Victoria I felt like passing out as my legs wobbled. I took a few steps closer, still in disbelief and he pushed himself off of the car. He lifted his arm slightly, a small gesture that was a big thing coming from him. Then it finally set it.I started running and his arms opened wider, knowing what was coming. I ran right up to him and lifted my hand, slapping him across the face. His face didn't even change and his head didn't move."That's for leaving me." I said, walking back over to the guards before wiping my tears. "Okay, let's try this again."I ran up to him, hearing Theo chuckling in the background. I jumped, wrapping my arms around his neck tightly and my legs squeezed his torso.I then buried my face in his neck and the tears began pouring. I was hugging him so tightly that he didn't even need to hold me up. Within seconds his neck was soaked with my tears, his shirt was beginning to get soaked."I thought you left me." I whispered and his hands gripped my thighs, holdin
LandonShe sighed quietly, still staring out at the back yard. She seemed as though she was thinking; formulating the right questions to ask before finally speaking. "What really happened after the fire?" She asked, leaning her head back to look up at me."I got shot and ended up in the woods." I answered and her eyes widened."Are you okay?" She asked, her eyebrows furrowing and giving me a clear sign that she was worried."No. I'm dead." I responded sarcastically and she gave me a look."You weren't far from it." She shot back and I breathed out a chuckle, watching as her lips curled upward into a small smile."What took you so long?" She asked me."Took days to get out of the forest." I replied and she looked as though the rest of her questions were already answered."You scared me."Her voice came out shaky, as though she still hadn't wrapped her head around the fact that I wasn't dead.It was silent for a while and I wondered what was going on inside her head."You missed everyt
LandonShe looked to the ground, staring at it for a while before she looked back up at me, tears filling her already glassy eyes.She looked vulnerable right now and I knew that it was my fault. But I didn't care. If I kept letting her do what she wants just to spare her feelings, this wouldn't end well."I stayed in the hospital for seven months when I was six.I was alone the entire time. My dad said that it was a punishment and I'd learn from it.Every night I stayed in that cold room, trying to figure out what I did wrong and every day I'd wonder if they'd ever come back."She explained and I leaned against the counter, my eyes following a tear that slipped out of her eye."After that I never wanted to go to another hospital alone." She wiped away the tear.I knew why she told me that. She asked me to come with her that day because she didn't want to be alone and I had let her down."When I got my results I didn't even feel bad for myself. And I didn't need anyone else feeling ba
LandonI sat in his office, staring back at him blankly as he fumbled around with his fingers on the keyboard of his computer."Miss Rhee has Ovarian Cancer. It has affected both of her ovaries, so both would need to be removed.""Miss Rhee won't be able to have children." I leaned back in my seat, realizing that options for her were very limited. "Treatment?" I asked emotionlessly, taking out a cigarette from inside of my pocket and lighting it up.He stared at it, uncomfortable with the idea of me smoking inside of the building but I didn't care. "Treatment for her particular stage would only increase her chances of survival for the next five years by fifty percent. Meaning it's not guaranteed that she would make it to the fifth year.""There is, however, an alternative option. The doctors here have created an off-the-market treatment that can give her a greater life expectancy." He said, looking up from the screen in front of him.I took a long drag, forgetting that I was even s
LandonMy gun was still aimed at his son's head and I knew the person behind me wasn't lying, judging by the look of betrayal that passed across Timothy's face."Thorne told the both of us to make sure that he and his girlfriend didn't die. But you said that no black man was going to make more money than you."He looked like the wind was knocked out of him and I nodded once, turning the gun on the person behind me and shooting them in an instant.Nobody likes a snitch.Turning the gun on Timothy, his hands shook as he placed them together."Please! Don't kill me! He isn't dea-"A bullet went into the side of his head and I looked up, seeing as the doors were now opened and Thorne stood in the doorway with a group of men."Didn't think you'd crash a party without me." He said, walking further into the room and I didn't put my gun away.I knew what this was. "You know, Boss, I wish you didn't dig around so much." He shook his head in almost disappointment.Raising an eyebrow, I finally
Victoriå"What about your parents?" I asked carefully, placing my fork down as I had given up on trying to eat."My mother was Arab. My father was Stupid." He said seriously and I laughed.A few minutes later and I still hadn't recovered, placing my hand over my mouth as I tried catching my breath."Guessing you weren't a big fan of your old man." I said, shaking my head as small chuckles still came out."You know you're getting really good at this. Before I couldn't get you to say more than two words at a time." I told him proudly, giving him a smile and he just stared back at me blankly."Spoke to your doctor today." I looked up at him, disappointed that he didn't listen to me."Landon..." I trailed off, letting out a small sigh."You have an option." He told me firmly, staring back at me with his usual cold look and I leaned forward slightly."Does it guarantee I won't die?" I asked him and his eyes grew colder, giving me the answer I already knew.I stood, grabbing my plate and t
Victoria He leaned against the counter in front of me, crossing his tatted arms over his chest."Did you cook?" Mia asked as she entered the kitchen, not noticing Landon as her eyes were stuck to her phone screen."Yeah..." I responded awkwardly and she laughed slightly."Why did you say it like th-" She paused as she looked up, her eyes immediately locking onto his as he seemed to be waiting. He just looked back at her coldly as if he was waiting for her to leave and I smacked his back lightly, shaking my head."I left you some food in the microwave." I told her, peeking my head out from behind Landon and she quickly nodded and exited the kitchen.He turned around, looking at me. I wasn't entirely sure if he wanted to say something or not but if he did, he chose not to.I got off of the counter, turning toward the sink and rinsing off the plates. My mind strayed and suddenly, I felt like I was drowning in my own thoughts as I stared blankly at the running water.Maybe I was only ca
VictoriåI curled up on the floor of the bathroom, feeling as though I was drowning as the water from the shower poured onto my face, washing away the blood that came from my mouth.My eyes were glued to the wall next to me and my body shook. I had come into the bathroom to take a shower then suddenly, I was on the ground.I couldn't speak and I couldn't move, but I knew I'd have to try to get off of the ground. Trying my hardest to feel my limbs, I attempted to push myself off of the ground.But that backfired tremendously as my face hit the ground when my arms gave out. Taking a shaky breath as my body still shook, I rolled closer to the wall and with all of my strength, I sat up.I sat there for a while, my back leaning against the wall. I knew that a lot of time had passed because the light from outside became brighter and brighter.Finally, I could feel my limbs again and the shaking had stopped. Getting up carefully, I turned the shower off and grabbed my towel, holding onto the
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