The house was grand and spacious to accommodate the Ellington family and it had huge tall ceilings and the walls were painted with pictures of ancestors who gave more than an impression that they could glare at any miscreant.I could sense them looking at me, just as much as I could sense the Navian’s family glaring at me. I slightly repositioned the napkin on my lap: the tension is as thick as a fog on the table and it is impossible not to notice it. Beside me, Navian looked as composed as always, and although he wasn’t exactly an aura of comfort to cling to, he was the closest thing I had nearby.But even his warmth couldn’t shield me from the icy glares of his mother, Mrs. Ellington, his sister Lila, and—most unnervingly—Elena, Navian's fiancée."So, Anna," Lila began, her voice sweet but her smile anything but. "It must be quite a change for you, dining in a place like this. I imagine it's a bit different from what you're used to?"I forced a polite smile, refusing to rise to he
I showed up at Navian's office for my routine tests, the kind of visit I've been keeping up to make sure the brain tumor doesn't return. I was so tired of calls and meetings that day that I was itching for a break.But, it was obvious by the look on Navian's face that leisure was not on the schedule as soon as I walked in.Even though Navian was buried in paperwork at his desk, it was obvious that his thoughts were elsewhere. His lips squeezed into that tight line he knew so well, and his brows were furrowed. There seemed to be something off and I suspected what it might be.“Navian?” I called softly, moving closer.He looked up, meeting my gaze briefly before his expression shifted back to guard. “Anna, you're here.”I sat down across from him. “Is everything okay? You seem... distracted.”He sighed, rubbing his temples. “It’s Elena. She’s been different lately.”“Different how?” I asked, though I already had an idea. Elena had always been a bit possessive, but recently it seemed to
After that chat with Navian, I made an effort to maintain my distance, although it was not as easy as it seemed. Our lives had grown so entwined that I was reminded of it every time I saw him or heard his voice.But I knew I had to follow through on the plan: to give him and Elena some room, to resolve their differences without me interfering.After a few days of little to no communication, I was beginning to believe that maybe, just maybe, things would get better. However, the stress seemed to increase rather than decrease. And then there was the night when everything boiled over.The day had been boring until something happened. I had spent most of the afternoon attempting to concentrate on my work but couldn’t stop thinking about Owen.He was my life, and I wanted everything to be perfect for him. At five, it occurred to me that I leave the office so early and pick him up from school by myself instead. I longed for him; nothing felt better than seeing his smile when he saw me.I pa
On our way back home, there were no sounds apart from the silence between us though so many things had happened during dinner time. The words Elena said hit me hard in my chest with an ache that grew heavier each minute. When I invited them over for dinner, I expected awkwardness but not this quick transformation of our conversation into one filled with blame and anger. And it all began when Navian picked Owen up from his school.Through my rearview mirror, Owen sat there looking out into space quietly enough for me not to hear anything else except what was going through his head. Now he was absent of his usual chattiness replaced by silent worry squeezing my heart like a vise grip. He was too young to know anything about adult relationships but there was something wrong in an unclear way that only he could feel. That made me hate myself for having caused him this distress; after all, he did not ask for it.When we got home I unbuckled him from the car seat and lifted him into my ar
The next day, the weight from last night still filled the atmosphere like an anchor. I woke up earlier than usual already troubled by thoughts of what had transpired at supper.Elena’s sulky countenance and Navian caught between her claims of his loyalty and my friendship with me played inside my skull like a broken record.I glanced over at Owen who still lay asleep in his bed, his chest rising and falling peacefully as if he was being rocked to sleep. I watched him for a while in silence allowing the sight of him to calm me down.Despite all that happened, he was still my first priority. I can’t allow him to be harmed or to suffer because of whatever is going on between Elena and Navian.I sighed and fumbled out of bed not to disturb Owen. It was time for me to think clearly before the day kicks off. I padded down the hallway into the kitchen where morning sunlight was just beginning to filter through windows. The house was quiet, as only could be at those first moments of dawn.At
The first thing that struck me when I entered the bar was the expression on Navian’s face that resembled fatigue and some other feeling that was hard for me to define.Each step I took in his direction caused an uncomfortable pain in my chest; it became tighter with every stride I made.This man who has undergone so much for the sake of both myself and Owen was simply sitting there all worn out and dejected. It was because of him that Owen and I were still alive, still safe.He had risked everything to protect us from those men Hannah had sent. And here I was, living comfortably, while his life seemed to be falling apart.The weight of that realization struck me hard. I had never meant to cause a rift between him and Elena. She was the perfect woman for him—strong, beautiful, and deeply in love with him.But this jealousy she felt toward me was driving him crazy. I never wanted that. I wanted him to be happy, to feel secure in his relationship. And now, I was the reason he was going t
I turned to leave, feeling Elena’s glare burning into my back as I walked away. The humiliation of it all clung to me like a heavy cloak, making each step out of the bar feel like a mile.I could still hear their voices behind me, Navian trying to calm Elena down, Elena’s anger refusing to be soothed.As I stepped outside into the cool night air, I let out a shaky breath, my hands trembling slightly.My heart ached for Navian.He was in a very difficult situation and he was struggling to make a decision that would benefit everyone while at the same time it was breaking him.And no matter how much I wished to stay close to him, I could not help thinking that I only worsened his state. Every move seemed such a labor and getting back to my car was not easy at all. Every move became my cross to bear, the guilt and shame suffocating me from left, right, and center.I respected Navian as a friend, and I was sure that he always will remain an important person in my life. But Elena… Elena di
Landen's PovBefore my desk were old papers covered in dust for years now. Some days like today are not annoying because they allow us to reflect on what has happened but today is just like any other day.The messy shuffle of memories amazed me when a small envelope with frayed corners attracted my attention. My heart sank upon seeing Anna’s handwriting It was delicate yet familiar; I had not seen that envelope for too long and I had forgotten about it even longer.But as I pushed it out and opened it like wet leaves in spring seasons when flowers start to bloom again, my heartbeat increased within me.The photographs are faded due to time but inside one corner is an image of Anna taken during previous years. For a while, I just fixed my gaze on this image where she is immortalized while time goes on beyond comprehension that is in terms of beauty and gracefulness. She stood there before the window of our old house while light filtered through her silhouette creating some hazy halo ef