Her face fell as she held her chest. "I'm sorry about that, I mean tell her that please and tell her she shouldn't hesitate to call me to come over if she needs someone to talk to..." Elanne rapped, and then without waiting for a reply she left the office and made her way into the bathroom to cry her eyes. She remembered how the woman had smiled at her when she had brought the groceries and fruits Robert had sent her deliver thinking she was the one who bought it with her money and she promised to cook a special meal for her when she got out of the hospital but she could even get out of the hospital before she died. The short time she spent with the mother made her understand that she was a woman who was filled with light that the world had drained out of her. And Aria she knew how attached she was to her mother and she would probably be feeling depressed by now. She wished Aria hadn't taken the initiative to keep her phone before she really wished they could still communicated and
Aria thought it was necessary for her to talk to Anna now. For days, she hadn't spoken to her and she knew Anna would be worried as hell but Robert had promised to let Anna know she was doing well and was just a Little bit sick. As Aria ate cereal this morning, she thought about how thick it looked and how Anna usually liked it this way. She missed her and needed to have a conversation with her but she didn't know where Robert had kept her phone. Luckily he hadn't gone to work yet. She trudged back into the room like she had, in order to force herself to eat this morning.Getting there, she saw Robert try to fix the buttons by his wrist. She walked up to him without a word, assisting him with it."Thank you," he said with a smirk when she was dome with it. He held her up close and kissed her lips, wrapping his arms around her.Aria sneezed , causing her to pull backwards."Are you okay?" Robert asked, concern glazing his features."Sure,"she nodded, pulling a stray strand of hair behi
"Okay do you. I'm off to work though." Robert told her and picked up his car keys from the table nearby."You're not going to kiss me because we had a little argument?" Aria asked, pouting."My bad, I'm in a hurry."Robert sighed and walked up to her and drew her in for a kiss."When did you start forgetting to kiss me before going to work?" Aria asked, narrowing her eyes when they both pulled away from the brief kiss."I thought I just fixed that, Aria." Robert replied with a smile."It wasn't enough." She shook her head."Okay I'm sorry. When I get home, I'll make it up to you. Please?""Yes." She squealed and hugged him. He tapped her rear lightly and they both stared at him wantonly, knowing how they'll spend their time together when he gets back."Speaking of work, Elanne came around yesterday to check in on you. She says she hasn't heard from and she's been trying to reach you so she figured I could know what was wrong with you." Robert explained, making his way to the door."You
As Robert drove home—his father's house—he thought about how much his father would probably see him as a disappointment. He knew the article would upset his father and he would cuss him out. The only chance of them to talk about the issue and talk about his own side of the story had flown out the window when he picked being there for Aria over listening to his father. He didn't wish he shouldn't have done it because it was glaring that if given another opportunity he would do the same. He just wished his father understood how long and high his love was for her.He was driving there anyways, determined to talk to him even though a blatant rejection would slap him in the face. But at least he tried to make things right between them. In his entire life he had not gone such a long period without talking to his father. He thought about it as something that had to happen for a good cause but it was starting to itch him. He needed to talk to his father, he had missed being around the old man
Robert pushed the door open and Bryan caused sight of him immediately and his eyes widened."You came!" Bryan took off his headphone and scurried over to him, wrapping his small hands around him.It brought a smile to Robert's face. "My boy, yes I did."Bryan pouted. "I know you came to see Dad and not actually me.""Hmm." Robert pretended to think about his statement before he replied. "Jealous much?"They both chuckled and moved over to the bed."So tell me, what is happening?" Robert questioned, settling on the bed and crossing his legs on the floor at the ankle."Nothing much. I'm just mad at mom." Bryan voiced out then looked at Robert whilst narrowing his eyes. "Don't tell me she asked you to plead with me."Robert raised his hands in mock surrender. "No! I didn't even know you weren't on speaking terms with her.""I do talk to her but not just like before." Bryan looked away, the glint in his eyes fading off. It seemed like he was sad as well that he wasn't on speaking terms wi
Harry couldn't stop thinking about the way Robert had smiled at him, it made his body do a little weird thing that he couldn't place a finger on. The smile reached the corner of his eyes, it felt genuine and made him feel extra guilty. He hated this guilt that had formed a permanent home in him, it made him feel like he had to beg to get his previous body back - this wasn't his. He was growing more uncomfortable day by day.He couldn't stop thinking about why Robert had smiled at him. Was there something Bryan had told me that made him warm up to him? That was very unusual and slightly unsettling and startling. He would ask Bryan about it later but first he had to speak to Rina about the article, if it had been taken down. He was too scared to check by himself, it would make his anxiety spike up and he was exhausted of the tumultuous movement that went on in his chest each time he thought about it.Harry placed his phone to his ears as the phone rang, she picked up almost immediately.
"Hey, I'm at the smiths. Where are you sitting?""I'll meet you outside soon." She responded and just a few seconds later, he spotted a leaning figure coming out from the restaurant. She was dressed in leather pants and a leather jacket with high boots. "Hey." She greeted with a tight lipped smile."Hm hi." Harry replied.She stretched her hand for a handshake and he took her hands awkwardly and looked away."Seems like you're worst than the last time we met." Rina noted.It caused Harry to chuckle involuntarily. "What do you mean?""You already know." Truly Harry knew what she meant, he was more awkward than he was the last time they met. Then he was so eager and he tried to mask it awkwardness even though the masked slipped off from time to time but he managed to wear it back.The silence stretched for a few more minutes before she spoke again. "You sure you don't want come inside?" She asked."How about we stay outside?""That's fine by me. let me guess, your reason is that they'r
Aria stretched on the bed as her alarm beeped. Since she wasn't going to work, most times she spent longer time on her bed but today, she had to get out of her bed earlier than usual because Elanne was coming over. They had not seen each other in a while. She was getting tired of the few faces she saw each day. She needed a new face.She got out of her bed, realising that Robert must have gone to work. Aria picked up her phone, about to text him when his message came in: I left for work about a few minutes ago, I didn't want to wake you up. Have a great day and call me if you need anything. Love you.The text made Aria giggle a little. Robert truly had her heart, the things he said and did made her heart dance with joy.She replied: I will, take care of yourself.His reply came in immediately: I'm wondering why you didn't say the L word back.A: i just woke up and I wasn't thinking straight. I love you.Then she dropped her phone and made her way into the bathroom. She started by brus
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