DESPITE the anxiety coursing through her, Michelle ran inside the hospital, worried that something bad had happened to Marsha.She quickly went to the information desk and asked for her daughter’s room number, and then entered an elevator afterward. Jacob was there beside her, trying to calm her down. But she couldn’t. Michelle felt so scared at that moment.Before she went into the company that morning, Marsha already had a mild fever. Her little girl’s temperature went back to normal before she left the house, and hearing the news from her father over the phone freaked her out.She should’ve stayed at home. Marsha needed her the most and yet she left her to sit in the conference room hearing the absurd comments and plans of the board members of the company. She should’ve stayed with her little girl and been a responsible mother.She was all to blame.When they entered Marsha’s room, Michelle burst into tears, seeing her daughter sleeping on the hospital bed. There were machines on b
MARSHA squealed on the bed as Jacob tickled her tummy as they played.Michelle was fixing her daughter’s things while sitting on the couch. Her gaze followed the laughter coming from the hospital bed, and a smile of relief escaped her lips as she saw that her daughter was getting better.They had been in the hospital for two days. Marsha underwent observation from her doctors and today they were only waiting for her nurse before they went home.For the past two days, Jacob stayed with them and had been a great help. Michelle was pregnant and still having anxiety attacks, so there were times she was having trouble moving around inside the hospital. During those times, Jacob became her support and made her feel that she wasn’t alone in her battle.She couldn’t thank him enough for his kindness. Marsha regained so much energy because Jacob was there to brighten her little girl’s mood. She didn’t even ask for her father anymore. Michelle wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not."Great
"HI," Michelle greeted the camera recording her video.She licked her lower lip, unable to say a word afterwards as she was having second thoughts about that thing she once thought she had to do.It had been two months since Ethan went missing. While all the people around them accepted that he might have been dead in the depths of the sea, Michelle remained hopeful that one day he’d come back and their family would be complete again.She was sitting on the floor next to their bed, facing the camera. Earlier that morning, she stumbled into Marsha’s baby things when she cleaned the room. She saw those videotapes she recorded before when she was pregnant with her firstborn, in hopes that one day Ethan would watch them to make him happy.Her second pregnancy was crucial. The baby in her womb was sensitive compared to how Marsha grew inside of her. Michelle religiously followed the instructions of her OB-gene as she didn’t want her baby to face another problem. Even if it meant doing it al
“YOU should have fun, Mich.”Those were Megan’s last words that lingered in her head after their phone call that morning. Her best friend checked up on her and wanted to know how she was, especially since she was going through a sensitive pregnancy journey.Michelle didn’t know how the hell she’d have fun in the four corners of her bedroom. In fact, she wasn’t sure if she could still be happy at that point in her life.She was barely alive, barely breathing, yet she was trying to live for her children because she had made a promise to Ethan. Regardless of what her emotions were, Marsha and the second baby were her top priority.Fun. Michelle looked for a fun thing to do while Marsha was playing with her grandfather.Michelle sighed heavily. Her feet guided her to the garden. The beautiful flowers in the little garden next to their house had bloomed over the past painful weeks. While the rest of her world had crumpled after the disappearance, this part of their home remained colorful.
“DO you want some music?”Michelle was gazing out the car window. Her arms were both resting on the window frame. She could see the sunset on the side of the road as she peered through the window.She was just in awe of its beauty. She began to feel more at ease, and a small smile appeared on her face. Every part of her body seemed to experience magic at that precise moment.She nodded her head in response to Jacob’s question. The man then turned on the radio and left her to her own thoughts as he focused on the road.The romantic music began to play. She listened to it and made the most of the moment because she knew that as soon as she entered her bedroom, the anxious sensation of being by herself would return.“Do you feel better?” She heard Jacob muttering under his breath.She turned to him and gave him another nod. “I feel better that we bought so many stocks of food. My cravings are getting out of hand.”Jacob chuckled a bit. “Pregnancy cravings seem appealing.”“Or you can say
THE NEXT morning, Michelle and Marsha went to her OB-GYN for a follow-up checkup. The baby in her womb was healthy, and they’d be able to know the gender by her next follow-up.Marsha was there when they watched the monitor for her ongoing ultrasound. Michelle couldn’t help but be in tears as she noticed how happy her daughter was to see the little blip inside of her womb moving. She couldn’t wait for her new baby to come out of her and see the world and what it had to offer.After going to the hospital, she treated Marsha to a nice ice cream shop. It had been a while since the last time they went on a date together. The last she could remember was when they were still in Italy. It seemed like their situation went back to how it was back then in another country. The only difference was how she felt about Ethan.“Do you think Daddy will still come back, Mommy?”Michelle’s lips parted when she heard Marsha’s question. The little girl looked at her while she took a spoonful of ice cream.
“HE’S BLIND…”Ellaine bit her lower lip as she spoke with her accomplice on a phone call. She peered through the slightly opened door and saw Ethan sitting upright on the bed. His eyes were focused on his front, yet she knew the man was not able to see anything.She then took a few steps back to ensure the man wouldn’t hear her.Based on how Ethan described his surroundings—which he said to be so dark—she figured out that his eyes had some serious damage after the plane crash.But that wasn’t just an interesting fact she had seen from him.There was something else which made her even happier.“But that’s not what makes the situation more fun,” she paused, allowing herself to laugh as she couldn’t stop herself from laughing. “He doesn’t seem to remember his name. When I asked him if he remembered a woman whose name is Michelle, he looked confused. He can’t seem to remember anything.”“You must be over the moon then…”She laughed giddily. “Of course. That means I can replace his goddamn
MARSHA’S laughter could be heard from the garden. A small Pomeranian was playing with her, chasing after her as she ran around that vast corner of Steinfield’s residence.Michelle smiled, watching her daughter having fun. With her arms crossed against her chest, she turned her heels towards the old woman sitting across the table. Selene Steinfield looked so sophisticated in her all-green outfit and aviator that complimented the makeup and shape of her face.Her expression softened as she looked at her mother-in-law, who appeared to have become quiet since that day her second son went missing. Michelle licked the bottom of her lips and walked closer to the table, taking the available seat next to Selene.“Jacob told me you’ve been staying in this house for so long. You never go out and let your doctor see you here instead. Are you okay, mom?” she asked, her voice low with a hint of concern.Selene swallowed before she sipped on her tea. Michelle watched her every move, waiting for an a