heavy heart, she slowly made her way back to her room upon hearing her grandmother's voice.

Sometime later, a faint knock echoed against Aubrey's door. Her eyes still swollen from her tears, she hesitantly opened the door, finding Evan standing there, a first aid kit clutched in his hand.

"Can I come in?" Evan's gentle voice carried concern. Aubrey nodded, her voice caught in her throat, and she stepped aside, allowing him to enter.

"Why are you standing? Come and sit," Evan gestured towards the sofa, his voice soothing. Aubrey complied, taking a seat beside him, her heart pounding. Carefully opening the first aid kit, Evan retrieved a cotton pad and applied an antiseptic to it, gently pressing it against the wounded area near her lips. Aubrey winced slightly, momentarily forgetting her pain as she felt the warmth of Evan's breath on her face. Her cheeks flushed, and her heart raced with unfamiliar anticipation. At that moment, Aubrey allowed herself to truly observe Evan's features—mesmerizing brown eyes, a sharp nose, and inviting lips. A deep longing stirred within her, an irresistible urge to touch those lips. Her thoughts were interrupted by Evan's voice, breaking the enchanting reverie.

"Forgive me for my mother's actions," Evan said, his words jolting Aubrey back to reality.

She snapped out of her daze, meeting his gaze. Summoning her strength, her voice slightly shaky yet determined, she replied, "I was also at fault. I should have informed everyone before leaving."

"It's not your fault," Evan reassured her, his eyes locked with hers. At that moment, the world seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them in their shared gaze. Evan's hand gently rose, his fingertips brushing against the marks on Aubrey's cheeks. Aubrey closed her eyes, surrendering to his tender touch, cherishing each moment. Evan studied Aubrey's face, taking in the sight of her swollen, slightly bruised lips. With a gentle thumb, he caressed her lips, feeling their softness beneath his touch. A surge of tension coursed through Aubrey's body, and Evan's thumb tenderly traced along her lower lip. Overwhelmed by the intimacy of the moment, Aubrey involuntarily parted her lips, allowing Evan's thumb to glide into her mouth, their skin meeting. Sensations of tenderness enveloped Aubrey as her saliva trickled from the corner of her mouth, her tongue mirroring the gentle movement of Evan's thumb. Their intimate connection was abruptly severed by the jarring sound of Aaron's ringing phone, startling them both. Evan withdrew his thumb, leaving Aubrey's room without a word.

Aubrey watched him leave, her gaze fixed upon his retreating figure, a mixture of longing and confusion swirling within her. As Evan departed, she absentmindedly touched her lips with trembling fingers, a shy smile gradually forming upon her face. Aubrey felt an inexplicable surge of happiness, elated that her husband had finally defended her after three long years and had allowed himself to touch her in such an intimate manner. Sleep eluded her for the rest of the night, and she awoke early the next morning, her mind still consumed by the events of the previous evening. She hurriedly made her way to the mirror, a smile lingering on her face as she examined her reflection. Filled with newfound hope, she proceeded to the kitchen, her heart brimming with determination as she prepared breakfast for everyone.

"You appear unusually content today," Mrs. Jane's voice unexpectedly pierced the air from behind Aubrey. Startled, Aubrey turned to find her mother-in-law standing there, her gaze piercing. "You seem to find joy in my son's disagreement with me," Mrs. Jane remarked coldly. Aubrey, her voice caught in her throat, chose to remain silent, her eyes fixed upon the ground. Unyielding, Mrs. Jane continued, a sly smile playing on her lips, "But don't get too carried away, my dear. What I am about to reveal will shatter your fragile happiness." With a calculated gesture, Mrs. Jane picked up a newspaper from the table and handed it to Aubrey. Trembling uncontrollably, Aubrey held the paper, her eyes widening in shock, her limbs turning numb. Tears streamed down her face as she dropped the newspaper to the ground. Mrs. Jane let out a hollow laugh, consumed by amusement. "Aubrey, Cassie has returned to Evan's life. What will you do now?" Mrs. Jane taunted, venom lacing her words. Overwhelmed by emotions, Aubrey whispered to herself, her voice trembling, "What about last night, Evan? Why did you give me hope?"