His eyes widened slowly, the shock registering on his face despite its brute condition. He coughed loudly, the effects of the cough racking through his entire body. He wheezed dryly after that, his lungs trying to suck in more air. Even though Sophie had been here a couple of times to see him, this was the first time he opened his eyes to see her. “Veronica. Oh, my Veronica.” He whimpered. Veronica looked at him, a mixed reaction of pity and disgust etched on her face. Sophie could see something like tension starting to build up in the room. Rhys, not wanting to interfere in the family tussle, decided to rest on the wall on the far side of the building but mistakenly hit a plate on the way, the metal plate clattering on the floor and its noise reverberating throughout the building. “It's sad how life only brought you back to me in my dying days.” His voice was a little more than a whisper. “You deserve to die, and you deserve to die a more painful death.” Veronica declared, shocki
Rhys left both of them upstairs and went to the kitchen to boil some water. He knew what was going to happen next; once they were done in their bath of emotions, their physicality set in, reminding them of the ice-cold water they had both soaked themselves in. He went through the process, making the coffee just like Sophie had always wanted it at the bakery, and not sure of how Veronica liked it, he just decided to make it the same way she made her daughter’s. He couldn’t help but wonder how one man had caused so much pain to a family, affecting two different generations with his actions. He waved his head and poured the coffee beans into the kettle, allowing them to brew on the low-heat stove. Meanwhile, the two women in the house bonded in their hug, disengaging from each other only when cold had started to set in and Veronica could feel her daughter shivering even though she didn’t want to let go. She changed her clothes and volunteered to help her daughter, intentionally giving
“It was like a suspenseful horror thriller movie to all of us when she went away, leaving the little baby in our care. Of course, my father left it in my mother’s care and had no choice but to reinstate us from the barn back to the house. “Everything seemed to be going well, smooth, and fine for a couple of weeks, but we all knew it was a delusion. Learning his lesson, my father had tried his best to be a good man until my mother was diagnosed with a terminal illness. “The doctor informed her, along with my father, that she had less than three years to live, but he couldn’t pinpoint exactly when the death bell would ring. I was too young to understand what was going on, but instead of my father staying with my mother in her last days, he spent it at fun centres, claiming to drink away his sorrows. “Then, on a rainy Sunday morning, when I was nine years old and Eliana was five, we were preparing to head to the neighborhood church when the grim reaper came to take its next victim. It
At this time, Sophie’s curiosity was like that, leading the cat to uncharted territories. Even though they had both been seated for hours and the coffee that was served to them had become cold, they both sat on the bed, the evening slowly creeping in on them. Rhys, who had decided to give them enough space, knocked lightly on the ebony oak doors of Veronica’s room; it was unlocked, and he let himself in, seeing both of them woven together with the invisible strings of long-lost love and twenty-four years of longing. He wanted to go prepare dinner, and he wanted to ask Sophie if she would follow him to the central market to get things for dinner. “Hey Veronica, hi Sophie,” he waved from outside the door. “I’m going to the market to get supplies and groceries for dinner. Do you want to tag along?” “No, not now. Can you say a little bit more?” she pleaded. Rhys acknowledged and went outside, knowing fully well that if he didn’t go now, there would be no one at the market if he waite
Rhys stood on the edge of the cliff and watched as the evening’s warmth began to wane and the countryside underwent a tranquil transformation. The sky, a kaleidoscope of pinks, purples, and oranges, slowly deepens into a soft twilight blue. The sun, a burning ember, had now dipped below the horizon, casting a gentle glow across the rolling hills and verdant fields. He stood still as night’s veil descended, the stars beginning to twinkle like diamonds scattered across the velvet expanse. The moon, a silver crescent, rose like a glowing scythe, casting an ethereal light upon the landscape. The air, filled with the sweet scent of blooming wildflowers, grew cooler, carrying the whispers of nocturnal creatures awaking from their daytime slumber. In the distance, the chirping of crickets and the hooting of owls created a soothing melody, punctuated by the occasional bark of a dog and the rustle of leaves as unknown creatures stirred. The world suddenly seemed bathed in a soft, lunar glow,
They walked back home, his hand curled up on Sophie’s waist. It was a little too late for dinner, but Veronica insisted that she was hungry, spreading the feeling among them all. As soon as they got home, they resorted to calling Eliana first and asking her for updates. The call beeped once, and she picked it up as if it were automatic. “Hey there,” her raspy voice came over the phone. “Hey, how are you feeling?” “All good. How’s everything over there?” “We’re good. We just wanted to check up on you and see how you’re faring.” “I’m good. You still won’t ask about him, right? After all these years, you still won’t let go of your pain.” “Don’t preach to me about letting go. Don’t you try it? I just wanted to know if you'd be coming home for the night. End of discussion.” “I won’t,” she said, sounding a little bit sad. “I’m having a doctor come over to check him, and I have to be around in case the doctor needs anything.” “Okay then, see you in the morning.” The call disconnect
“Despite the football guy being the handsome guy and the nerdy guy being a little below average kind of guy, Eliana was still jealous of our relationship. Her boyfriend was like a guy that was specially carved by God; his features were extraordinary, and his skill set was amazing; he was everything a woman ever wanted. “My guy, Drey, was just the perfect type for me. He was not too nerdy or too naughty; he was just standing somewhere in between, but when talking about looks, he wasn’t really the one, but where he lacks in looks, he makes up for it in brilliance. “Drey, my guy, and Fontaine, Eliana’s guy, were both friends from middle school; they lived in the same neighbourhood and were like impossible twins; but when Eliana’s jealousy started to manifest, she instigated Fontaine to pick fights against Drey. “Fontaine, being gullible, readily believed anything she spewed out of her mouth and acted on it, including picking a fight with his best friend. When I learned what happened,
He took a deep breath, his breathing ragged like stones dragging on the jagged side of rocky mountains. He rolled his eyes in his socket, not focusing his gaze on anyone in particular before speaking out. “This isn’t enough punishment for my sins; I’m just hoping that hell wouldn’t be hotter if you just found a way in your heart to let it go.” Sophie and Rhys wondered if it was still the abuse she reported to Veronica that spurred this palpable tension in the air, or had he done something worse than he did to her? Sophie tried to take her mind off it, daring not to even think in that direction. Veronica faced Eliana and said, “Now that we are all here and the eyes are complete, I was regaling Sophie with stories of our childhood, and I was just arriving at the point where Adrian came in. Since you’re here and you’re always accusing me of feeding Sophie false stories, if I say something off-the-point, correct me here and now. And then,” she said, facing Adrian with mocked anger on he
Sophie sat in the bridal suite. The full-length mirror reflected an image she barely recognised—an elegant, poised woman clad in a stunning lace wedding gown that hugged her curves and flared out into a beautiful train. The dress, meticulously crafted, seemed to shimmer with each breath she took, and the delicate veil added an ethereal quality to her appearance. Her hands trembled slightly as she adjusted her veil, but a reassuring smile from Vivienne steadied her nerves.Vivienne placed a comforting hand on Sophie’s shoulder, her eyes brimming with pride. “You look absolutely radiant. Today is your day, and you deserve every moment of happiness.”Sophie turned to face her, tears threatening to spill. “I can’t believe this is actually happening. Sometimes, it feels like a dream.”Eliana could not hide the pride she felt or the joy; her eyes were misty with emotion. “You’ve come such a long way, sweetheart. Your strength and resilience have brought you here, and we couldn’t be prouder
Rhys and Sophie stepped out of the building, a sense of accomplishment in the air. Sophie had faced her past head-on, and Rhys couldn’t help but feel proud of her. “You see, it wasn’t that hard, and you handled it quite well,” he said, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze.Sophie glanced back at the building, her heart still racing. “Hey Rhys, would you mind waiting a minute? I need to see my mom before she leaves.”Rhys nodded, his eyes softening. “Of course. Take your time.”Sophie spotted Veronica walking out and hurried towards her, with Rhys following at a slower pace. The sight of her mother, the woman she had yearned to meet since she was a little girl, brought a flood of emotions. Veronica turned at the sound of Sophie’s voice, surprise and hope mingling in her eyes. “Sophie...” she exclaimed softly. For years, it had always been “Mrs. Veronica.” The simple word “mom” now seemed to hold a world of promise.Sophie took a deep breath. “I just wanted to say that I don’t hate you.
Five years later “Come on, Sophie, we’re going to be late.” Rhys called.“Be out there in a minute.” Sophie answered from inside.“Yeah, that’s what you always say." Rhys muttered under his breath; a light shuffle behind him caught his attention.“Sophie,” but he couldn’t get himself to finish the sentence; he wasn’t sure what he wanted to say or what the right words to use should be. You look beautiful, or you look stunning. No, those were not the right words to use.“Rhys, are you alright?” Sophie asked with concern written all over her face.“Yeah, sure, I’m fine,” Rhys stammered. “I just got something in my eyes.”“Let’s get going already; we are going to be late.” Sophie said that and moved away.Rhys sighed and followed her. Adrian died five years ago, and they had moved on. She moved on so smoothly that he wondered if maybe it wasn’t too fast. Still, he did not want to talk to her about it for fear that he was going to upset the balance that she had already found inside her.
“Adrian is dead.” Those three words sent a chill down Sophie’s spine, but they were not what made her pause or caused foreign emotions to creep up her chest, clawing at her heart. It was the look of freedom in her aunt’s eyes. The music in her voice as she announced the death of her husband. The bounce in her step as she approached them, arms wide, and a smile on her teary face. It was the fact that Eliana was happy about this and did not hide it that surprised Sophie. Her aunt’s body collided with hers, and Sophie sank into her embrace. The tears fell from her eyes, but just like her aunt, they were not tears of sorrow or mourning but tears of joy and celebration. For the first time in years, they both felt free, and they wanted the whole world to know. “I am sorry.” Eliana said it over and over again, pulling Sophie deeper into herself. If she could jump and touch the sky, she would. She felt as though she was on top of the world, as though a weight had been lifted off her sh
The meadow was still there when they arrived. Eerily quiet—the only thing that could be heard was the chirping of crickets and the lullabies of the birds. Every other thing stayed still; even the leaves seemed to join in the gloominess that had fallen over Sophie and Rhys. Gently, he set her on the stone beside the water and lowered himself beside her, his hand clasping her small ones. She was far away from here; he could see that. Her mind was elsewhere, perhaps relieving the traumas of the past. She bit her lips every now and then, and a throaty gasp emerged from her pursed mouth. Although her eyes were misty, she did not shed a single tear. He could not tell how long they sat there in the forest, him watching the water while she tried to make sense of her life. But after some time, he began to hear the song again. It was the same bird song that he had heard that night. It filled the night, enveloping all of his senses and shrouding him in a world where only he and her existed.
They had reached a point of no return. The truth had been bared for all to see, and the worst had been found out. Sophie thought of the photo of her mother, which she had always carried around, and the part that was torn off. The father, whom she had always wanted to meet, turned out to be the same man who molested her. She was ashamed, embarrassed, and repulsed by everything. There were no words to describe the things she felt—the thoughts that clouded her head, numbing her entire body and rooting her to the spot. Veronica herself could not believe what she heard. The fact that the first words she heard her daughter speak had to be something so atrocious, so vile. Words like that had no place in the world; they were to be sent to the deepest parts of hell, where every other bad thing was sent. Her eyes turned to her sister, Eliana. Judging her, questioning her—she would face Adrian later, maybe kill him—for now, she needed to understand if her sister did not see the monster they
“I struggled under his grip, all to no avail. When I realised he had already overpowered me, I pleaded with him with all the remaining strength in me, but he was far too consumed. All my pleas fell on deaf ears, and he defiled me brutally, traumatising me ever since.” There was a moment of unsure emotions in that instant. The wall clock chimed the hours of three in the morning, but none of them felt sleepy; this was a time of resolution, a time to settle matters, and no one wanted to be left out of it; this was way beyond one person’s issue now. “He had his way with me, his eyes widening as he reached orgasm. Even after that, he was not done; he went in again and again, turning a deaf ear to my pleas. When he was satisfied, he stood up, adjusting his trousers, while Eliana walked in; the door had been unlocked. “She saw him and instantly ran to where I was crumpled, my body covered in a pool of my own blood. I was crying uncontrollably, regretting why I had come home for the break,
He took a deep breath, his breathing ragged like stones dragging on the jagged side of rocky mountains. He rolled his eyes in his socket, not focusing his gaze on anyone in particular before speaking out. “This isn’t enough punishment for my sins; I’m just hoping that hell wouldn’t be hotter if you just found a way in your heart to let it go.” Sophie and Rhys wondered if it was still the abuse she reported to Veronica that spurred this palpable tension in the air, or had he done something worse than he did to her? Sophie tried to take her mind off it, daring not to even think in that direction. Veronica faced Eliana and said, “Now that we are all here and the eyes are complete, I was regaling Sophie with stories of our childhood, and I was just arriving at the point where Adrian came in. Since you’re here and you’re always accusing me of feeding Sophie false stories, if I say something off-the-point, correct me here and now. And then,” she said, facing Adrian with mocked anger on he
“Despite the football guy being the handsome guy and the nerdy guy being a little below average kind of guy, Eliana was still jealous of our relationship. Her boyfriend was like a guy that was specially carved by God; his features were extraordinary, and his skill set was amazing; he was everything a woman ever wanted. “My guy, Drey, was just the perfect type for me. He was not too nerdy or too naughty; he was just standing somewhere in between, but when talking about looks, he wasn’t really the one, but where he lacks in looks, he makes up for it in brilliance. “Drey, my guy, and Fontaine, Eliana’s guy, were both friends from middle school; they lived in the same neighbourhood and were like impossible twins; but when Eliana’s jealousy started to manifest, she instigated Fontaine to pick fights against Drey. “Fontaine, being gullible, readily believed anything she spewed out of her mouth and acted on it, including picking a fight with his best friend. When I learned what happened,