The luggage was already arranged and ready to be carried so it didn't take long for it to be made to fit into the car's booth. While she locked the door finally, it felt like she was closing the memories of the past and she was now ready to move on and pursue the peaceful life that she desired. She felt change creeping in and she was ready to embrace it.As they drove, she fixed her eyes on the scenery that unfolded in front of her as different memories began to plague her. She willed them away because she wasn't ready for any sort of torture her mind was trying to subject her to."Hey how are you feeling?" Robert asked again. He wanted to make sure she was fine and not reconsider her decision.She turned to look at him, removing her hands from her jaw. "I'm good."He placed one of his free hands on her laps. "Are you sure you're okay with all these?""You keep asking me like you want to change my mind and actually reconsider my decision." Aria snapped."No please don't say that." Rob
Harry could not stop thinking about his mother, he wondered why she felt the need to lie about going to Brooklyn if she didn't have any ulterior movie. Certainly, something was wrong and he was willing to find out. Since he wasn't there, he was calling to call the one person he could ask about it and that was Get-high. He resolved to try his best to be tactical while he asked him about it. He would get his information without giving away any information from his end. Easy, he convinced himself it was going to be. He inhaled as he called Get-high. When his screen started showing 'ringing' he rubbed his palm together to steady his breathing.Get-high picked up. "What's up bro?""I'm just here chilling, how about you?" Harry asked, not revealing too much of his uneasiness."Good good, so do you want some stuff?" He knew what Get-high was asking about but that wasn't the reason he called."Hmm not yet," Harry replied. "Actually I wanted to ask if you're still at the hood.""Oh yes. You wa
Harry slouched on the sofa, thinking about what his mother had said to him. He felt constricted in his chest and useless because he couldn't do anything to help her. He had been so carried away, trying to get dirts on Robert and seek his father's validation, not knowing his mother was facing a problem and would probably need his help. All these while, he had had misplaced priorities and had forgotten to pay attention to the one person who had risked her lives countless times when they were in the house of that sick abuser to save him. He was angry. He balled his fist and wanted to release the anger by punching the wall and then he remembered the form of help she wanted, she wanted him to take good care of Bryan and so he took a deep breath and walked into Bryan's room, knowing that she would be happy to know that Bryan was taken good care of.He knocked at door twice, no response. He knew Bryan was in there. Maybe he had his headset strapped in his ears that's why he couldn't hear hi
Harry didn't know what to think about the information he had just gotten. It was all he had wanted for the longest period of time now. But over the past few days he had been experiencing a change of heart. Now, he wasn't sure if that was what he still wanted anymore.So what do you suggest we do, he texted the spy again.Stick to our original plan that we initially drafted, she replied.Before he could type another message. He was three dots jumping on the screen meaning she was still typing. When her message came in, he saw: here are four media houses we could send the information to and we are sure they'd go viral...Harry knew that was the initial plan. For her to get information about Robert and then they would send the information to the internet and their father would see it and get disappointed in him. But lately he has been spending time with Bryan and thinking about how to help his mother. He didn't want to think about Robert and how to get dirt because that was the least of
When Robert saw the headline, his eyes widened in horror, thinking about who had done this. He knew how him and Aria had tried to tuck that side of their relationship underneath the surface, yet it still came out. He couldn't just think about how the person had gotten the information. Who could have done this to them? Do they now have enemies that were after them and would do anything to haunt them? Funnily enough, his instinct had narrowed the search down in the face of the chaos, he knew the person must have come from his own end. He just knew as he texted Aria to confirm if he had seen it too.R: Have you seen what's on air about us? *Attached a few links*As he pressed the power button of his phone, he thought about what his father would think when he would see the headline. Isn't it funny how he tried his best to keep that away from his father but it still ended up coming out to the open. Now not only his father would be aware of it all, but also Harry, Lauren and Bryan would see
The world in front of Aria came to a halt. Her ears couldn't register any sound, except the frantic beating of her heart. Aria's legs felt void of bones and incapable of holding her upright as the pack of fruits slipped through her sweaty palms. Powered by the rush of adrenaline, she scurried towards the bed and shook her mother's stiff body, desperate to hear her utter another weak sound even if it was the last thing she would hear. Aria muttered rushed prayers accompanied by muffled sobs."No, mom. No mom, you can't do this!" She pleaded with the unmoving body. "You don't know how hard I've been working for you. You can't just disappear on me! You can't..." "Doctor," she yelled from the bed, unwilling to free her hold on her mother as though she had the power to pull her back to life.Soon, the doctor and two other nurses rushed into the room, their gazes filled with a knowing sense of horror. The doctor immediately placed the stethoscope on her chest,
The fact that Robert still hadn't gotten a call from his father after the article was put up startled and scared him more than the article itself did. At first when he saw the article, he thought about his father's reaction. He pictured his father's unsmiling face and the stern voice in which he would employ when scolding him. He also considered his employees facial expression when they would see him at work. He couldn't care less about them because he had the power to make the anyone jobless within seconds but of course he didn't have the heart to relive any of their duties if they haven't committed a serious offense.He could easily shrug off the reaction regardless of how it may affect him but he wasn't sure Aria could do that, hence his advice to her but she still hasn't responded to his text. He wondered if she was alright, it was unusual for her. Usually they texted every morning, it was getting close to 2pm and she still hasn't responded to his message.
Robert arrived at the hospital and the first thing he did was to hug Aria tightly, enveloping her in the warmth he had to offer. If through this process he could transfer her pain to himself, he could have done it. He listened to Aria keenly talking about different scenarios that could have played out. He wanted to tell that she couldn't have done anything to save her but first, he let her indulge in her fantasies."I'm sorry about this," Robert muttered, rubbing her hair.Without moving her body, she glanced up at him. "Don't leave me.""I won't baby, I'll never." Robert made the promise with everything in him and he had the confidence that no matter how stormy the weather may be, he'd always be there for Aria."But what if I had just stayed with her?" Aria asked, searching his eyes for answers that would serve as a consolation."I don't know about that sincerely, but baby -""I know you want to say there's nothing I'd have done
Aria tried to memorize all she had learnt for her final exams while she texted Robert who was keen on distracting her. She had herself to blame though, she was the one who kept on texting him like she wouldn't see him later when he came home.A: Can you let me study?R: Can you let yourself study? You keep responding to my text when you know you shouldn't.A: that's because I can't help it and I always want to talk to you.R: That sounds cute but I'm going to have to stop responding to you. Meaning I'm not going to reply to your texts if you send another one after this.Robert kept his word. The next messages she said afterwards to him were left unanswered as she brought her mind back to her books so she could study. When she finished studying, she texted him back that she was done and she was heading to the shelter where she now volunteered. The shelter was a safe place for people who suffered abusive relationships and grief who needed other people who could understand them. It also
Aria had been looking forward to this dinner just like her husband. She noticed how happier her husband seemed after his meeting with Harry. Robert didn't give her the details, he just told her they got to discuss at length and they were now on good terms. Aria asked Anna if she wanted to come alone with them but she refused, saying she wanted to watch cartoons at home. Aria sighed and nodded.Now she and Robert were prepared for the dinner. Robert was dressed casually but since hadn't gone out in a while, she took this as an opportunity to scan through her outfits and combine them aesthetically. She finally settled for a short chiffon, a piece of jewelry and silver heels."Now look at how I look like your bodyguard standing beside you," Robert joked while he held her waist from the side and kissed her hair. "You look beautiful my queen." He complimented."So do you so, my love." She blushed. His muscular arm was evident under the shirt he wore and his biceps rippled. Aria imagined ta
Harry couldn't bear the guilt of what he did and he kept thinking about whether to tell Robert about it or not. They've been getting along just fine and they've recently been texting online and it's been amazing. They mostly spoke about their father's health, work and just random stuff. It felt like they were in a talking stage, they were starting to know each other very well, something they would have done years ago, but it took this long to achieve which wasn't really bad. Lauren and her husband loved this new change and they supported it more by inviting Aria and Robert for dinner. They conveyed the information through Harry and Robert loved the idea and agreed to show up with his wife.Harry's mind kept bugging him, he couldn't act all friendly with Robert when in the past he had previously tried to sabotage his career. Now they were getting along, he didn't want anything to come between this new found friendship. He was going to tell Robert about all of it, he'd soon go back to s
Anna was getting better and she no longer cried about the death. She was starting to carry on without her life. She now ate, watched cartoons and giggled about funny things like she used to do before she heard about the news. Aria loved the change, it brought a smile to her lips that her sister had successfully escaped the confinement of grief.Aria felt like her life was worth more and she hadn't explored as she should have. She was too carried away with external factors and had forgotten to be the main character of her life. This was what her mother would have wanted for her, now that she was gone, she had the strong urge to pick up her life. Not that she hadn't been living before but he was ready to live as her capacity would allow. She wanted to go to therapy and then go back to school. Therapy first, because she wanted to unpack all that happened to her in the past month, heal and understand better in what direction her life should take. Aria realized she wasn't really okay and s
Harry had already resigned to his fate as soon as his mother told him about everything. He knew that one day, this would happen, now in the moment, he felt nothing at all. He just keenly watched the scene unfold. The only thing that troubled him was that the internal turmoil his mother felt was visible and he felt sorry for her."I said go on," his father said, growing impatient.Matteo stared at Lauren, hoping she would change her mind but he just looked scared without saying a word."Say whatever you have to say, you heard my dad." Harry added, looking at Matteo with disdain. The reaction Matteo got was different from what he expected. He smiled nervously, staring at all of them. Harry knew he was finding it difficult to comprehend with the way no one seemed to be grovelling at his feet not to spill like he expected. His face hardened again, "So your wife here lied to you.""About what?" His father instinctively touched Lauren and his eyes darted between her and Matteo."About a lo
As Robert drove them home, he felt a sense of relief that his father didn't have to stay at the hospital for more than a day. Robert hated the hospital, not in the strong sense of aversion kind of way, but he felt like the hospital wasn't really a place a sick person needed to be. He couldn't place a finger on why he thought that but he didn't think a sick person deserved to hear about more people dying and inhaling the weird antiseptic that dominated the air. And most people he knew who stayed in the hospital for months due to one illness or the other didn't make it alive, for example his mom and Aria's mom. So for that reason he was happy that his father didn't have to stay there longer than the day he was brought in.His father coughed and he briefly glanced back. Lauren was sitting next to him, holding his hands which moved to rub his arm.Harry who was near Robert stretched the water he held to his father. "I hope you're okay." He asked.His father nodded and for the rest of thei
"Dad!" Robert kept screaming as his father held his neck almost like he was getting constricted.He continued coughing as Robert tried to offer him the water. His hands become shaky as he contemplated running out to tell Lauren about what was happening to her husband. He blinked his eyes as he watched his father fight for air and then he sprang out of the room to inform Lauren."Lauren, the ambulance! Dad is dying," he said breathlessly. Her eyes widened in horror as she placed a call to the ambulance with shaky hands. "My husband -"Robert zone out, his mind conjuring the worst scenarios. Soon the ambulance arrived and lauren and Bryan accompanied his father while he was wheeled away. He grabbed his carkeys as he made his way to enter his when he saw Harry scratching his hair as walked closer to him."Can i go come along?" Robert watched him stutter before he nodded."Thank you," he said shyly before they both entered the car. They drove in silence before Robert's curiosity got the
Robert told him he couldn't continue thinking about his father without making the necessary move therefore he had to go to his house and have the conversation. He didn't even know he loved his father this much. The past months without hearing his voice made him feel like something was missing and he was tired of feeling that way. It was kind of feeling he had to end because it ruined him. Yeah, he didn't care nor think about the consequences or aftermath of the action he was going to take as he drove down there. He had told Bryan to inform him if Dad was at home and the little boy did it as soon as he could because he wanted his big family back. When Bryan told him he was now on talking terms with his mother, Lauren, a big smile spread across his face and he remembered how he wasn't talking to his own father and he knew he had to fix that as well.Robert got to the house bracing himself for the conversation they were going to have.He saw Lauren sitting in the sitting room like the pre
Anna has been moody since Aria told her about her mother's death. She had to tell her though, she couldn't stall it any longer. She wasn't crying anymore but she barely spoke nor showed excitement about anything as she would have before. Anna took that as a sign, she was grieving silently, which was okay. She had to express herself in whichever way she deem fit. As much as she wished Anna didn't have to feel this way, it was necessary and had to happen. Aria glanced across where Anna was lying on the sofa, covering herself with a duvet as her eyes darted between the TV where her favourite cartoon was flickering and her phone in her hands."You sure you're not hungry?" Aria asked again for the third time.She raised her gaze and shook her head."Why? Food is important." Aria asked, worried. "At this point, I'll have to force you to eat something even if you claim not to be hungry."Anna adjusted her lying posture to a sitting one, putting her foot on the floor. "Trust me, I'll eat when