JESSICA'S POV. The crackling bonfire cast dancing shadows across the faces of the gathered crowd, while the warm glow of the flames reflected in our eyes. I sat on a weathered log, feeling the heat seep into my skin as I watched Daniel sip on a bottle of beer, casually speaking with a scrawny looking guy beside him. Laughter and hushed whispers filled the air, blending with the distant sound of waves crashing against the shore.As the bottle was placed and it was settled, the group's attention shifted to the next challenge—Truth or Dare. My heart fluttered nervously, anxious about what the game had in store for us. I had never been good at hiding my emotions, and the thought of being put on the spot made my palms sweat. But I couldn't back out now; I had to play along. The link haired girl—whose name I'd learnt was Makayla—always the daredevil, volunteered to go first. She spun the empty beer bottle in the center of our makeshift circle, its neck pointed coincidentally right at Dani
DANIEL'S POV.What was a guy supposed to do after confessing his feelings to his contract wife that was supposed to be off limits? Easy, avoid her. After what had transpired between Jessica and I at that highly eventful bonfire night, I'd gone with the option of avoiding her. And I'd been successfully in doing that for three days straight. Trust me it took a lot of self restraint not to go over to her room and ask to watch a movie like we used to do, so you understand how hard it must've been for me. The worst thing about the while thing was Jessica's reaction to it. I'd at least expected her to question my sudden behaviour, but no. The woman didn't even act like she gave a damn that I was avoiding her. She seemed fine with it, and that pissed me the hell off. Today was the last day we had to spend in Hawaii and judging by how things had been going earlier, I'd expected to be impatient to leave, but it was the total opposite. I couldn't even stand the thought of going back to the c
DANIEL'S POV. After Jessica had been wheeled into the ICU with several hospital shit attached to her unconscious body, I'd almost lost my shit as I paced around in the waiting room anxiously, but then the nurses called me into the doctors office after several hours and I knew I had to be strong for Jessica. I sat anxiously in the doctor's office, waiting for the man to stop messing around with the stupid files on his desk. It took everything in me not to tell out at him. My heart felt heavy with worry, and I couldn't help but anticipate the worst. Finally, the doctor arranged all the files back into a cupboard and looked up at me, wearing a sympathetic expression. I didn't like the look on his face one bit. "Mr Snider, I know you're nervous, but I need you to calm down alright?" The doctor said gently. "Thankfully the accident was not very serious, but there are some issues. She sustained several injuries during the incident. She has a concussion, which means she might experience
JESSICA'S POV.I found myself floating in a realm of ethereal mist, weightless and free. The air was tinged with a soft luminescence, casting a gentle glow upon everything around me. As I glanced down, I realized that I was no longer confined to the confines of my hospital bed. Instead, I stood strong and healthy, my body unburdened by the pain and weakness that had plagued me for so long.The mist parted before me, revealing a breathtaking landscape. Lush meadows stretched as far as the eye could see, dotted with vibrant wildflowers that swayed delicately in an invisible breeze. The sky above was a canvas of shifting colors, blending together in a breathtaking display of pastel hues. The air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers and the distant sound of a babbling brook.As I took a step forward, a figure emerged from the mist. A woman, radiant and graceful, stood before me, her eyes filled with warmth and love. Something deep within me recognized her instantly, despite
DANIEL'S POV.As I sat in Jessica's hospital room, anxiety weighing heavy on my heart, exhaustion began to take its toll on my weary mind. The sterile white walls seemed to close in on me, and the ever-present hum of the machines added to my growing unease. The soft beeping of her heart monitor was a constant reminder of the delicate thread that held her life in balance. It was in this state of emotional vulnerability that sleep finally claimed me, pulling me into a vivid and haunting dream.In the dream, I found myself standing on a bustling street corner, the city's vibrant energy surrounding me. The sun cast a warm glow, painting the world in shades of gold. Jessica stood beside me, her smile radiant and infectious. It felt so real, her presence providing a balm to my weary soul.Suddenly, the serenity shattered as screeching tires and the blaring of car horns filled the air. My heart skipped a beat as I turned to witness a horrific sight. A speeding car careened down the road, its
DANIEL'S POV. Five days later, Jessica was still at the hospital. Asides her leg injury which made her unable to work properly, she had gotten better. Her headaches subsided and the head bruise was no longer looking as painful and glaringly obvious at it had been when I'd first set my eyes on it. I still felt guilty from time to time about what had happened even when I had no hand in it, but the friendliness between me and her made me know that she wasn't holding anything at all against me.Over the past few days at this hospital, we'd made a routine. I came very early in the morning and left at night to freshen up.(except the first night and last night that I'd stayed all night) I'd have wanted to stay all day long with her in that bed, but apparently it was against the rules of the hospital for a visitor to stay consecutively for days in the hospital room with the patient. We played board games in the mornings after Jessica has her breakfast, then the doctor comes in with his usu
JESSICA'S POV.I found myself standing in a serene meadow, surrounded by vibrant wildflowers that swayed gently in the soft breeze. The air was fragrant with the sweet scent of honeysuckle, and the sun bathed the landscape in a warm, golden glow. It felt like a dream, a beautiful dream.As I took in the breathtaking surroundings, I noticed a figure slowly emerging from the shimmering mist. It was my mother, again, a woman I had never known in real life. This dream was the only place I could ever meet her. My heart fluttered with a mix of excitement and anticipation as she drew closer.Her presence was ethereal, her face radiant with a loving smile. Her eyes sparkled with a warmth and tenderness that I had longed for my entire life. I reached out to touch her, to feel the connection that had been absent from my existence.But as my fingers grazed her arm, a sudden chill filled the air. The sky darkened, and the once peaceful meadow transformed into an eerie, nightmarish scene. The flow
DANIEL'S POV. I walked into the hospital with my overnight bag slung around my shoulders and then encountered Jessica's favourite nurse, Emily on her way out of Jessica's room.She smiled when she saw me and I returned the energy. I liked the woman because Jessica liked her, and I trusted Jessica's judgement. "Good morning, Daniel," she greeted once I stopped in front of her. "Did you sleep well?"I actually hadn't been sleeping well since Jessica was hospitalised, but I didn't need to tell her that, instead I said, "yeah I did. What's Jessica's state now? I heard she had a memory lapse yesterday.""She is doing well with recovery, but she's still having occasional memory lapses. She's having one right now as we speak, but I believe after she's done with recovery, she'll stop having them."My heart sank at that, but I decided to have a positive look on it. "Okay, thanks for taking care of her. I'll see you later, Nurse.""See you later, Daniel," she walked away and I took a deep bre
DANIEL'S POV.ONE YEAR LATER.I walked through the front door of our new cozy home, my heart brimming with excitement and anticipation. After the whole Lori incident, I'd come clean to Jessica about every single girl I'd played in the past, and because Jessica was so big hearted and understanding, she'd forgiven me, and we decided to bury all that in the past. Our journey to letting go of the past had started from getting a new home. Dad had arranged for a purchase for a new house immediately I'd told him abouy it. And though I felt like he was once again helping me out and treating me like a child—he'd explained that buying that house for us was his way of saying sorry for how bad of a father he'd been. After that day I'd come clean to him about the contract, he'd made it his everyday goal to show his remorse, and I didn't mind. I'd forgiven him already just as I'd forgiven myself for being such an asshole in the past. A smile graced my lips when my nostrils filled with the sweet aro
JESSICA'S POV.The road stretched out before us, illuminated by the soft glow of the streetlights. Daniel's grip tightened on the steering wheel as we made our way home from his parents' house. The meeting had been pleasant, filled with laughter and delicious home-cooked food. And then the feeling of being known as the real Jessica and still receiving love from them felt good. Suddenly, the shrill sound of my phone shattered the silence inside the car. Startled, I fumbled to retrieve it from my purse. The caller ID displayed an unfamiliar number, and a surge of anxiety coursed through my veins. I had learnt to be weary of calls from unknown numbers these days. "Who could this be?" I whispered, uncertain. Daniel shot me a worried glance, his brows furrowing in concern. I think he was scared it was the stalker too. "I don't know, but you should answer it. It might be important."Taking a deep breath, I swiped the screen and brought the phone to my ear. "Hello?"A voice on the othe
DANIEL'S POV. As the morning sun peeked through the curtains, I slowly opened my eyes, feeling a strong wave of contentment wash over me. I turned my head to the side and saw Jessica lying next to me, her tousled hair framing her beautiful face. Last night with her had been the best night of my life, an eye-opener to the beauty of the world of sex with an emotional partner, and not just some shitty hookup. A smile immediately spread across my lips as I remembered vividly all the events of last night. She had been unpredictable and amazing, everything I'd ever wanted in my dreams. "Hey," I whispered, my voice still husky from sleep. "Good morning, beautiful."Jessica stirred and opened her eyes, greeting me with a sleepy smile. "Good morning, handsome," she replied, her voice filled with warmth. "Last night was... amazing. I didn't know you had all that in you, I totally get the Daniel Snider hype now," she joked, laughing at her own humour. I chuckled softly, reaching out to brush
JESSICA'S POV.I tiptoed out of the bathroom, wrapped in a fluffy towel, steam still wafting in the air. My heart however, raced as I realized I wasn't alone. There, standing by the door, was Daniel, his eyes widening in surprise. I felt a blush creeping up my cheeks, making me acutely aware of my semi-nakedness. And then I let out a startled gasp that cut through the silence. I'm so sorry, Jessica,"he stammered, his voice laced with a mix of panic and regret. "I didn't mean to intrude. I was wondering if you weren't home, and ..." he trailed off like he didn't know just what to say next. My voice trembled as I hurriedly wrapped the towel securely around myself, still stuck in surprise. "Daniel, what are you doing here? Why didn't you at least try to announce your arrival?" "I... I didn't think anyone else was home," he managed to reply, with his cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "I came back early, and I was worried when I found the house so quiet. I... I'm sorry, Jessica. I don'
DANIEL'S POV.As I wrapped up another exhausting day at the office, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. The clock had seemingly ticked at a snail's pace, each minute passing by with an agonizing slowness. I yearned for the comfort of my humble abode, and talking to Jessica. But fate had other plans for me that evening.Just as I was about to shut down my computer and bid farewell to my colleagues, a faint ping emanated from my phone. I glanced at the screen to find a text message from Bianca. The name alone sent irritation down my spine, a reminder of the reckless past we shared. Her message was brief but desperate, pleading for a meeting at a nearby coffee shop. A mix of curiosity and caution filled my mind, and after much deliberation, I replied with a reserved agreement to be there. Now, behind the wheel of my car, my mind raced with questions. What could she possibly want from me after all this time? Was it another attempt to rekindle the flame that had long since burned out?
JESSICA'S POV.I watched Daniel as he buttoned up his crisp white shirt, his face showing focus and determination. He was about to head off to work, and I knew it was now or never to tell him my plans for the day."Daniel," I called out, catching his attention. He turned to me, his eyebrows raised inquisitively. "I just wanted to let you know that I'll be going out today to visit Julia."His expression shifted from curiosity to concern in an instant. I could see the worry lines etching deep into his forehead. He walked over to where I stood by the door, his steps deliberate and measured."Jessica, are you sure about this?" He asked, his tone tinged with worry. "You remember what happened the last time you went out alone. And I'm not sure it's safe for you to go with your leg still unstable." I nodded, memories of that fateful day flooding my mind. But I had healed considerably since then, though not completely. At least I could stand on my two feet and move around better than before.
DANIEL'S POV.The day after we'd arrived from the airport, Das had called me concerning work. "What's up Dad?" I'd asked while I ate the delicious sandwich Jessica had made for me before she went and locked herself in her room. I'd wanted to go after her and find out what the problem was, but I figured she was going through a lot and had a lot to think about, so maybe she'd needed that time to just rest and think all by herself."Daniel, my boy. How are you?" Dad greeted, cheerfully. " I heard that you just got back from your Mum. How was your flight?"I'd remembered how eye-opening and tensed it had been, and decided to lie instead. " It was great, but I'm tired. You know how me and flights are.""I'm sorry to hear that, son, because you have a lot of work on your plate. You're resuming tomorrow by the way," he said, his tone swiftly switching to business mode. A groan left my lips and I fisted another sandwich groggily into my mouth before saying, "I know Dad. But can I just get
JESSICA'S POV.As I looked up to the warm Hawaiian sun streaming through the windows, the realization hit me like a wave crashing on the shore. Today was the day Daniel and I had to pack up our things and leave this somewhat paradise behind. The bittersweet feeling hung heavy in the air as I glanced over at Daniel, who seemed lost in his own thoughts.Taking a deep breath, I made my way to the closet. It was as if the room itself reflected our somber mood, with clothes scattered on the floor and suitcases waiting to be filled. I tried to focus on the task at hand, folding my clothes neatly and placing them into my suitcase, but my mind wandered back to the memories we had created here.The sound of zippers being pulled closed filled the room as we moved in synchrony, our actions speaking louder than words. There was an unspoken agreement between us to keep our emotions in check, to not let them spill over and disrupt the process of leaving. We had to be strong for each other. The past
JESSICA'S POV.Whoever it is that wanted to kill me was going too far. It was like whoever it was that was doing this had one sole aim only, which was to harm me. The first time was a hit and run, and then Daniel had told me about the phone call he'd gotten that day, and then yesterday, the person had come directly to hurt me. I woke up that morning with a renewed sense of excitement. Today was the day I would get to finally leave this sterile hospital room that had been my home for far too long. Sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. I could hardly contain my joy as I glanced over at the man sitting in the armchair beside my bed, my contact husband, turned companion. He was was asleep with his mouth open, and though that was supposed to be gross, it looked so cute to me. He'd fallen asleep while watching a movie on his iPad, as he was waiting for me to get ready. Daniel had started off as a stranger, a jerk, a man I barely knew, but over the cou