Albert Einstein once said, " “If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things.”
And I was going to do exactly that. I have a goal and today was the first step to achieving that. I was going to sit through my interview, give my best, and hope that I get the job so that I can just pack away the bullshit few months of my life and start afresh. Because slowly I was starting to see clearly. Starting to see the effects of my emotional lockdown on others. There was no way Kristen, Sean, or even my mother deserved that.
Yes! I can do that!
"Hey! Good morning!" Kris exclaimed, opening my bedroom door with her legs. She stared at me from behind the tray she was carrying and almost nearly ended up dropping my break
Liam The cool breeze kissed her hair as she looked up at me, her beautiful dark eyes assessing me curiously. "I love you," She whispered, smiling bashfully. "Not more than I do," I smiled, kissing her hair. "Then why did you let me go, Liam?" She asked, her eyes suddenly red. I opened my eyes and now she stood right in front of me. Her dark eyes that were filled with love a minute ago were now accusing, cutting open the
Sofia"I can't believe you're leaving," Kris exclaimed, shoving my clothes into my suitcase.She has been saying this relentlessly since I told her I am leaving. And every time I listen to her say that I realize that even I can't believe myself. It felt...weird."It's for the best Kris," I whispered. "There's nothing left for me here,""Why not? I am here," She cried. "You started here with me and then that asshole came along! I was here first!""I am not leaving you," I urged. "I am just leaving the baggage. I can't even get a job now without being harassed! What am I supposed to do here?"
I dragged my luggage, feeling tired and grimy as I landed on Seatac. Dad was waiting there with a placard, wearing a Cheshire cat grin and for the first time, I felt myself voluntarily mirroring his grin. It felt so good to see him after so long. My father was handsome, no denying that. He looked like the more happy and merrier version of Tywin Lannister and definitely the kinder one. We always had a bond given my crestfallen relationship with my mother which I was glad was falling into place now. "I don't need a placard to recognize you," I muttered as I hugged him. "Who knows," He laughed. "God, you look so grown up. I miss my little Sofia," "I am still that little Sofia for you," I smiled, feeling happy for once.
I stared up at the sky as I sat on my desk going through various schools that offer distance learning in museology. I finally wanted to do something I always dreamt of. Outside, the sky was dark and cloudy and it was definitely going to rain.The window facing my desk looked out at the front lawns and my eyes darted to the gazebo where Liam was probably sitting. I could almost make out his silhouette in the dark. I glanced at the desk clock and realized it was almost dinner time.Has he eaten?"Honey?" Mom knocked on the door and peeked inside."Yep?" I tried to look unbothered."Dinner time," She said walking inside.At the mention of dinner, b
I sat up straight, wide awake now, and leaned closer to make out his words. I was in my full panic mode but then I realized I was panicking for no reason. He has just strained his neck. "My neck!" He groaned. "Ow!" "Here," I said, pushing a pillow to support his neck better. "Where...where am I?" He mumbled. "What time is it?" "You're here. At my home, in my room," I said. "And it's... half past four in the morning," "Urgh, my head!" He muttered. "Can I get some water?" "Yes, of course," I hurried to my bedside table and fetched a glass of water for him which he drank greedily. "More?" I asked
The birds chirping outside made us realize it was almost dawn but there were still a lot of questions to be answered and the biggest question of everything -"Where do we stand?"was still unanswered. "I am so sorry, Liam," I said, feeling guilty for misunderstanding him. "You know, letting you go was the hardest thing I had to do," Liam replied. "It was harder than letting go of Mom. At that time, I was too young... too young to feel the actual pain and so I kept living it every day until you came along. With you, I found a new life. A new purpose for living apart from my responsibilities. I wanted to protect you, cherish you, love you and the months that we spent together...they were the memories even Neil couldn't take away. But I failed and ther
I landed at the JFK airport to an unpleasantly warm weather and grimaced as I remembered my lazy days by the pool back in Seattle. Two days after the drama, Liam left for home while I stayed back to spend much-needed time with my family and to think about how I was going to sustain myself in New York now that I didn't have a job. I wondered how long I could last before my savings were finished. I needed to find a job first thing and then enroll in museology. The news of me going back to New York was still unknown to Kris because I wanted to give her a surprise, who was moving in with Sean in a few days. It was all a part of Liam's plan to keep both of us safe. Kris will move in with Sean where she will be safe and I was to move into Liam's gigantic penthouse before Liam's birthday which was a week lat
"Just two more boxes to go and then we will be done," Kris declared, huffing. "Books," I muttered, writing it down on a huge box. "How the hell do you have so many books?" "How the hell do you have so many clothes?" Kris smirked, handing me a steaming mug of coffee. "Point taken," I laughed. For the past three days, Kris and I had been busy packing our stuff up. Kris moves in on Saturday while I move in with Liam on Sunday after attending the exhibit so that I can be with him on his birthday which was the next day. "What would you like for lunch?" Kris demanded, scrolling through the takeout menus. "Indian?" I suggested.
Liam 3 years later... I stared at the woman in front of me as she stood there explaining some weird-looking painting to her precious visitors. Every time I looked at her, I was overwhelmed by my love for her. There was no way I could ever get enough. She was my life. She was my existence. She was my wife. My Sofia... She was glowing as she subconsciously turned to look at me, a big smile on her beautiful face. I don't think I have ever seen her this happy. Maybe, when I proposed to her? No maybe not even then... It was the happiness of her dreams coming true. This was what she always wanted. What drove her here in the first
Sofia I smiled at the woman who stared back at me from the other side of the large ornate mirror. She looked happy and beautiful. And her wide grin got wider as she was joined by the man of her dreams leaning casually by the door. "How do I look?" I asked, turning to face him. I gave him an elegant twirl in my breathtakingly beautiful dress and he smiled. "Like always," He replied. "I didn't search the entire New York to look like always," I scowled. Tonight was a big night. Tonight, Mckinnons was celebrating its 25th anniversary and it was going to be a big starry affair. And tonight, Neil was going to be announced as the managing director of Mckinnons after three month
Liam "Death is not the opposite of life... It's a part of life..." -Haruki Murakami Unlike what is shown in movies and written in books, I somehow realized how easy and painless death was. Survival was hard. For death, all you have to do is make one single decision and all your agony and pain fades but survival...that's a whole different game. And if it wasn't for the promise I made to her and if it wasn't her voice calling me again and again I would have definitely taken the easy road. At least once, I deserved to take it easy but I couldn't, I didn't because I don't have the right to put her in a lifetime of misery or my parents or my
"It's been six days!" I cried in disdain. "What is happening?" "Ms. Sayles," Dr. Burke warned. "Please calm down!" "Calm down?" I spat. "Not exactly my forte, doc," "Sofia," My mother placed a warning hand on my shoulder. "Let him do his job," I glared at my mother and then at the doctor and then sighed. "Fine," I muttered, stomping out of Liam's inpatient suite. "You need to calm down," Mom muttered. "Go home Sofia, have you even looked at yourself?" "I don't care," I grumbled. It's been six days since Liam was operated... twice. The idea that I almost lost him that night because of severe internal bleed
You know you irrevocably love someone when the thought of losing them makes you forget how to breathe. The fear that gripped me as I watched Liam collapse on the ground was something, I realized I will never forget in my life. Ever. It was going to haunt me for the rest of my life like a scar... reminding me of the momentary coma I just experienced. Move you, idiot! And I did, forcing myself to move forward, running full speed towards him before his head hit the ground and cause any more damage. Neil lurched forward as well... too shocked to show any other reaction. From the distance, we could hear the sirens of the police car approaching...but what if they were too late? "Hey!" I cried, stroking Liam's hair as he took deep labored breathes. B
Thump! Thump! Thump! We were running like mad people in the rain. Nobody said anything. We were just running. Neil was holding my hand so hard that it almost hurt but I couldn't dare leave it. If I get lost here I was screwed for good. So I let him half drag me through the woods. The rain made it impossible to focus as the green mixed with the brown, making it hard to distinguish between anything at all. My mind was crazy with exhilaration and I couldn't focus until my leg hit a huge rock and I stumbled to the ground, landing hard on my knees. "Ouch!" I cried out as pain shot through my body. "Fuck! " Neil cried, helping me up. "Are you alright?" "I am fine!" I panted. "Keep going!"
"Sofia! Sofia, get up!" Neil's voice was urgent and I reluctantly opened my eyes. "What?" I muttered. "Theo is here to see you," He said in a hushed voice. "Now...please... please... please, don't say anything stupid, okay? Just do what he says? You understand?" "Right," I scoffed, sitting up properly. It was dark outside now and I presumed I had fallen asleep. Before Neil could say anything, footsteps approached and the door opened. "Please," Neil whispered and I scowled at him. "There...there," A voice said, it was calm. Almost peaceful...yet a chill ran down my spine. Neil moved and I was face to face with a guy not more than thirty years old. When I
I was feeling pissed. It was late in the afternoon and after my failed attempt to make Neil realize he was better than the douchebag he pretends to be, he has stopped talking completely. It was hot and humid and I was sitting in the same position in the same place for God knows how long. I felt grimy, stiff, and angry. I glanced out of the little window and all I could see was trees. Huge trees for as long as I was allowed to see. Outside, I could hear laughing and cursing, the smell of cigarettes and alcohol.And to think Neil is the son of Ryan Mckinnon...Ideally, I closed my eyes and began to picture Liam's face in my head. My family...what were they doing? Do they know? Sean...Hannah...Kris... what were they doing right now?"Sleeping already?" Neil's familiar voice distracted me.
Sofia My eyes felt like someone has tied heavy stones to them as I struggled to open them. My head felt heavy and there was a funny smell lingering in my nostrils. I blinked twice... thrice in a vain attempt to push away the heaviness but it was just useless. I felt sleepy like I haven't slept in ages and automatically my eyes shut down again making everything go dark. It was too bright and warm... I felt droplets of sweat dripping down my back and my mouth felt slack. "Water," I