STACY
I knew I had to talk to Stacy when I was ten minutes into the lecture.
The urge was so primal, so hungry that thee was no escaping it.
The class had ended in a rush of students gathering their belongings and shuffling out of their seats. I stood at the front, gathering my notes and trying to maintain my composure.
I was watching her pack her stuff, watching her move quickly with her hands.
“Mr. Jerome!” one of the guys called out. “Do you have the syllabus handy? I think I missed a few details.”
He was one of my students, blonde curly hair, a portion of if swooped across his forehead.
“Of course,” I replied, pushing my thoughts of Stacy aside. I had to focus. “Here’s a copy for you.” I handed it to him.
“Also, can y
JEROMEStacy had been extra busy this period because she signed up for a few part-time jobs.I hated how busy she got most of the time but I was also glad for her that she was taking a responsible step towards her finances.That evening, after a game of snooker, I slipped into Burger’s Trio in hopes that I was early enough for her shift.Stacy had been extra busy this period because she signed up for a few part-time jobs. I hated how busy she got most of the time, but I was also glad for her. It was a responsible step toward her finances, even if it meant we had less time together.That evening, after a long day at work and a quick game of snooker with some friends, I decided to drop by Burger’s Trio, where Stacy worked one of her shifts. I’d been by a couple of times before, usually sneaking in to see her just as her shift ended. Tonight, I hoped I was early enough to catch her in action.As I walked through the door, the
STACYLisa had been gushing for weeks about how she was excited to introduce Jerome to Kiera. The way she talked about Kiera, with that glimmer in her eyes, made it impossible not to be happy for her.Everything was going to go fine today, I could already sense it.I was on shift that afternoon, taking orders and serving trays like usual. The restaurant wasn’t too packed, which gave me time to glance around, keep an eye on the door. Part of me was hoping they’d pick another spot, or maybe decide at the last minute that a fancy café was better suited for a first meeting like this. But, of course, that wasn’t Lisa’s style. She loved the casual vibe of Burger Trio, and it was one of the few places where she and Jerome could relax.The good thing was I missed my friends and wanted to see them, the bad thing was I missed my friends and wanted to see them.They made working but hard and pleasurable.I was
JEROMEShooting that day had been intense. We were working on one of the final scenes, the kind that was supposed to be raw and emotional, but instead of saving it for later in the production schedule, the producers wanted to get it done early for promotional material. It was all part of the business. We had to sell the movie, and nothing sold better than a sneak peek of a climactic moment.The set was buzzing with activity. Lights were being adjusted, makeup artists hovered nearby, and the crew moved around, setting up equipment and whispering about the next shot. I felt the pressure building, but I was used to it by now. This wasn’t my first film, and it definitely wouldn’t be my last.Chase called for a break, and I seized the opportunity to step away for a bit. I’d been on set all day, and I needed a breather before getting back into the set. Besides, I had something else on my mind. I was supposed to meet up with Stacy after we
STACYI woke up slowly, the warmth of the blankets making it hard to tell where the bed ended and my body began. The sunlight trickled in through the thin curtains, casting soft streaks of light across the room. For a moment, everything felt serene, like I could stay in this cocoon of warmth and silence forever. Then I realized Jerome wasn’t next to me.I rolled over, blinking sleep from my eyes, and saw the empty space where he should have been. The sheets were crumpled on his side, still warm. I heard the faint sound of water running and figured he must be in the shower. I lay there for a minute, listening to the sound of the water and feeling a strange sense of distance. It was odd, waking up without him beside me. We’d spent the night together, but it hadn’t felt as close as it usually did.I swung my legs over the side of the bed and padded across the cool floor, feeling the chill against my bare feet. The bathroom door was slightly
STACYI still couldn’t believe I had agreed to this. A joint date with Lisa? Lisa and Kiera.The thought swirled in my mind as I stood in front of my mirror, staring at my reflection. My fingers traced the hem of the dress I had picked out—simple, yet flattering enough for what felt like one of the strangest nights of my life.Lisa had convinced me, somehow, to go along with this. I wasn’t even sure how it all happened. One minute, we were awkwardly avoiding each other, and the next, we were laughing about how ridiculous it was that we were going on this double date.I heard a knock on the door and glanced at my phone—Lisa, of course, right on time.“Come in!” I called, still fussing with my hair. The door swung open, and Lisa waltzed in, her usual confidence trailing behind her.
JEROMETwo years later.Dark lashes fanned against her skin, the sun soft against her flesh, her body slowly moving upward and downward, her breathing muffled on her pillow.That was the sight i had woken up to. I was the luckiest person on earth right now.I stayed perched on the edge of the bed, watching as the soft morning light took away sleep from my eyes. The sight before me was captivating: Stacy, my beautiful Stacy, lost in a peaceful slumber, her dark hair fanned out across the pillow like a halo. I couldn’t help but smile as I took in the serenity of the moment.We had come a long way since that first date, a day marked by confusion, heartache, and a beautiful, unguarded honesty that had laid the foundation for everything that followed. The journey hadn’t always been easy; there were still challenges to face and moments of vulnerability that left us both shaken. But together, we had built something extraord
STACYThe contractions started to roll in by noon. One after another, getting stronger with time.The day had finally arrived, a day I had both anticipated and dreaded. Labor. As I sat on the edge of the bed, a wave of excitement surged through me, mingled with a healthy dose of apprehension. It was surreal to think that soon I would hold my baby girl in my arms. She would be ours, a tangible result of the love Jerome and I had nurtured over the years.I had taken classes about this and I didn’t want to worry my husband for nothing, but when it got stronger and harder to ignore, I called for him.“Jerome!”He came rushing into the room, his hair tousled and his face slightly flushed. He must have been napping, and the worried look on his face made my heart race. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”“I think it’s time,” I said, a nervous smile breaking through. His eyes widened as he
Chapter OneSTACYThe flames danced just as much as they hissed, licking up the wood. The smoke went further than the flames and the backyard of the Lewin’s house was filled with smoke and much needed heat.It was a perfect night for everyone. It was supposed to be but I couldn't hold my attention enough to be immersed in the night.There was a lot going on. A lot for one to be immersed in.Lisa’s dad, Flynn was heating the sausages on the grill. He flipped one and it aroused a cheer from Patricia. Flynn looked over at her and it was clear that only she mattered in that moment.“You can’t have that too!” Declan slapped Lisa’s hands.She stuck out her tongue at him before she caught my eyes.Lisa, my best friend, waved at me before she returned to arguing with her elder brother, Declan.Declan and Lisa were often referred to as twins though he was two years older than her. They fought about everything and were always together until I came along.Lisa and I met on a certain Monday morni
STACYThe contractions started to roll in by noon. One after another, getting stronger with time.The day had finally arrived, a day I had both anticipated and dreaded. Labor. As I sat on the edge of the bed, a wave of excitement surged through me, mingled with a healthy dose of apprehension. It was surreal to think that soon I would hold my baby girl in my arms. She would be ours, a tangible result of the love Jerome and I had nurtured over the years.I had taken classes about this and I didn’t want to worry my husband for nothing, but when it got stronger and harder to ignore, I called for him.“Jerome!”He came rushing into the room, his hair tousled and his face slightly flushed. He must have been napping, and the worried look on his face made my heart race. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”“I think it’s time,” I said, a nervous smile breaking through. His eyes widened as he
JEROMETwo years later.Dark lashes fanned against her skin, the sun soft against her flesh, her body slowly moving upward and downward, her breathing muffled on her pillow.That was the sight i had woken up to. I was the luckiest person on earth right now.I stayed perched on the edge of the bed, watching as the soft morning light took away sleep from my eyes. The sight before me was captivating: Stacy, my beautiful Stacy, lost in a peaceful slumber, her dark hair fanned out across the pillow like a halo. I couldn’t help but smile as I took in the serenity of the moment.We had come a long way since that first date, a day marked by confusion, heartache, and a beautiful, unguarded honesty that had laid the foundation for everything that followed. The journey hadn’t always been easy; there were still challenges to face and moments of vulnerability that left us both shaken. But together, we had built something extraord
STACYI still couldn’t believe I had agreed to this. A joint date with Lisa? Lisa and Kiera.The thought swirled in my mind as I stood in front of my mirror, staring at my reflection. My fingers traced the hem of the dress I had picked out—simple, yet flattering enough for what felt like one of the strangest nights of my life.Lisa had convinced me, somehow, to go along with this. I wasn’t even sure how it all happened. One minute, we were awkwardly avoiding each other, and the next, we were laughing about how ridiculous it was that we were going on this double date.I heard a knock on the door and glanced at my phone—Lisa, of course, right on time.“Come in!” I called, still fussing with my hair. The door swung open, and Lisa waltzed in, her usual confidence trailing behind her.
STACYI woke up slowly, the warmth of the blankets making it hard to tell where the bed ended and my body began. The sunlight trickled in through the thin curtains, casting soft streaks of light across the room. For a moment, everything felt serene, like I could stay in this cocoon of warmth and silence forever. Then I realized Jerome wasn’t next to me.I rolled over, blinking sleep from my eyes, and saw the empty space where he should have been. The sheets were crumpled on his side, still warm. I heard the faint sound of water running and figured he must be in the shower. I lay there for a minute, listening to the sound of the water and feeling a strange sense of distance. It was odd, waking up without him beside me. We’d spent the night together, but it hadn’t felt as close as it usually did.I swung my legs over the side of the bed and padded across the cool floor, feeling the chill against my bare feet. The bathroom door was slightly
JEROMEShooting that day had been intense. We were working on one of the final scenes, the kind that was supposed to be raw and emotional, but instead of saving it for later in the production schedule, the producers wanted to get it done early for promotional material. It was all part of the business. We had to sell the movie, and nothing sold better than a sneak peek of a climactic moment.The set was buzzing with activity. Lights were being adjusted, makeup artists hovered nearby, and the crew moved around, setting up equipment and whispering about the next shot. I felt the pressure building, but I was used to it by now. This wasn’t my first film, and it definitely wouldn’t be my last.Chase called for a break, and I seized the opportunity to step away for a bit. I’d been on set all day, and I needed a breather before getting back into the set. Besides, I had something else on my mind. I was supposed to meet up with Stacy after we
STACYLisa had been gushing for weeks about how she was excited to introduce Jerome to Kiera. The way she talked about Kiera, with that glimmer in her eyes, made it impossible not to be happy for her.Everything was going to go fine today, I could already sense it.I was on shift that afternoon, taking orders and serving trays like usual. The restaurant wasn’t too packed, which gave me time to glance around, keep an eye on the door. Part of me was hoping they’d pick another spot, or maybe decide at the last minute that a fancy café was better suited for a first meeting like this. But, of course, that wasn’t Lisa’s style. She loved the casual vibe of Burger Trio, and it was one of the few places where she and Jerome could relax.The good thing was I missed my friends and wanted to see them, the bad thing was I missed my friends and wanted to see them.They made working but hard and pleasurable.I was
JEROMEStacy had been extra busy this period because she signed up for a few part-time jobs.I hated how busy she got most of the time but I was also glad for her that she was taking a responsible step towards her finances.That evening, after a game of snooker, I slipped into Burger’s Trio in hopes that I was early enough for her shift.Stacy had been extra busy this period because she signed up for a few part-time jobs. I hated how busy she got most of the time, but I was also glad for her. It was a responsible step toward her finances, even if it meant we had less time together.That evening, after a long day at work and a quick game of snooker with some friends, I decided to drop by Burger’s Trio, where Stacy worked one of her shifts. I’d been by a couple of times before, usually sneaking in to see her just as her shift ended. Tonight, I hoped I was early enough to catch her in action.As I walked through the door, the
STACYI knew I had to talk to Stacy when I was ten minutes into the lecture.The urge was so primal, so hungry that thee was no escaping it.The class had ended in a rush of students gathering their belongings and shuffling out of their seats. I stood at the front, gathering my notes and trying to maintain my composure.I was watching her pack her stuff, watching her move quickly with her hands.“Mr. Jerome!” one of the guys called out. “Do you have the syllabus handy? I think I missed a few details.”He was one of my students, blonde curly hair, a portion of if swooped across his forehead.“Of course,” I replied, pushing my thoughts of Stacy aside. I had to focus. “Here’s a copy for you.” I handed it to him.“Also, can y
STACYThe morning sun filtered through the curtain and pulled me out of my sleep.I stretched my arms above my head, blinking the sleep from my eyes as the day was about to start.Lisa was already up, rummaging through her drawers, her usual energy evident in the way she moved about. I could hear the faint sound of her humming to herself, a tune that was familiar but not quite memorable.“Morning,” I mumbled, pushing myself up and running a hand through my hair.Lisa turned around, her face lighting up with a smile. “Morning, sleepyhead! We’ve got to get a move on. First day back, remember?”I groaned softly, not quite ready to face the world just yet. The holiday had been a mix of relaxation and catching up on things we’d neglected during the semester, but the thought of diving back into classes already felt a bit overwhelming.Lisa, on the other hand, who was not an early riser, was rath