Chapter 1: Back Again

Getting on a plane was something that always scared the sh*t out of Gwen, but due to her career, she always had to be in one.

Though she wasn't on a work trip now, getting to her destination made her happy. The journey was over…or maybe just beginning.

It was the first time in five years that she would put her feet back in City X. She had never thought she'd be back, especially with her four year old son at her side.

Cody was the most precious and handsome little boy, although his features resembled his father a little too much, breaking Gwen's heart whenever he looked at her. His green eyes and blond hair brought matched those of the man who she had tried so hard to forget.

Shaking her head to shove away those thoughts, Gwen grabbed Cody by his hand and got inside a cab.

"The X Town Mall, please," she uttered to the driver, as she fastened Cody's seat belt.

"Are we not going to Aunt Steph's house anymore, mommy?" Cody asked, looking out the window, enchanted.

It was his first time in his mother's hometown, really his first time away from home, and he was delighted by everything around him.

"Yes, we are, baby. We're just going to pass by the mall to buy a few things and eat something, okay? We need to wait for Aunt Steph to get out of work anyway."

Leaning her head on the other window, every street seemed to remind Gwen of her past. She thought she was ready to come back, but suddenly her confidence wasn't so high.

Why was she thinking so much of him lately? She thought she had come to terms with the horrible things that had happened. It shouldn't be such a big deal to her anymore.

When Stephanie asked her to pay a visit, Gwen thought it would be nice to finally come back and see her best friend. It had been a long time since they saw each other.

Though the city was teeming with memories, it had felt like the right time to show Cody where she had been born and lived most of her life.

She even considered the idea of moving back to the city with him to start a new life there.

"Mommy, look!" Cody said excitedly by her side. "It's so beautiful and big."

His little finger was pointing at an enormous building made of glass.

Her heart almost dropped.

They were passing by the company of the man who hadn't left her mind for the past five years.

She didn't even know what to say to her son, so she simply murmured something incomprehensible.

A few minutes later, the cab stopped in front of the mall and they left. Gwen grabbed the suitcase with one hand and Cody's hand with the other. Walking around, looking at the windows and still trying to get her sh*t together, Gwen suddenly regretted going to such an open space.

She felt as though she were being watched, which was absurd. How, or better yet, why would someone watch her?

Nobody even knew she was back in town.

"That's ridiculous!" she said to herself.

"What is ridiculous, mommy?" Cody asked by her side, with his eyes still glowing with excitement.

"Nothing, baby. Come on, let's find something yummy to eat. I'm starving." And she pulled his little hand towards the food court.

****

Finn was seated at his desk, looking out the big windows behind him and contemplating how his life had become so empty.

Ever since the woman of his dreams vanished from the Earth, he lost his interest in everything.

He was in his early thirties, but all he did was party and drink most of the time and sink himself in work.

To this day, he couldn't imagine what made her leave the way she did. They seemed to be so happy; he had never been in a better relationship.

They weren't together for a long time, but he knew deep down that she was the one. He couldn't possibly love someone else the way he loved her.

But then she was nowhere to be found. For a while, he used everything in his power to look for her. He wasted money, time and a lot of his men to search for her in the country and abroad. But it was all in vain.

It was like she never existed. All he had were her memories and some pictures of them to fill the hole she left in his heart, and his life.

He also developed another bad habit after she left. As he searched his desk for his lighter, he remembered how proud she had been of him when he quit smoking. But when she was gone, he was angry and wanted to feel like he was hurting her somehow. At least in his mind, so he wouldn't have to suffer alone.

Lighting his cigarette while watching the cars below him, Finn closed his eyes trying to enjoy the feeling of peace that it gave him.

He heard the click of the door behind him, but didn't bother to look.

"Mr. Lane?" his assistant's voice invaded his thoughts like a sharp knife.

"Hm?" he muttered, not wanting to move.

He was feeling exhausted lately, since a billion dollar contract was on the table and the negotiations were consuming all the energy he had left.

"I have some news. I think you'll like to hear it," his assistant Melanie said, and he could almost hear her voice shaking with nervousness.

Even after years working for him, she knew he didn't like to be bothered, and he had to admit that his temper wasn't something easily dealt with.

She deserved a raise actually.

"Yes, Melanie. Just spit it out. What is it this time?"

"One of our guys called. He said she was found. She is here in the city."