Owen “Have dinner with me before you leave,” I asked Regina the other day and was glad that she agreed, because I didn’t know what I would have done if she hadn’t. I’ll be following her to France already, and even though I know she would be mad about that, I did not care. I had to make sure she was safe, and there was no way I’d sit at home while she started a new life without me. I take a deep breath to stop the heavy beating of my heart. I did not want Regina to go, but her mind had been made up, and there was no stopping her decision. “I brought food from that Thai restaurant you loved. I know you’d be eating a lot of pasta and bread when you get there, so I thought maybe we should eat something that would remind you of home.” I grinned at her to take the edge off my nervousness. “Come on in,” Regina greeted like she was welcoming a friend. “I wasn’t hungry, but now that you mentioned food, it made my tummy grumble. Let’s see what you have.” She said as she took one of the bags
Regina made small talk. She asked about my business, and I replied as if I was there to pitch her a building proposal, the only way I knew how. We discussed the island project and the historical restoration in France because those were the ones she knew about. The island hotel would be operational soon, and I wanted to take her there for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, but I knew that was not happening. She would be in France for the next three months, and I doubt Regina would break her plans for me. “Don’t enjoy your time in France so much that you forget me, okay?” I joked, but my message was genuine. She did not smile, but kept her head down. “I have a place on the third floor of the El Vénétie, at the top of Francois’ restaurant. They finally got a vacancy and gave it to me. Let me know if you want it, and you can stay there rent-free.” “Thanks, that’s a nice offer, but I would like to live on my own in France. It’s the whole point of finding myself.” Regina pulled her hand away,
“Look at you, little sis, spending business class tickets for your favorite brother,” Raffy said, fanning himself with the tickets for France. “Shut up, Raffy, or I’ll ask them to transfer you to the seats at the end of the plane.” He laughed and zipped his lips. Regina warned, “If anyone else hears about this, you are toast. I cannot buy business class tickets for everyone.” They were lined up at the check-in counter, teasing each other when Raffy got distracted. Ever since the abduction, he had been extra aware of his surroundings, scanning the area repeatedly to make sure his family was not in danger. Seats in the business class were set up in pairs to have extra legroom and more reclinable seats to provide comfort, but since there were three of them, Raffy volunteered to take the seat across from his wife, on the aisle, beside another man. He said the women were better off together so they could talk more on the flight, as he wanted to sleep. As soon as Raffy stowed their bags
“Hey, I found these on the board up there,” Raffy said, showing the pictures he took of the postings. Maggie began mapping out the places, and since a few of them were already in the area, they decided to drop by after lunch. “I didn’t realize we were in the University district. This is so cool. I feel like a student again.” “This is a good time to explore Paris and fall in love,” Maggie said in a dream-like tone. Regina laughed. “Always the romantic. I’m here to find myself, remember?” “You’re single. Finding yourself can mean finding a French guy or two. French men are very suave and sophisticated lovers.” “And how did you learn that?” Raffy asked as he nibbled on his wife’s neck. “Raf, let me go!” She giggled and pushed her husband playfully. Regina had to look away. It reminded her of the reason she needed to get away from her family and people she knew were happy. After lunch, they visited a few apartments, and Regina liked most of them, but they were above her price range
“Welcome. You are aware that this is your first therapy session, so feel free to ask any questions.” Regina sat with a nervous smile on the couch. She chose Dr. Mary Cervello based on her online picture, and before the doctor spoke, Regina felt scared that maybe she had made the wrong decision to set up the appointment. But Regina was glad that, like her picture that showed friendly eyes framed in red octagon glasses, an easygoing smile, and greying red hair, the doctor had a soothing, friendly voice as well, making her feel immediately comfortable. Regina was counting on Dr. Cervello to get her better, and if she did not feel comfortable, it would have been difficult for her to meet with the doctor. “I am recording this session, so please state your name.” “My name is Regina Albright.” “Tell me about yourself.” “I was an ER nurse, but a shooting accident at the hospital gave me so much trauma I couldn’t step foot inside the building. So I became a home-care nurse for Mrs. Benne
After her class, Regina headed to the market to get ingredients for a pasta recipe she was cooking. Her schoolmates invited her to have dinner, but after the incident back home, she seldom spent time out after dark, afraid that in this new city, something bad might happen to her again. At her new apartment, she opened the windows to the cool dry summer breeze and played the album she brought from an outdoor stall. She had purchased the record player earlier during the week and was happy it worked. Regina had the AC turned on during the hottest part of the day, but she wanted to hear the sounds of Paris at night. Under the moonlight, she began writing the letters she would send home. She would send each of her family members a letter for them to understand why she was in France. It was a tedious task, repeating the same reason four times and writing them by hand. It made Regina wish there was a way to write it faster, but using the computer felt impersonal. She owed her family a hear
“What makes you happy, Regina?” It was the fourth session with Dr. Cervello, and Regina was getting annoyed that she kept asking her the same question. ‘It will make me happy if you start with the hypnotherapy so I can forget the stupid shit I want to forget about and get on with my life.’“You’re just staring at me again, Regina. Give me those words you have in your head. Tell me what you feel.”“Going to class makes me happy. Sunday market, pasta, buttery croissants, latte, creamy cheesecake.”The doctor smirked. “You’re just mouthing off food again.”“I love food. It makes me happy,” she said with a smug look.“Tell me about your art. What have you been doing?” Regina tried asking the doctor why they never got started on the hypnotherapy nicely, and she countered by asking Regina about her romantic relationships. She did not want to talk about her love life, but something about the doctor’s kind, grandmotherly eyes made her spill everything.Then, Regina tried bullying the doctor,
It’s been two months since Regina left, and Owen had never felt more lost in his life. “Mom, are you there? Can you hear me?” He said as he sat on the chair beside his mother's bed. The TV was on, but he didn’t know if she was watching or not. “Sometimes I just wish you wouldn’t disappear all the time.” He kneeled at her bedside and laid his head near her hand. “I need you right now, Mom. I wish you could hear me.” Before his mother got sick, they would often have heart-to-heart talks, where he told her how he felt and what bothered him while she imparted knowledge and love. Owen sighed heavily. ‘What’s the use of being here when I can’t talk to you? I should leave before I wake you up.’ He wiped his tears with the back of his hand and was about to stand up when his mom’s hand shot out to grab his arm. “Owie, what is wrong? Who made you cry?” It was the nickname they used when Myles and Yvan were born. None of them could say Owen, calling him Owie instead. “Oh, Mom,” Owen brok