Chapter 104: Beyond the Shadows

Rei’s Point of View

Two weeks passed by in the blink of an eye. It was strange adapting to our new normal. The kids were pulled from school so that we could have a proper funeral for my grandfather and we could find new living arrangements. Saying farewell to a man who played such an influential role in my life yet remained unknown until his last moments was an incredibly surreal experience.

As the casket was closed, Shiloh and Onyx remained silent as they said their final goodbyes. I couldn't help but notice Xavier, Aamon, and Salem standing together. Both men reached for one of Salem's hands, causing him to straighten his back and take a deep breath. It was almost as if he acknowledged someone or something only he could see. I tried to look in the same direction but saw nothing. However, recent events have taught me not to discount the possibility of there being something more beyond our physical world.

Since our last moments together, I hadn't sensed X's presence. However, not long after, I made a discovery: I was pregnant. I didn't even need to take a test; I just knew. Of course, I took one anyway to share the news with Xavier. He was ecstatic and so was I... but a part of me couldn't help but wonder how and when the baby was conceived.

When I discovered I was pregnant, I felt more confident about leaving my job at the hospital. Even though I missed working with Mary, she continued to check in on me regularly. I hadn't shared my pregnancy news with her yet because...well, this was Mary, and she always went above and beyond. While I knew it came from a place of love, my mind was still trying to process everything.

Grace and Aamon were fiercely protective of me. They made sure I didn't lift a finger or overexert myself. Although they offered for me and Xavier to stay in their home, we felt like we needed our own space. The children were growing restless, even with the novelty of the games room wearing off quickly.

I longed for the simple tasks of cooking and doing dishes in my own kitchen. Waking up next to Xavier in a place that felt truly ours, where our past had no power to haunt us or trigger old memories we wished to leave behind.

Xavier had packed up his belongings at the apartment with help from Alex, Matt, and Tom, while Chloe, Iris, and Grace assisted me with packing up the house. Xavier had offered to help me, but I needed to do this on my own; it was an important step towards closure for all of us. Letting go of one more thing would bring us closer to moving on.

As I sorted through my belongings and packed them into labelled boxes, Grace leaned in close and whispered, "Do you want to burn anything? It might help to see something go up in flames."

"What would I even burn?" I asked, trying to wrap my head around the idea.

I couldn't help but laugh at her suggestion until I realized she was serious.

"No, I don't think burning things is necessary for me to move on," I replied slowly, making sure Grace understood my words clearly.

She gave me a scrutinizing look before nodding and sighing.

"Alright, but if you change your mind..." Her voice trailed off, and her eyebrows raised expectantly.

"Absolutely not, Grace. We are not doing that," I replied, feeling exasperated.

Iris emerged from my closet, holding my wedding dress. "You could burn this," she suggested.

I couldn't help but scowl as I replied, "It's a nice dress. It should be donated."

Chloe chimed in, grinning, "Add it to the burning pile."

Why did my friends all seem to have an obsession with burning things? But then again, maybe I didn't want to know why.

"I'll take it there," Shiloh offered, taking the dress and walking down the stairs.

My shock was evident as I asked Chloe, "Does my daughter seriously have a designated burning pile?"

Shiloh returned to the room, rolling her eyes at me as she held the wedding dress again.

"Why are you keeping this dress, Mom? Do you really think I would want to wear it someday?" my daughter questioned.

I was about to say yes before stopping myself. Did I really want my daughter to wear something that symbolized a time in my life that I no longer wanted to hold onto?

"Add it to the pile," I murmured.

"Proud of you, Mama. Keep your big girl pants on. We've got this," Shiloh grinned before heading back downstairs.

“Clever girl,” Iris whispered as she left the room and descended the stairs to meet my daughter.

"Do I even want to know how and where you're burning these things?" I asked, nervously biting my lip.

"Nope," Chloe giggled as I glared at her.

"Don't worry, we have a permit for the burning barrel. You're in the clear. Plus, who would call the police on a member of the Brzezinski family?" She added with a mischievous smile.

Chloe had a point. My newfound notoriety had its perks. I was really glad I had left Salem and Onyx behind with my big brother now. Imagining Salem near the fire was not calming my nerves at all.

Packing and moving were helpful distractions, but the ghosts of my past still lingered. It was as if fragments of myself were haunting these walls. Grace and Chloe exchanged knowing glances before excusing themselves for a bit. They could sense that I needed some time alone.

Sitting on the bed, I looked at my reflection in the mirror. I knew I wasn't the young and naive girl who married Greg and moved into this house. I wasn't even the determined woman who raised three kids on her own, crying in the shower on nights when life seemed too complicated. And I definitely wasn't the woman who sought love and affection through toys and dreams of a perfect man she hadn't yet met. None of those versions of myself existed anymore.

The woman staring back at me from the mirror now carried new life within her, a glow that I could see if I looked closely enough. There was a sparkle in my eyes that had been absent before. I didn't feel as exhausted or lost anymore; instead, I felt complete. This transformation wasn't because of Xavier or finding my family - it came from accepting that my past was just that: the past. Its power over me was only as strong as I allowed it to be, and I no longer wanted to give it any hold over me.