"What?' Serena asked, not sure she heard right. Shanice averted her gaze to the window and sighed out as though preparing herself to speak further. After a moment she turned her eyes back on Serena, a sympathetic look in her red-rimmed eyes. She reached over the table and took her hand in hers. "I can see how much having a baby means to you, Ren. You can fool the whole world with your fake smile but not me. I can clearly see the sadness lurking behind your eyes. And your sadness saddens me. Motherhood is the biggest blessing for a woman and I don't know why God chose to not give it to you. I know it in my heart, Ren, that you will be an amazing mother and you deserve all the happiness in the world. And if I can..if I can help you in any way then I won't back off. I am ready to lend you my womb," her words conveyed conviction and sincerity. Serena was still not able to process her proposal Shanice had sprung on her all of a sudden. "I don't......I don't think it's a good idea," Se
He chased her. "He was the perfect boyfriend a girl could have. Would never stop telling me that he loves me. I didn't want to date him despite his insistence.....for I kind of had suspected that you liked him but he made me feel so loved and wanted that I couldn't resist the temptation," Shanice narrated, adopting an apologetic one. Would never stop telling me that he loves me. This particular sentence stood out to Serena. Asher had never used the word "love" for her. "We started hanging out in secret, those were the best days of my life. He would bring me flowers and gifts every time we met. I was surprised to find that tattoo on the right side of his chest. 07-16-2008 is written under it," Shanice purposefully mentioned this detail. The name could only be detected if seen from dangerously close. Serena felt as though the room was closing in on her, about to swallow her whole. "We would spend nights talking about random stuff and......." Shanice trailed off. Serena grasped the s
"You alright, ma'am?" the maid in the kitchen enquired in concern when she noticed Serena at the kitchen's door. The woman looked paler than sheet, eyes dimmed with hollowing sadness, and melancholy shrouded her like dark clouds. Serena didn't respond nor did she glance the maid's way as she quietly dragged her feet towards the tap to douse the burn in her throat. She reached out a hand to the glass sitting on the counter. It is then the maid noticed her trembling. Her hands were shaking uncontrollably. No wonder the glass slipped off her grip as soon as she picked it up. The glass shattered to tiny pieces near her feet but Serena didn't as much flinch. She just wrapped her arms around her trembling body as though seeking protection and rested her forlorn gaze on the broken glass. The maid, startled by the sudden turn of events, ran towards her. "Ma'am?" she called out to her but Serena just kept staring at the shattered glass. The once perfect glass- without so much of a crack on i
Her feet rooted to the ground, Serena put her hand in front of her face, shielding her eyes from the car's headlights. The car screeched to a halt in time, a centimeter short of touching her. The driver climbed out of the car, fuming, and slammed the door close behind him. Her brush with death had brought her to her tipping point. Her mental strain had reached its limit. She felt her head spinning, her lids dropping. "Are you mad?" an enraged voice thundered down on her, making her wince. She lowered her hand to see the driver. However, all she could see was a blurred figure advancing towards her. "Serena?" Henry squinted in the rain to make sure he wasn't mistaken. Serena blinked confusedly at him before her legs gave away and fainted. Henry leaped forward to catch her but she had already fallen. "Shit," he cursed, shocked and confused. He hastily crouched to her level and patted her cheeks in an attempt to wake her up but she had already passed out.Having no option, he picked
Serena was overwhelmed by emotions when her eyes settled upon him. He was here. Asher was here. The dam inside her burst open and she couldn't stop herself from running towards him, yearning for the solace only he could give her. Asher's expression morphed from anger to concern as she sprinted towards him with tears flying down her cheeks. She threw herself into his arms, causing him to almost lose his balance, making him stagger backward in response. He quickly secured his arms around her, enveloping her in warmth and supporting her weight. Serena's sobs were intense and unrestrained like those of a child seeking comfort, as she buried her face against his chest. "What's wrong, baby?" he worried out, feeling unsettled by the way she was crying. He pulled her closer, desperate to soothe her. She didn't say anything for a long time but just kept crying. He waited patiently, whispering sweet nothings in her ear, caressing her back. Once she was calmed enough, he lifted her chin and
It was 4 in the morning, and Serena was sitting on her balcony with her back pressed against the wall. A faraway look in her eyes as she gazed off into the inked sky. The ache in her heart had eased for a moment when he was inside her but it had returned with full force, worse than the last time. She felt emptier, lonelier. Seven years for nothing? Their marriage of three years meant nothing? Only yesterday, her hands were full but now they were empty. Everything that mattered to her was slipping out of her fist like sand, the more she tightened her fist, the faster she was losing. She felt duped like a farmer who had worked hard for a year, only to find out that his soil was barren. No matter how much he tilled the soil or planted new seeds, nothing would grow. She was sitting here for the last three hours, thinking and lamenting over her fate. When she had prayed to God for him, she didn't mean it this way. Suddenly, she found herself engulfed in the warmth."Why are you sitting ou
.......... Shanice, I thought it would be romantic to write a letter. Hope you don't find it cheesy, even though, it is a little bit. The day I met you for the first time I assumed you would be just another self-centered, stuck-up girl who looks down at others for no reason. But it was when we started spending time together I realized how wrong was I. You are more than just a pretty face. At first, I was attracted to your pretty face but with time I grew to admire you for your kind, caring, and ambitious nature. I should have known though, Serena's best friend can be anything but narcissistic. I like how grounded you are despite your desire to own the sky. We have so much in common. We both have dreams and goals. We both want to own the world one day. Your dreams resonate with mine. When I talk to you, I feel heard and understood. You encourage me when I feel down and appreciate me when I accomplish something. We've been together for three months and I can feel us growing into so
The night was a dreamy one. Her bow-shaped lips curved into an endearing smile as soft fluffs of wind began flirting with her long, loose hair. As she smiled, the night turned brighter. Her innocent gaze was following the moon as it constantly drifted through the heavy chunks of cloud. A golden halo surrounded the celestial globe. Sometimes the gigantic clouds would completely swallow the poor orb, leaving no trace of it. And every time it disappeared behind the layers, she would patiently wait for it to come out and light up the jet-ink sky once more with its divine light. She didn’t own a halo like the moon, but she was no less divine. Her angelic aura was her halo. She was sitting at the edge of the pond with water reaching the middle of her legs. She drew a deep breath and inhaled the sweet aroma of night jasmine. Her husband had them planted especially for her as they were her favorites. The entire garden was swarming with them. He had planted them with his own hands and buil