NoahRaymond, Neil and Clara had been playing games all morning. Neil was positively gleaming with joy. His eyes sparkled with every victory and his cheeks were flushed with excitement. I watched them from the sidelines. I forced a smile as they darted from one activity to the next. But with each passing moment, a heavy weight settled in my chest. I started to feel more and more like an outsider on what was supposed to be a day for our family.From my seat on a nearby bench, I observed as Raymond and Clara worked together to help Neil win another round of the sack race. Neil’s triumphant grin made me so proud.But then, as the game ended, Clara tripped and fell right into Raymond's arms. They both laughed. The ease with which they interacted gnawed at me, sending a sharp pang through my stomach. I tried to push the feeling aside, to remind myself that Clara was family. She was Owen’s sister. She had just recently lost everything. But the unease lingered, refusing to be silenced.“Ray
NoahI stopped abruptly when I caught a fleeting expression on Clara’s face. A strange smile that sent a shiver down my spine. Did I imagine it? I blinked, trying to clear my thoughts. But Raymond was already looking back at me with a puzzled expression, and Neil was tugging at my hand. His small voice was filled with impatience.“Come on, Mommy! I’m hungry!” Neil urged, his enthusiasm pulling me back to reality.I forced a smile and squeezed his hand. “Alright, sweetheart, let’s go.” I followed Raymond and… Clara. I tried to push aside the unease gnawing at me.As we entered the cafeteria, the noise of chattering families and clinking cutlery filled the air. We took a seat at a long table beside some of Neil’s friends and their parents. One of the mothers who had spoken to me earlier beamed as she caught sight of Raymond.“Ah, the famous Raymond. So we finally get to meet you,” she said with a smile. The other mothers quickly turned their attention to him, their eyes lighting up with
NoahWhy did Clara act so differently today? Her question concerned me. “Do you believe in true love that never ends in betrayal?”Was she trying to plant a seed of mistrust in me about Raymond? Or was it just a simple question, a passing thought? I didn’t want to overthink it. After everything that happened today, I wasn’t in the mood for mind games.I glanced at her, trying to decipher her intentions. I chose my words carefully. “I think true love is rare, but it does exist. It’s something that needs to be nurtured, cared for… It’s not always perfect, but it’s worth fighting for. And I believe some couples would never betray each other.”She looked at me with an unreadable expression. Before she could answer, Neil and Raymond arrived back at the table. Neil’s happy smile was replaced by a pale face and tired eyes. I knelt down, instantly concerned. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?” I asked, gently brushing a hand through his hair.Raymond stepped forward, his expression filled with worr
Noah"What do you think of Clara?" The question had been gnawing at me all day. It grew more urgent with every passing moment. As I lay there in bed, waiting for Raymond’s answer, I felt a knot of anxiety tighten in my stomach. What would he say? Did he notice the same things I did? But the silence that followed was unsettling.I strained my ears, trying to catch his response. But all I could hear was his deep, steady breathing. It dawned on me that Raymond had already fallen asleep. He was unaware of my question, my worries, or my fears. Part of me was relieved—perhaps it was better not to know what he thought. Maybe I was overreacting. Maybe I was just being paranoid.A wave of guilt washed over me. Raymond hadn’t done anything wrong, at least nothing concrete. Why was I letting these thoughts poison my mind? I whispered into the darkness, "Goodnight, Raymond." I leaned in, brushing my lips against his cheek, feeling the roughness of his slight stubble. "I love you," I added softl
NoahNeil and I spent the day cocooned in the warmth of our home. I was glad to be surrounded by the simple joys that came with his gentle presence. It took my mind off… other things.Neil was extra sweet and cuddly when he was sick. His little body curled into mine as we watched movies, played board games, and worked on puzzles. I made him his favorite chicken noodle soup, the steam rising in comforting waves. And when night fell, I helped him with a warm bath. The water soothed his tired muscles, and he giggled softly as I scrubbed his back with a washcloth."Mommy, will you stay with me until I fall asleep?" Neil asked, his voice small and tired as I tucked him into bed."Of course, sweetheart," I whispered, brushing a stray curl from his forehead before pressing a kiss to his warm skin. "I'll be right here."I sat beside him, humming softly as his eyelids fluttered and closed. His breathing evened out into the rhythm of sleep. The house was quiet, save for the occasional creak of
NoahI covered my mouth to suppress the scream that threatened to escape. “No, Clara, don’t…” Raymond’s words echoed in my mind, each syllable dripping with an implication I wasn’t ready to face. What had she tried with him? My thoughts swirled in a storm of suspicion, fear, and denial. I desperately wanted to believe that it was nothing. Just the incoherent ramblings of a man too drunk to know what he was saying. But the doubt gnawed at me. An insidious force that I couldn’t shake.I looked down at Raymond. He was sleeping peacefully, oblivious to the turmoil inside me. His face, even in sleep, held a serene beauty. The kind that had always drawn me to him. I remembered all the special times we’d shared—through darkness and light, he had always been by my side. The way he saved me from Owen and Josie’s betrayal, how he stood by me through the horror of the Blackwoods. And my favorite memories of all: the magical years we spent on the island with Neil. Raymond had always been my ro
NoahI didn’t know how to explain the feeling that washed over me when I saw Clara suddenly appear in Neil’s room. My breath caught in my throat. My heart was pounding in my chest as I took in the sight of her standing there. She stood so still, almost as if she were part of the shadows. Her presence felt intrusive, unsettling. Especially in this most sacred space—Neil’s room, where I should have felt nothing but warmth and safety.“What are you doing in here, Clara?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. Though a tremor of unease slipped through. It was late—too late for casual visits, and certainly too late for wandering around a child’s room.Clara turned to me, startled. She obviously hadn’t heard me come in. Her face was unreadable in the dim light. “I heard Neil,” she said softly, almost too softly. “It sounded like he was having a nightmare. I came in to check on him. I didn’t want to wake you or Raymond, so I thought I’d make sure everything was okay.”Her explanation was r
NoahAfter I picked up the pin, I took a moment to inspect Neil's bedroom more thoroughly. I moved his slippers aside and checked the floor for anything else that might be out of place. My heart raced as I scanned every inch of the room.But everything seemed normal—no more pins, no strange objects, nothing out of the ordinary. I began to wonder if I had overreacted. Maybe it really was just an accident, a pin that had somehow found its way to the floor. I sighed, trying to shake off the lingering unease.Gently, I leaned over to kiss Neil's forehead. I brushed a stray curl away from his peaceful face. He was still sound asleep, undisturbed by the late-night drama that had unfolded around him."Sweet dreams, my son," I whis