Victoriå"Rhee, come on." Ace called as they walked around to the other side and I stood."I'll catch up." I called, watching as he gave me an unsure look before nodding.I sat back down and looked up at the sky before dialing his number."Hey Again. So they found River..." I spoke, my eyes already tearing up as I thought about it."They're still out there searching for you. And Damien and Ryder. If you get this...When you get this, I hope you bring me back a muffin."I ended it, leaning back on the bench and sighing before wiping away the tear that slipped down my cheek.Landon hadn't been gone long, but the circumstances following his disappearance was what worried me the most. For all I knew he could be one of the bodies in that building.I stared down at my hands as I thought about the promise of Forever and a Day, smiling as I remembered getting him to actually make a Pinky Promise.I was holding onto that because it was the only thing giving me the hope that soon, he'd show up a
VictoriåMy heart raced in my chest as I knew I was next to step out. From here I could see all of the flashing lights from the cameras outside and my anxiety level was on one hundred."Troisième!"This was it. The moment of truth. All those years of pretending were finally over and now this was the real thing.Fabio motioned for me to go and I did, walking past him and around the corner. I kept my eyes forward as I walked down the runway and even though I looked unbothered, I was almost positive that my heart would give out at any given second.I spotted my friends sitting in the large crowd as I walked, the wind blowing my hair backward as I moved forward and Milo clapped proudly. I started enjoying this more as soon as I got accustomed to the blinding flash of the camera lights. Stopping at the end of the runway, I switched legs just like Fabio instructed.My hands landed on my hips and I stared straight ahead at the main camera. Then I turned and walked back up, completing the en
Victoria Everyone else had went to the other rooms to get ready for the day and we had to meet at the cars in five minutes.As I was left alone in the room, I grabbed my phone and tried calling him."Hey. It's now been days since anyone has heard from you. Honestly I thought that you'd be back by now. I keep holding onto this hope that you'll be okay but I'm starting to lose it, you know? I don't want to keep holding onto that and then...you never come back.The Show went well yesterday. I know you'd just love to be there," I said sarcastically, laughing as I envisioned his blank face."But that's okay. I'll just have to see you when you get back. Bye, Landon." I laid back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling blankly as I honestly didn't know what else to do.As Mia came back in, I got up and grabbed my stuff. Then I dragged it outside and into the elevator with me. She stepped in next to me with a backpack on her back and I gave her a blank look when she purposely flaunted it."Di
VictoriåI was now back at home. After the Love Locks Bridge, we went out to lunch then back to the hotel to pack our belongings. Nathan started crying as they dropped me off, acting as though we wouldn't be seeing each other at school in a few days.Right now I was sitting in my bedroom, thinking of ways that I could try to help Milo find his long lost son and ex-girlfriend. As I did so, there was a knock on my front door and I placed my pen down and walked downstairs.As I peeked through the hole, my heart fluttered as I saw Theo standing there next to two people I thought I'd never see again."I missed you guys." I said as I opened my door and hugged Damien and Ryder tightly.They hugged me back just as tightly and when I looked at them. My eyes drifted around, searching for Landon but as I saw dozens of Landon's men standing outside with their heads bowed,I knew.I shook my head, not being able to believe this and Damien nodded sadly, a burn on the right side of his neck."He wen
Victoria I leaned my head against the door as the vehicle started moving.It drove through the night and I watched all of the trees and houses as we passed by. We drove past the Diner where I first started learning how to maneuver my way around Landon's silence. His face kept flashing in my head and I realized that he had never once smiled. He never laughed either. He'd only let out a short chuckle here and there. The SUV pulled up to the front of the hospital and they got out, opening my door for me and helping me out before shutting it. I walked up to Theo and he looked down at me, waiting for me to speak."Can you come in with me? You don't have to stay if you don't want to." I asked hopefully and he nodded with a small smile."Anything for you, Miss Rhee." He replied, snapping his fingers as he began walking and when I walked behind him, two guards followed.We went inside and I stopped at the receptionist. "Hi, I'm just here for a check-up with Doctor Hershel." I told him sof
VictoriåFor the next few days I tried busying myself with literally anything so that I didn't have to think about my problems. My health started going down the drain rapidly and I hid it as best as I could.I had a lot of gigs recently and right now, I was sitting in front of a camera as I was interviewed. My makeup and hair was done and I was positive that if my hair was any tighter, my eyes would become just two small slits on my face ."What was your childhood like?" The interviewer asked and I smiled."My childhood wasn't the best. But that's not what I focus on. Because even though it was bad, there were still some good aspects about it." I replied, trying my best to not give out too much personal information and she nodded."Great answer." She told me. "Did you ever think you'd become this Popular, this quickly?" She continued and I shook my head."I didn't think that I'd become Popular at all. I was just so shy and introverted, you know?" "Are you in a relationship?" She ques
Victoria "You always smell so nice." He pointed out and I pushed him away."You've been sniffing me?" I asked and he placed his thumb and index finger close together."Just a little." He smiled, but it was clear to me that he was still hurting inside. He was very close to his brother, after all.The bell rang again and I went into my Math class, sitting next to Ryder and staring at the board ahead of me."I miss him." Ryder acknowledged. "Everyday for school since we were kids we'd eat breakfast together," he sighed, looking at his desk blankly."Today was the first morning I ever ate alone." He looked over at me when he finished and I placed my hand on his shoulder."If you need me to eat breakfast with you every day until we grow old and die, I will." I said and he looked over at me, a smile growing on his face.He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me into a side hug as we sat, burying his nose in my hair."You're the greatest, Rhee." He replied, his hand rubbing my ot
Victoriå"What? What about school?" I asked , staring back at him as if he were a lunatic and he just smiled."I need to find my son, Rhee. Fuck school." He replied, pulling away and already walking to the door."Promise you'll come back?" I asked and he stopped in the doorway, turning and giving me a look that showed me that he knew exactly why I was asking this and he came back over, pulling me into another tight hug."I'll come back." He assured me, patting my back before walking to the door again. "Text me the address."And that was it. Just like that he was gone again, out on a journey to find his son and potentially reconcile with his ex-girlfriend. I was happy for Milo. This was going to be a big change in his life for the better and I knew that he was excited as well.Going over to my door, I shut it and leaned against it then slid down to the floor. I pulled my knees to my chest and buried my face in it, letting out a breath.Here it was again. The feeling of impeccable lonel
Landon"That's how I met her."His eyes glistened as they looked back at me, a look of curiosity washing across his face. His eyes drifted toward the water, then made their way back up to mine. "My mommy?" His little voice asked, a smile growing on his face as he thought about her and I nodded. "I miss her." He looked down and I rolled my eyes."What have I taught you?" I questioned, staring back at him emotionlessly and he nodded."No weakness." He said and I nodded, standing up. He got up as well, looking at me for a while before he hugged my legs tightly. He wasn't like me. No matter how much I tried training him to not show emotion, he always seemed to do the opposite. He was like her in every way. The excessive kindness, the everyday happiness and the random affection. He'd hug everyone and everything in his path and there was no stopping him. His eyes were a greenish grey and his hair was dark and he had most of my features"Come on." I told him, placing my hand on his head. H
LandonI stared at the painting in front of me, wondering how I got to this point. The house felt empty now. There was nothing to come home to other than our son. I couldn't even sleep in our bedroom anymore. Her things there had stayed the same. Her blanket was still in the same spot she left it and everything there smelled like her.Everytime I looked at the baby I saw her, hating the fact that she wasn't here to help me. I didn't get any sleep as he constantly needed to be fed or changed and I had to do this all on my own. I didn't trust anyone to care for him, knowing that he was the last thing I had gotten from her. No one knew what he looked like. I kept him hidden from people that were just looking for another story. I got off of the chair and walked up the stairs to his room. As I entered, I found that his big green eyes were now opened and he was just moments away from crying. His legs kicked the air as he laid on his stomach, his hands grabbing at the blanket. I watched her
Victoria The door opened again and I looked up to find Landon walking in, his eyebrows arched more than usual and I knew that he was angry. "What's wrong?" I asked, pulling the blanket further up onto my body and he looked at me."I can't do this." He shook his head almost frustratedly. I pointed to the chair next to my bed and he stood there for a while before sighing and running a hand through his hair. He came over and sat, crossing his arms over his chest and I knew he was trying to suppress his emotions.I motioned for him to lean closer before cupping his face in my hand, my arm too weak to even lift properly. I stroked his cheek with my thumb and gave him a small smile."You have your whole life ahead of you, Landon," I paused, another sharp pain hitting me in my chest. "You have to move on, okay? For me.""No." He replied curtly, his tone dark and I sighed, expecting nothing less from him."Landon, you can't hold onto this forever. You'll torture yourself." "No, Victoria."
Victoria I laid on the bed, looking at the ceiling blankly. A tear rolled down my cheek as I finally allowed myself to cry because I was alone. There was no one around to be strong for. I was in so much pain. My brain screamed for it to just end and I sniffled as another tear fell. The surgery was scheduled just mere minutes away as they didn't want to risk me passing and the baby dying as well. I knew that this was it. It had to be.There was this bitter taste in my mouth as I laid there. The only sound heard was the beeping of the monitor and my breathing which was loud due to the oxygen mask. They had prepared me for surgery already and my friends were here. They'd be allowed to come in soon to say their final goodbyes and it was this moment that made me realize that I didn't want to go. I prayed and hoped that by some miracle I'd survive this but I knew better. There was no way.Landon was outside making a call and I wiped away my tears quickly as the door opened. Mia and the o
Victoria I was still strong despite my condition. My body was weak and my stomach was heavy but I still managed to build enough strength to walk. It was hard, but I didn't mind. At least I was still around for now. I was supposed to be moving around in a wheelchair but frankly, that just made me feel worse. I continued to do interviews and there were tons of articles covering my life. Even the news kept up with it because it was genuinely a really rare thing to happen. I wanted to see the ocean before I went to the hospital, knowing that this would be the last time I see the world.He walked back into the Living Room a while later and turned the TV on for me. Then he handed me the Jello Cup with a spoon and a napkin before he sat on the other couch and opened his laptop. He buried himself neck deep in work and I ate with my eyes shut, listening to the TV."Let's go to the park." I suggested randomly and he looked up from the screen.He shut his laptop and took it with him as he walk
VictoriåMonths laterToday was December 23rd, one day away from Landon's birthday. One day away from the end. I was surprised that I had made it this long. I laid in bed, my eyelids too heavy to lift. The oxygen mask on my face had been a constant thing since last month, as I couldn't really breathe on my own for more than an hour at a time.I was in more pain than I had ever been in, in my entire life. My stomach was huge now and my body was too weak to even handle its weight. I was already dealing with the pain of my cancer and the constant kicking and punching going on in there wasn't really helping.Tomorrow was the surgery. The baby would be here at just eight and a half months and that wasn't too bad. Definitely not preterm. I just prayed that everything went well. I knew the chances of me surviving this were literally zero and that was okay in my book. I knew that Landon was physically prepared.Over time he'd grown into a really great guy. He did everything for me before I ev
LandonI ran a hand through my hair as I sat in my bedroom, not knowing what anxiety felt like but if I had to make a guess, this would be it. She was out, spending time with her friends and I was on edge the entire time.The air around me smelled like Coconut and Vanilla, a scent I'd grown rather accustomed to. My dresser was now filled with her things; various different products which contributed to the room's scent. I got up, walking to the door and grabbing a shirt on the way out. I pulled it over my head as I descended the stairs, going to the kitchen. I sat behind the counter and checked my phone, seeing as there were still no calls or texts from her."Boss. Permission to speak?" Theo asked from behind me, staying where he was."Granted." I replied, taking a sip from my drink and listening as he approached."Mister Santos is outside." "My office." I got up, walking out of the kitchen and going into my office. I sat behind my desk just as they walked in. He hadn't changed much
She didn't need to tell me that. She made her decision a long time ago. I sighed, taking her hands off of my face and bringing them to my lips. "I want, what you want." I said and she smiled, smacking my cheek."Thank God. Because you didn't actually have a choice." She replied jokingly. She opened her arms, scooting to the edge of the bed and hugging me tightly. "What if I'm not a good father?" I asked nonchalantly as I placed my head in her neck and she breathed out a small laugh."Nobody's perfect." She tried reassuring me and I held her tightly, knowing what was to come in a few months."Would you hate me?" I questioned further and her arms around my neck tightened slightly."You're my wife, Landon. I can't hate you." She assured me and somehow, I felt better about everything. She managed to drag me into something new each month. Things I didn't think were possible for me suddenly began happening and I couldn't complain. "Now help me to the bathroom so I can let all of this hosp
LandonI sat, staring at her sleeping face as she laid on the hospital bed again. There was an oxygen mask on her face to help her breathe and even then her breathing was shallow. She had been asleep for a few hours and showed no signs of waking up any time soon.I took her hand, looking down at the ring on her finger. Her skin was pale now, every little scar she had turning purple. Her long eyelashes casted shadows on her cheeks. She looked peaceful as she slept and I sighed, leaning back in my seat.For the first time in my life, I felt hopeless. I could only watch as she got worse and I couldn't do anything about it. I was tired of seeing her in this room for weeks at a time. Tired of seeing her in pain everyday. She couldn't die. There was no way things would ever be the same without her. There'd be nothing to look forward to every day; nothing to look forward to in the future. No more excited smiles when I visited, no more late nights listening to her dreams, no more buying her