{~~Logan Grey~~}Dinner two was bland and disappointing, much like most things in my life these days. My parents, in their never-ending quest to cheer me up, had invited some of my old friends from college- the worst thing they could ever do. They were in town for the weekend, and my parents thought a little reunion might lift my spirits. I doubted it, but I didn't have the energy to argue. After dinner, we all decided to sit outside for a beer while my family stayed inside to have dessert.Ryan was there too, of course. He was my best friend, practically family, and we had gone to college together. If anyone could drag me out of my funk, it was him, but even he seemed at a loss these days with his case. I cracked open my first beer of the night, hoping it would take the edge off the hollow feeling inside me.My friends started talking about their lives, and I could feel myself sinking deeper into my chair. Some were discussing how they were engaged, how love was the best thing to eve
{~~Avery Sterling~~}The next morning, a Sunday, dawned with a sense of dread hanging over me. When I tell you I didn't even want to get up, it's not an understatement. I wanted to be in bed, doing absolutely nothing. I did not want to see the face of the man that continuously broke my heart. But that would not be the case. According to our contract, Logan and I were supposed to have dinner together. It was a part of our agreement, a forced semblance of normalcy in a situation that was anything but, we spent the whole day avoiding each other. It's like we both knew the contract, signed by the both of us, a lawyer and stamped my a judge, obligated us to spend the evening together and that was going to suck. I buried myself in my room, working on my computer, trying to lose myself in the tasks at hand- which unfortunately wasn't much but my sadness made me pretend it was. Logan, as usual, was nowhere to be found. It was clear he didn't want to be around me. The hours ticked by slo
{~~Avery Sterling~~}The next day, Tuesday, the first rays of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting a soft, golden hue over my bedroom. I lay in bed for a few moments, staring at the ceiling, willing myself to summon the strength to face the day. The weight of yesterday's events still pressed heavily on my chest, a constant reminder of the rift between Logan and me. With a deep, steadying breath, I finally pushed myself up and shuffled to the bathroom.The warm spray of the shower provided a temporary reprieve, washing away the remnants of restless dreams. I let the water cascade over me, hoping it could cleanse not just my body but also the ache in my heart. As I scrubbed and rinsed, I mentally rehearsed the day's tasks, trying to anchor myself in the familiar routine of my work at the hospital.After drying off, I pulled on my scrubs with methodical precision, each movement a small act of defiance against the sorrow threatening to overwhelm me. I pinned my hair back, taking ex
{~~Logan Grey~~}Tuesday morning, and I don't think I have any complaints. My mood is still not the best but it's okay for now. I ate this morning, dressed and left for the hospital. I didn't even see Avery which was a plus. Work was going fine, and I threw myself into each task with a vigor that bordered on obsessive. The hospital buzzed with the usual frenetic energy, but the annoyance simmering within me was a constant distraction. Every glance, every whispered conversation among the staff seemed to echo my own inner turmoil. Out of sheer stubbornness, I decided I didn’t want to perform a surgery—healing, in the terms of what I do—with Avery. Her presence, her professionalism, even her mere existence, felt like a reminder of everything that was unresolved between us. You know, the elephant that we can't erase. Her sister. I just didn't want to see her. What's even worse about working with her is her acting like a know it all. she doesn't just follow instructions, she loves to thr
{~~Avery Sterling~~}If Shawn hadn’t shown up to tell me that my shift was over, I would have continued working well into the night without realizing the time. He strolled into my office with his usual easy going demeanor, giving me a playful nudge. “Hey, workaholic, your shift is over. Time to pack up.”I glanced at the clock on my computer screen and was genuinely surprised to see that it was already eight o’clock. The hours had slipped away while I was immersed in a mountain of paperwork, reports, and endless emails. “Thanks, Shawn. I didn’t even notice,” I said, flashing him a grateful smile. He chuckled, leaning against the doorframe. “I figured. You’ve been in the zone all day. Just wanted to make sure you weren’t planning to spend the night here.”“Believe me, I wouldn’t if I could avoid it,” I replied, shutting down my computer and gathering my belongings. I stuffed my bag with my laptop, files, and a few personal items, making sure not to leave anything important behind. As
{~~Logan Grey~~}What a long day. I stretched my bones, cracking my neck from one side to the other. The snapping sound was very relieving. My stuff was packed, and I'd changed into the spare clothes I brought. People might think it's a hassle to change out of your scrubs each night before heading home, but sometimes I just liked to do that. I stepped out of the hospital building, umbrella in hand, as the rain started to pour in earnest. The steady rhythm of the drops against the fabric provided a comforting background noise as I descended the steps. My thoughts drifted briefly to Avery, who was still inside. Maybe I should go back and check on her. But then again, she wasn’t my responsibility. We had our issues, and I had my reasons for keeping my distance.The parking lot was a sheen of wet asphalt, reflecting the dim glow of the streetlights. I made my way toward my car, thinking about what I might have for dinner. A warm meal, perhaps something hearty to counteract the chill of
{~~Avery Sterling~~}I noticed it late. It wasn't until we had turned into a street that I realized we weren't going to Logan's house. But if I was being kidnapped, this late realization would have fucked me up. Ryan took me over to his place, navigating through the heavy rain with practiced ease. His house was closer than mine, a welcome reprieve from the storm that had already soaked me to the bone. The rain beat a steady tattoo on the roof of the car, the rhythmic sound almost soothing in its constancy. We pulled into his garage, the sound of the rain diminishing slightly as the automatic door closed behind us.Ryan’s garage was spacious, large enough to fit up to six cars comfortably. This knowledge would come to fuck me over only seconds after I made this realization. As I stepped out of the car, grateful for the shelter, I heard another vehicle pulling in beside us. At first I thought it was Gareth since I know he lives with Ryan, but that was not the case. I swear I might be
{~~Logan Grey~~}After our initial discussion and dinner, Avery excused herself once more. I thought she'd be back.Ryan sat me down in a comfortable area of the living room, a space filled with the comforting hum of a home well-lived in. We waited for Avery to show up, but as the minutes ticked by, it became clear she wasn’t coming. “She’s tired. Let her sleep,” Ryan said, his tone final. He was always so bossy. Acting like he owned me, and like he was always right. Never wrong about a single thing. Which is untrue.“Why the fuck did you bring her to your house?” I demanded, the frustration and confusion boiling over.“She called me. Someone slashed her tires and broke every window in her car.” Ryan’s words hit me like a punch to the gut. “What do you mean by somebody slashed her tires and smashed every window in her car? What in the fuck?”“Exactly what I said. I can't imagine why someone would do that.”I hadn’t had the faintest clue that she had been going through something so s
{~~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