THE NEXT MORNING.As the first rays of sunlight crept through the curtains, I woke up feeling lighter, as though the peaceful evening Leon had surprised me with had taken away some of the weight I’d been carrying. I stretched out, savoring the warmth of the bed, but when I reached for Leon, the space beside me was empty.I frowned, sitting up slightly and looking around. Leon was already dressed, standing by the window with his phone pressed to his ear, his face etched with concern. Something was wrong.“Yeah, I’ll be there as soon as I can,” Leon said into the phone, his voice low and serious. “Make sure Jack knows. We can’t afford any more surprises.” He ended the call and turned to me, his eyes softened the moment that he saw me already sitting on the edge of the bed.“Good morning, my love” he said, attempting a smile, but I could see the anxiety in his eyes that he was trying to hide.“Leon, who was that on the phone? What’s going on?” I asked, sitting up fully while trying to a
THE FOLLOWING DAYS, I finally decided to step back and allow leon to handle the case for the time being. I decided to just sit in the garden patio and feel in the soft hum of the breeze and the gentle rustling of leaves around me. After all the chaotic things that went through my life, It was just now that I could find sometime alone while staring over the flowers blooming in every corner. Usually, this was my sanctuary, a place where I could gather my thoughts, but today, even the beauty of the garden couldn’t distract me from how bored I felt.Leon had insisted that I take it easy and stay at home while he and Jack worked on the legal case. I had agreed, knowing he was right. But after days of being stuck inside with nothing to do but worry, I was starting to feel restless. I missed being more involved, and though I trusted Leon completely, I couldn't shake the feeling that I should be doing more. As I absentmindedly flipped through a magazine, I noticed Lena approaching me. Her
As the afternoon drifted on, Lena and I kept talking, the conversation flowing easily as the two of us got even more comfortable with one another. And I must say, Lena surely live up to her offer of being a good company. She actually made me forget all about my boredom the past few days.I hadn't realized how much I enjoyed her company until this moment. She had always been the quieter one in the family, content to stay in the background and rarely join the conversations. but there was a depth to her that I hadn't seen before. The more we talked, the more I understood how much Lena had been holding back, and I felt a sense of responsibility to be there for her—like a big sister she could confide in."So," I said with a teasing smile, "do you think you’ll ever tell Jack how you feel?"Lena blushed again, shaking her head quickly. "Oh no, absolutely not. I couldn’t. I wouldn’t even know what to say!"I laughed softly. "You don’t have to tell him right away, silly, but don’t be too hard
The past few weeks had been intense, with Leon doing everything he could to ensure Wilma faced the consequences for everything she’d done. I was proud of him, of how relentless he was in seeking justice, but I knew he was also getting tired of all these that he was just not telling me. That’s why I insist to invite Jack and prepare the two of them some good lunch.Of course, I asked Lena to assist me knowing Jack would be our guest. Besides, Aunt Lou couldn’t help me because of her duties at the hospital. And Letty isn’t around because of her part time work at hospital’s management department. And so, I could only ask Lena to help me around and I bet she would love helping with the meal, specially if it would be served to her crush.The smell of freshly chopped herbs filled the kitchen as Lena and I worked side by side, preparing something simple yet comforting for Leon and Jack. They were in the living room, finalizing the last details of the case against Wilma.Lena had been stayi
The moment Jack's words left his mouth, left my world completely shattered in an instance. It’s as if it felt like all the air had been sucked out of the room, leaving me gasping for it. The silence that followed was deafening, and for a moment, I stood there, frozen, unable to process what I’d just heard."No," I whispered, shaking my head, my voice barely audible. "No... no, that’s not possible." My heart pounded painfully in my chest, each beat a sharp reminder of the reality that I refused to accept.Jack’s face was pale, his eyes filled with sorrow as he watched me. But I couldn’t look at him anymore. I couldn’t stand the weight of his gaze. This couldn’t be real. It couldn’t be happening. I stumbled back, my legs weak beneath me. "You’re lying," I whispered, my voice trembling with desperation. "You’re wrong. Leon can’t be dead." Jack remained silent, his face contorted with grief. His silence only fueled the fire of panic rising inside me, and suddenly, I couldn’t control it
The time that followed passed in like a blur. I wasn’t still able to cope up with the news that could barely register time or the people coming and going from the house. Everything felt hollow and meaningless without Leon. Aunt Lou, Lena, and Jack did their best to keep me company, but the emptiness that was left by Leon was too vast to fill.One evening, I sat alone by the window, staring out into the darkness. The house was quiet, but inside me, a storm of emotions raged—grief, anger, and guilt. I wished to turn back time so that I had stopped Leon from going after Wilma. Maybe if I had done something, perhaps he would still be alive.The day of Leon’s funeral came all too quickly, and yet, every moment leading up to it had felt like an eternity. I moved through the house like a ghost, every step feeling heavier than the last as I prepared for what I knew would be one of the hardest days of my life. Lena had helped me get dressed, her hands gentle but firm as she guided me through
After the funeral, the house felt unbearably quiet. The silence weighed heavily on me, suffocating in its stillness. Leon was gone, and his absence keep on wounding me every single timel. I sat in the living room, staring blankly at the walls, my thoughts a chaotic mess. Yet, out of nowhere, I couldn’t shake the conversation I’d had with Sarah from my mind. Her words had lodged themselves deep within me, twisting like a knife."You’re not safe, Margarette. Leon was just the start. Whoever was after him could be after you as well. Well, that was just my hunch.”Her voice echoed in my head, mingling with my grief and fear. Who was this person who could be after me that she was trying to warn me about? I had so many questions, but no one to ask anymore. Leon, the one person who could give me answers, was gone.But while I was deep in my thoughts, I suddenly felt a gentle touch on my shoulder, pulling me from my reverie and it was my aunt. Aunt Lou stood beside me, her eyes soft and full
A few months had passed since I left Anacortes and settled in Vancouver with Aunt Lou’s family. Life in the city felt so different—less peacefull in some ways because of its own kind of noise. Despite Aunt Lou’s gentle insistence that I needed to go out and socialize more, I just wasn’t ready. I understand that she may just be concern about my well-being but my heart still ached for Leon’s death, his memories is like a shadow that followed me everywhere. Every part of Vancouver reminds me of him as well, and the thought of putting myself out there seemed impossible.“Margarette, sweetheart, you can’t stay inside all the time,” Aunt Lou said one morning over breakfast. Her voice was calm but firm, the way only Aunt Lou could be when she was worried. “It’s not good for you. You need fresh air, to see people, remind yourself that life moves on.”I gave her a small smile, the kind that I hoped would reassure her, but I knew she saw through it. “I know, Aunt Lou,” I replied, taking a s