{~~Avery Sterling~~}I woke up to a faint yet sharp feeling of pain that tugged at my awareness, coaxing me out of the thick, hazy blanket of sleep I’d been wrapped in. The kind of pain that was more of a distant reminder than an immediate problem. I blinked, slowly coming to, my vision still blurred from the night. My hand instinctively reached out, and I felt the cool metal of the baby monitor right in front of my face. Logan must have placed it there, probably sometime in the early hours while I was deep in sleep. That small act of consideration—of knowing I would want to hear her, to be close to her even in my sleep—made my heart swell a little. He was thoughtful like that, even in the smallest details. I smiled despite the slight discomfort in my muscles from having slept in a bit of an awkward position, grateful for him.Rolling out of bed, I moved gingerly, feeling the weight of the previous day's events settle into my bones. It had been a whirlwind, bringing Hope home, and fin
{~~Avery Sterling~~}I spent the morning at home, relishing the quiet peace that settled around the house. The sun filtered gently through the curtains, casting a soft glow on everything, and for a moment, it felt like the world was just ours—mine, Logan’s, and Hope’s. After stretching lazily in bed for a while, I finally convinced myself to get up. Heading to the bathroom, I took a long, luxurious shower, letting the warmth of the water wash away any lingering sleepiness. I stood under the stream for longer than I needed to, enjoying the way the steam filled the room, the sound of the water creating a soothing rhythm in the otherwise still morning. Once I was done, I dried off and dressed, opting for something casual but comfortable.Afterward, I went to check on Hope, scooping her up from her crib with a soft smile. She greeted me with a gurgling giggle that melted my heart, as it always did. Her little hands reached up, clutching at my shirt as I carried her out of the room and dow
{~~Avery Sterling~~}Darren was surprised. Hell, everyone was surprised when I hit him. There was this sharp crack that echoed in the room, followed by a stunned silence that seemed to stretch on for an eternity. His eyes widened with shock, his hand flying to his face as blood seeped through the cracks of his fingers. But, honestly, I just kind of needed to do that. There was a pent-up anger in me that I hadn’t even realized until the moment my fist connected with his skin. It felt like everything—the lies, the pain, the manipulation—had finally boiled over.He staggered back, clearly dazed, but quickly tried to compose himself. Darren wasn’t the type to stay down for long, at least not without throwing some sort of insult my way. He swayed for a moment, his balance off, before slowly standing up. His shirt sleeve quickly became soaked as he used it to try to stop the bleeding from his nose.“You bitch, what the fuck?” he spat, his voice rough, full of venom. But I didn’t flinch. I j
{~~Logan Grey~~}I had called Lisa over to plan a wedding for next month. The decision had come quickly, almost impulsively, but I knew deep down that it was time. After everything Avery and I had been through, we deserved something real, something beautiful. I wanted to make it official in a way that honored what we had now, not what we used to be. There was no more pretending, no more playing games with each other's hearts, no more trying to prove something to anyone else but ourselves.Avery had been in the kitchen while I explained who she was to Lisa, and after exchanging a few words and a soft kiss, she smiled and headed upstairs to check on Hope. I watched her go, a warmth settling over me. It still amazed me how much things had changed between us. What had started as a hollow attempt to make someone else jealous had turned into something far more profound? Avery was my partner now, my equal. This wedding—our wedding—was going to be the beginning of something new, something we
{~~Avery Sterling~~}Going to the hospital the next day felt different for Logan and me. There was a weight in the air, but it wasn't the kind of heaviness that pressed down with worry or fear; it was something more intimate, a subtle shift between us that had begun the moment I agreed to remove my ring. He’d asked me to take it off, not because he didn’t want the world to see it, but because he wanted the moment when he would propose again to be truly unforgettable. He told me he wanted to catch me off guard, to surprise me when I least expected it, and although that was his intention, a part of me still felt the lingering symbolism of slipping the ring off my finger. It was bittersweet. But it was also nice to think about — that moment, in the future, when he would propose again, with all the weight of the past behind us, and we could start fresh. It gave me something to hold onto, a promise of new beginnings, and I carried that hope with me as I walked through the hospital doors.H
{~~Avery Sterling~~}Six hours... damn. I stretched my arms, trying to shake off the stiffness that had settled into my muscles. Glancing at the pile of work I’d gotten through, I sighed. Emails had been sent to the hospital suppliers, pushing them to expedite the delivery of the medical equipment we desperately needed. It wasn’t just a polite nudge either; it was the kind of demand that would cut into our funding—money that we couldn’t afford to lose. We were already walking a financial tightrope.And then there was Darren. He wasn’t rich, not by any stretch of the imagination. So where the hell was the money coming from to pull all of this off? It had to be from Logan’s accounts. They must’ve siphoned money from him. My head throbbed at the thought. I rubbed my forehead, pushing the frustration away for the moment. There was no time to dwell on that right now.I stood up, stretching my legs and back before heading to the desk. I quickly transferred all the data I had gathered onto a
{~~Avery Sterling~~}After speaking with Reina, I slipped out of her room, feeling the weight of the conversation still pressing on my chest. I couldn’t shake the sight of her hollow eyes, the quiet desperation behind her questions. But there was no time to dwell on that now. I had others to tend to, and one of them was waiting in the infant room.I headed to the elevator, going up to the floor where the infant room was situated.As I walked down the hall, I pulled out my phone and texted Logan, asking if he could meet me for lunch. We hadn’t had a moment together in what felt like days, and I needed a break—if only for a few minutes. Logan was always good at grounding me, pulling me out of my head when the chaos of work threatened to consume me. I shoved my phone back into my pocket and headed straight for the nursery, where Hope was being cared for.The door to the infant room slid open with a quiet hiss, and I immediately spotted the nurse. She was moving gently from crib to crib,
{~~Logan Grey~~}Every day is exhausting.By the time Avery and I finally headed home, exhaustion weighed down every step. It had been a grueling day, and the strain of it was starting to catch up to both of us. We pulled into the driveway as the sky began to dim, a soft glow of twilight falling over the house. When we stepped inside, the quiet was almost jarring after the chaos of the day.Hope, our little bundle of energy, was wide awake. Of course, she had slept most of the day, blissfully unaware of the storms we'd been weathering. Her bright eyes tracked me as we came in. Avery was distracted, holding on to her with one hand while holding her bag in the other. I smiled despite the fatigue pulling at me, scooping her out of Avery’s arms as her small giggles filled the room. "Hey there, little one," I murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.Avery dropped the bags by the door and gave me a tired but warm smile, the kind of smile that made the weight of the day a little lig
{~~Avery Sterling~~}The waterfall is majestic and stunning. Logan suggested we go in naked since we’re the only ones here. I’ll admit, trusting a radically vegan hippie to plan my honeymoon was a bold and disturbing choice. Third year in college she lugged me off to the rain forest where we camped for six weeks so we could connect with the gods who brought us here.It was my worst summer vacation. Six long weeks. But I got so much work done that I felt like I came back even smarter. I love Agatha, but my goodness, her ideas of fun are always nature-like. The lack of wifi is going to kill me, but thank god I got another honeymoon present from Logan’s parents as an apology for the way they acted at the start of my marriage to their son.And that one is for two months on a cruise. We’ll be leaving for that after a week of getting eaten alive by mosquitoes.The water is cold, and the view is even better. I talk alot of crap about Agatha but the woman is far more connected to this world t
{~~Logan Grey~~}My honeymoon is not at all what I expected. It’s one of those situations where you step back and think, How did I not see this coming? But I guess that’s what happens when you go with the flow and don’t plan out every last detail, just trusting that things will fall into place. We decided not to bring Hope with us, even though part of me wanted her to be here. She’s spending the week with my parents—her grandparents—which feels like a huge milestone, not just for her, but for me too. Avery and I wanted this time to ourselves, to really celebrate our marriage without any distractions, to focus on us for a change.We’re an odd pair to most people, and I know some didn’t expect us to last, but we’ve made it work in ways that surprise even me sometimes. Over the last year, we’ve settled into this rhythm that’s become second nature. It’s a good rhythm, one that’s brought us closer, and made us stronger. It’s funny—when you think about it, but it feels like so much longer.
\One Year Later/{~~Avery Sterling~~}So, you know how little girls always dream about their wedding day? It’s supposed to be this big, magical event, where everything falls perfectly into place, and for some, it’s the pinnacle of their dreams, right? But not me. I never had those kinds of dreams. You know how my life was, how crappy my sister and parents treated me. There was never much room in my head for fantasies like that. Growing up, I couldn’t even imagine what marriage would feel like because I was too busy surviving and getting through the mess of my family. But, okay, maybe deep down, I had some dreams. Everyone does, right? I just never thought they’d come true.And marrying Logan Grey—that’s a whole different thing altogether. I mean, when we started planning the wedding, I was so overwhelmed. There were just so many details, and so many decisions, and with everything I’ve been through, I just didn’t have the energy to care about floral arrangements or seating charts. So, I
{~~Avery Sterling~~}The almost-car accident shakes me up more than I expected, but Logan is fine, and I’m fine. It all happened so fast, and yet I can still feel the pulse of my heartbeat in my throat when I think about it. That truck had come out of nowhere. The driver didn’t even slow down. Had I not tripped over that stone while I was looking for a signal on my phone and he’d come to check on me... logan would have died a painful death before my eyes.So of course I was a fucking mess. That driver is crazy. Did he not see the car? Why did the car even stop? What was wrong with the engine? I have like six million questions!He called Ryan to come get us. I was in his arms on the side of the road, watching as other cars drove around the wreckage. They don’t stop but look on surprised at the mess. Whoever that driver was I hope to god his truck breaks down and he’s fired. Because what the hell?He should have at least stopped. Panic fills me but so does anger. The panic wins though.
{~~Avery Sterling~~}Logan and I had left Hope in the hospital. The tiny bundle of life—so fragile, yet resilient—was resting safely in the nursery, surrounded by the quiet hum of machines and the gentle presence of nurses. We’d return tomorrow, once we were sure they’d had time to scan her brain and ensure she was truly safe for release. My heart ached to leave her, but it was necessary. Thank goodness she was a baby, still too young to understand fear in the way that we did. She wouldn’t know the anxiety, the sleepless nights, the never-ending worry. All she knew was warmth and the safety of sleep, cocooned in blankets too big for her tiny form.The snow had started falling again, soft and silent, covering the world in a layer of purity that felt both soothing and unsettling. Logan drove carefully through the winding streets, the heater on low, warming our chilled fingers. We didn’t speak much, but the silence wasn’t uncomfortable. It was the kind of silence that sat between two peo
{~~Avery Sterling~~}I’m back in this beautiful pack, surrounded by familiar faces, and yet it feels so foreign after everything we’ve been through. the rain stopped while I was away and now we have a new season. The landscape is stunning, especially now, with the first snowfall of the season transforming the dense forest and the lake into a quiet, white wonderland. The snow blankets the ground in thick, untouched layers, making the whole world seem calm and serene, but cold—bitingly cold. It's as if the snow carries the weight of my worries. The weather has shifted dramatically over the past few days, moving from endless, gloomy rain to this sudden onset of winter. So, congratulations on freezing my butt off, even with all the layers I'm bundled in.Logan and I had spent last night at the lake house, a place of solace for us, trying to reconnect after everything that’s been thrown at us. It was bittersweet, those quiet moments by the fire, the crackling logs filling the air with warm
{~~Logan Grey~~}Avery is coming home today. Avery is coming home today. I’ve been repeating that sentence in my head for the past 48 hours, counting down the seconds like a kid waiting for Christmas morning. The excitement, the anticipation—it’s all bubbling up inside me, and I can barely sit still. I glance at the clock on my phone for what feels like the hundredth time, knowing it hasn't moved much since the last time I looked but somehow hoping the hands of time have sped up. It's been far too long since I’ve seen her.The air in the terminal is thick with the usual airport chaos—people rushing by, announcements echoing through the speakers, kids whining in the background—but it all fades into the background noise. I’m laser-focused, my heart pounding in sync with the roaring engines of planes outside. She’s been gone for weeks, and though it wasn’t that long, it feels like an eternity. We’ve been working tirelessly on the cure—sleepless nights, constant research, trial and error.
{~~Avery Sterling~~}Agatha and I had been at it for hours, possibly days, though the passage of time had become something of a blur in the dim, candlelit room. The air was thick with the scent of dried herbs and burning incense, their heady aromas mixing in a way that both calmed and invigorated me. I had never spent so much time in the presence of a witch doctor before—not like this, not in such an intimate setting where every movement, every word, every breath was part of a delicate and complex dance of life and death.I’d seen witchcraft before. In university, we had a professor who dabbled in the ancient arts, using it to enhance her knowledge of medicinal plants and natural remedies. It’s why i wished I’d been chosen to be a doctor, it would be so nice to be able to do so much than what a nurse can. But even she had never worked with the sheer precision and raw power that Agatha wielded. It was... mesmerizing. I couldn’t help but be drawn in, watching her every move, the way her
{~~Logan Grey~~}Two days without Avery isn't an eternity, but it sure feels like a long time. I’m surviving, or at least I think I am. Tonight, I’m having dinner at my parents' place, and the whole family is here to celebrate the newborns. Felix’s child, Marley, and my daughter, Hope. It feels good to be around everyone, even if my mind keeps drifting to Avery. The house is buzzing with laughter and chatter. The babies are in their playpen, tapping at toys, oblivious to the joyful chaos around them. My parents are practically glowing as they fawn over their grandkids, doting on every little coo and babbling like they’re treasures.I sit back in a rocking chair, watching the scene play out before me. My brothers are in the kitchen, joking around while they cook, and their wives are on the couch, chatting and laughing. And Ronan’s children are lying on the floor coloring something. It’s one of those moments that feels picture-perfect, like a scene out of some old family movie. Even Rya