CHAPTER 20This was not how she pictured to spend her first few moments with her new boyfriend.‘’I come bearing gifts,’’ Shouted Troy from the kitchen and Sophia smiled to herself. She pressed her face deeper into the cloud of pillows. Every time she opened her eyes, she felt her eyelids getting heavier. It didn’t matter if she had already had a five hours nap. Troy came back into Sophia’s room and sighed. It looked like she had fallen back asleep. He put the bowl of the yummy steaming tomato soup on the side table and sat beside Sophia’s head. He looked at her closed eyes with eyelashes brushing against her cheek.Adorable.‘’You gotta get up,’’ He ran his fingers into her scalp. His lips twitched when she smiled in response to his touch.‘’Help me,’’ She breathed out.Troy put his hand behind her neck and the other on her back. He helped her sit upright. He then pulled the blanket up until it fell on her waist. Troy moved and sat in front of her instead.‘’You don’t have to do th
Chapter 21‘’She’s unconscious, but okay,’’‘’Alright,’’Lana released a long breath and nodded at her step-daughter. She contemplated and revised the plan in her head. Just go inside, see her daughter, talk to her sleeping little girl and leave before she wakes. Doesn’t sound testing. She thought.‘’I’ll see her. Make sure no one comes inside,’’ Lana commanded and rubbed her sweaty hands which was in a fist, over her loose jeans.‘’Sure,’’ Pearl nodded and gestured with her hands towards the door where Sophia was lying unconscious.It was the post Tonsillectomy surgery. Sophia was still unconscious and was taking her sweet time to wake up. Lana’s plan was to stick with her ego and still see her daughter without her knowing.Upon seeing Sophia like that, an oxygen mask covering her face, wires sticking from here and there, Lana couldn’t help but tear up. She made her way towards Sophia and sat beside her stomach on the bed. She glanced at the heart monitor once, which presented Sophia
CHAPTER 22Almost immediately, Sophia was told to rest in her new bedroom in Miles’ house where she would be staying temporarily. It was as big as her former house with her parents. Miles escorted her to her room and leaned against the doorframe. After making sure that he’d made her tasks clear; i.e. to shower, change and go to sleep, he left her alone.Sophia spent a good twenty minutes devouring herself and her body in the fountain of hot water. She changed into a funny yellow top with a print of a Pokémon on it and lazy black leggings. She blow-dried her hair until they were only slightly damp and finally, with a loud sigh, dropped herself on the bed and blindly covered herself with the thick comforter. Miles’ house was modest, and so were the bedrooms. Although her room at her father’s was nice, this one took the extra point. The bright curtain and the unique shade of seafoam green walls radiated comfort. The furniture like the wardrobe was inbuilt to the wall making the room see
CHAPTER 23There was a halt. The halt of time. It was as if time had stopped when the two women put their eyes on one another. Nothing moved. Not a muscle, nor a leaf. Every particle in and around the room stopped, only to have a look at the sudden commotion. The world paused to look at the two woman. Sophia and her mother. Their eyes clashed like two meteoroids that blew into a million pieces. The clash gave rise to several kinds of emotions in Sophia’s heart. For an instance, joy. Oh, how at ease she felt at seeing her mother after so long! She felt a momentary relief considering selfishly that Lana cared and that’s why she’s here. But, then rage appeared in Sophia’s mien. She was neglected, ignored, brainwashed, and left to feel unloved. Intentionally or not. It all started with Lana and ended with her too. Lastly, confusion. Why now? There were numerous opportunities when Lana could make an appearance, when Sophia needed her presence. If not then, why now?Sophia was as stiff as a
CHAPTER 24Despite the fact that Sophia had skipped death, her eyes remained serene and she radiated comfort as she remained on the hospital bed, immobile. Her face was flushed and lids were sealed which felt like forever to others. Her lips sometimes parted leaving small and soft groans, sometimes moans. Meaning she was slowly waking up.Troy’s breathing hitched when Sophia again groaned softly but this time, also tilted her head to the side lightly where he sat.‘’S-Soph?’’ Troy whispered and tried to reach out for her hand.Burt another hand collapsed on his lightly, making him raise his eyes.‘’Let her wake up on her own,’’ Miles suggested, in a surprisingly calm voice.Troy nodded and took his hand away. Both men were back to residing in silence as they sat there in the eerily quiet room where the only sound was Sophia’s shallow breathing against the oxygen mask.Another moment of awkward silence passed by and Troy couldn’t stand it anymore. He shifted on his butt uncomfortably o
CHAPTER 25Unwinding chills of excitement hid behind her face of nervousness at the thought of returning to work. The leave felt longer than a month even though it wasn’t and she felt the need to visit the office. The thought of seeing her friends, her cubicle, even her annoying neighbouring colleague made her jump in excitement. But then the thought of her apartment crossed her mind and she felt sad, the comfort it radiated flashing before her eyes. She simply had gotten used to calling that place her home and staying away from the same made her feel blue. But she knew Miles’ overprotectiveness wouldn’t let her be yet. The stay at her brother’s was indeed relaxing and healed her properly. She even received a green signal from her doctors for continuing with her routine. Although, because of her recent medical conditions, they had suggested for Sophia to take it slow and be cautious about stress, which was like salt on a burning wound for her sibling’s worry. Though, Brinda had manage
CHAPTER 26The drizzle turned into a downpour out the window. A serene, still, and peaceful ambiance engulfed the room. The heavy rain poured like some rhythmic music and hummed like a lulling melody. The atmosphere was cool. In a way that invited laziness with open arms and a few more minutes of sleep for an excuse. The blanket did a fantastic job at serving warmth and closeness, as the couple snuggled close into each other.Soft humming filled the quiet room, the sound of rain performing the background music. A pair of fingers combed her hair behind her neck and kissed the earlobe. The motion kept repeating like a broken record until Sophia stirred. She moaned lightly and fluttered her eyes. She was momentarily confused at the relatively unfamiliar room.‘’Troy?’’ she suddenly said lowly and softly.‘’I’ve been trying to wake you for a while,’’ he whispered in her ear from behind.Sophia smiled lightly with her eyes closed. She could remember a humming sound just behind her ear but
CHAPTER 27Brinda made a visit. It was a small sit and talk session where she inquired about Sophia’s health. After almost one month of her thyroid surgery, she felt much better. She had Brinda to thank for. Without her assistance at being her nutritionist, she wouldn’t have recovered at this pace. She never had a bad impression over Brinda being her brother’s girlfriend, so it wasn’t hard for them to become friends either. She was always able to carry this warm aura that radiated with comfort and care.‘’I’m glad that you’re recovered,’’ Brinda squeezed Sophia’s shoulder.Sophia smiled timidly and looked down. Her fingers caressed the sheets of her bed on which both of them sat. This guest room at Miles’ place had become her safe place where she felt at peace and at home. She smiled at the thought but gloom clouded her face quicker than the smile that arrived earlier. Her chest almost hurt at the rate of pressure she put on them. ‘’Is something wrong?’’ Asked Brinda craning her neck
Chapter 30Sophia was never the kind who allowed violence to possess or surround her. Instead, she preferred to envelop herself in an innocent bubble that conjured care, loyalty, morals, and a hell lot of self-respect. The last one being the explored part of herself since she found herself not being in her parent’s care and influence anymore. If she was the light for her parents to give them a reason to wake up every day then her role in her sibling’s life was to making them believe that people do exist with a heart that pure and a smile so bright that they feel the need to protect and attack if it comes down to it.She was never weak. No. Her existence inhered strength that blossomed the world around her. Although, the world failed to give her the strength back. Growing up she was tiger parented, compared to her older siblings, then brainwashed, overpowered, and overwhelmed by the people who she once thought were good.But then she met this boy. This boy with curly head, those dimple
CHAPTER 29Sophia struggled under Joshua’s hold.She was pushed against the wall, causing white hot pain to shot in her ankle that got twisted in the tussle. The only reason she didn’t fall on the ground even after losing the strength to stand was because of Joshua’s arm that was wrapped around her torso, almost strangling her and squeezing the breath out of her. She tried her best not to breathe against the cloth pressed against her face. She knew what he wanted to do; make her pass out. Her screams were muffled, almost inaudible, even to her. In no way would anyone had been able to hear her for the rescue considering the closed door and the towering Joshua pressing a cloth against her mouth. The subtleness of his plan stood by his side and not hers.No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t help but breathe an atom of breathe every few seconds. The substance that got in her system was chloroform. She learned a little something about it from college. It would make her weak, not fain
Chapter 28‘Announce us official. I’ll take all the allegations on your brother down’With her eyes fixed at the text on the screen brighten and highlighted in the dim room under the bulb by the window serving luminosity to the room, she glared at her phone. Sophia’s steady breathing that heaved with passing seconds threatened the thought of a migraine. Oh no, not now. She was worried as she sat on her bed, cross legged, her phone in her hands gripped so tightly that red marks were slowly forming on her palms as she read the text away.‘’asshole,’’ She muttered slowly forcing her eyes to lift.‘’asshole, bastard, son of a bitch, a-a … a luniac …’’ she cursed away. All of this time when he was trying to contact her, this was what he wanted. This was what Joshua Smith wanted to talk about all this time. And Sophia just wished that she hadn’t opened the message. But the curiosity was eating her alive.‘’Never,’’ Loath seeped through her voice as she looked back at the screen on her phone
CHAPTER 27Brinda made a visit. It was a small sit and talk session where she inquired about Sophia’s health. After almost one month of her thyroid surgery, she felt much better. She had Brinda to thank for. Without her assistance at being her nutritionist, she wouldn’t have recovered at this pace. She never had a bad impression over Brinda being her brother’s girlfriend, so it wasn’t hard for them to become friends either. She was always able to carry this warm aura that radiated with comfort and care.‘’I’m glad that you’re recovered,’’ Brinda squeezed Sophia’s shoulder.Sophia smiled timidly and looked down. Her fingers caressed the sheets of her bed on which both of them sat. This guest room at Miles’ place had become her safe place where she felt at peace and at home. She smiled at the thought but gloom clouded her face quicker than the smile that arrived earlier. Her chest almost hurt at the rate of pressure she put on them. ‘’Is something wrong?’’ Asked Brinda craning her neck
CHAPTER 26The drizzle turned into a downpour out the window. A serene, still, and peaceful ambiance engulfed the room. The heavy rain poured like some rhythmic music and hummed like a lulling melody. The atmosphere was cool. In a way that invited laziness with open arms and a few more minutes of sleep for an excuse. The blanket did a fantastic job at serving warmth and closeness, as the couple snuggled close into each other.Soft humming filled the quiet room, the sound of rain performing the background music. A pair of fingers combed her hair behind her neck and kissed the earlobe. The motion kept repeating like a broken record until Sophia stirred. She moaned lightly and fluttered her eyes. She was momentarily confused at the relatively unfamiliar room.‘’Troy?’’ she suddenly said lowly and softly.‘’I’ve been trying to wake you for a while,’’ he whispered in her ear from behind.Sophia smiled lightly with her eyes closed. She could remember a humming sound just behind her ear but
CHAPTER 25Unwinding chills of excitement hid behind her face of nervousness at the thought of returning to work. The leave felt longer than a month even though it wasn’t and she felt the need to visit the office. The thought of seeing her friends, her cubicle, even her annoying neighbouring colleague made her jump in excitement. But then the thought of her apartment crossed her mind and she felt sad, the comfort it radiated flashing before her eyes. She simply had gotten used to calling that place her home and staying away from the same made her feel blue. But she knew Miles’ overprotectiveness wouldn’t let her be yet. The stay at her brother’s was indeed relaxing and healed her properly. She even received a green signal from her doctors for continuing with her routine. Although, because of her recent medical conditions, they had suggested for Sophia to take it slow and be cautious about stress, which was like salt on a burning wound for her sibling’s worry. Though, Brinda had manage
CHAPTER 24Despite the fact that Sophia had skipped death, her eyes remained serene and she radiated comfort as she remained on the hospital bed, immobile. Her face was flushed and lids were sealed which felt like forever to others. Her lips sometimes parted leaving small and soft groans, sometimes moans. Meaning she was slowly waking up.Troy’s breathing hitched when Sophia again groaned softly but this time, also tilted her head to the side lightly where he sat.‘’S-Soph?’’ Troy whispered and tried to reach out for her hand.Burt another hand collapsed on his lightly, making him raise his eyes.‘’Let her wake up on her own,’’ Miles suggested, in a surprisingly calm voice.Troy nodded and took his hand away. Both men were back to residing in silence as they sat there in the eerily quiet room where the only sound was Sophia’s shallow breathing against the oxygen mask.Another moment of awkward silence passed by and Troy couldn’t stand it anymore. He shifted on his butt uncomfortably o
CHAPTER 23There was a halt. The halt of time. It was as if time had stopped when the two women put their eyes on one another. Nothing moved. Not a muscle, nor a leaf. Every particle in and around the room stopped, only to have a look at the sudden commotion. The world paused to look at the two woman. Sophia and her mother. Their eyes clashed like two meteoroids that blew into a million pieces. The clash gave rise to several kinds of emotions in Sophia’s heart. For an instance, joy. Oh, how at ease she felt at seeing her mother after so long! She felt a momentary relief considering selfishly that Lana cared and that’s why she’s here. But, then rage appeared in Sophia’s mien. She was neglected, ignored, brainwashed, and left to feel unloved. Intentionally or not. It all started with Lana and ended with her too. Lastly, confusion. Why now? There were numerous opportunities when Lana could make an appearance, when Sophia needed her presence. If not then, why now?Sophia was as stiff as a
CHAPTER 22Almost immediately, Sophia was told to rest in her new bedroom in Miles’ house where she would be staying temporarily. It was as big as her former house with her parents. Miles escorted her to her room and leaned against the doorframe. After making sure that he’d made her tasks clear; i.e. to shower, change and go to sleep, he left her alone.Sophia spent a good twenty minutes devouring herself and her body in the fountain of hot water. She changed into a funny yellow top with a print of a Pokémon on it and lazy black leggings. She blow-dried her hair until they were only slightly damp and finally, with a loud sigh, dropped herself on the bed and blindly covered herself with the thick comforter. Miles’ house was modest, and so were the bedrooms. Although her room at her father’s was nice, this one took the extra point. The bright curtain and the unique shade of seafoam green walls radiated comfort. The furniture like the wardrobe was inbuilt to the wall making the room see