"What are you doing here? Both I and Brandon said at the same time, amazed by finding each other on either side of the door.
"That's what I want to know," we both said again together.
"Go ahead," Brandon said, allowing me to speak first.
"What are you doing on my doorstep?"
"You live here," he said with a smile. "Guess what? We are neighbors.
I looked at him uncertainty, not trusting his words, but before I could say something, a sweet little voice distracted me.
"Daddy," I lowered my gaze and noticed a tiny girl around five tugging Brandon's pants.
"Oh, yeah… How can I forget? Brandon murmured, brushing his hair with his fingers. "Sorry, can we use your bathroom?"
"What!"
"I can't hold more, please," pleaded the child, jumping up and down.
I pointed my finger towards the bathroom door, and on my note, Brandon ran with his child in his arms towards the door.
"Thank you," Brandon said after some time standing outside the bathroom door.
I nodded my head in reply.
I don't know if it's fate or something else. But first, I met Brandon at the hospital, and now he is standing inside my house. " Sorry to bother you, but the plumbing in our house is not working well.
"It’s fine," I replied.
"Daddy,"
"Are you okay? Brandon asked upon hearing the voice of his daughter inside the door. "Do you want me to come in?"
Brandon entered the bathroom at her request. "What happened?"
"Can you open the water? I need to wash my hands," Brandon nodded.
I was standing by the door when I saw Brandon turning the faucet a little too hard. Then he should, I guess, because within seconds the faucet was in two pieces, one on Brandon’s hand, as the water started splashing in every direction, making him all wet. He turned his head, looking at me, smiling nervously as he attempted to stop the water. Well, her daughter is smart enough to run away from him to stay dry, and poor Brandon, in an attempt to fix the faucet, broke it completely, making the water fall from every direction in the whole bathroom.
Brandon gave me a nervous smile before slipping on the bathroom floor, with all the water splashing everywhere. I don’t know why, but I couldn't help myself laughing at the scene in front of my eyes, and I don’t think I’m the only one to blame here because even his daughter can’t stop her cackling seeing her father like this. The sound of our laughter echoed through the bathroom as Brandon struggled to regain his balance.
"Ha-ha... very funny," Brandon complained, trying to stand but slipping, falling on his ass, and starting to laugh himself.
The view is funny as heck. I can’t lie, but he can’t lie all day like this, so I went to stop the main valve of the water supply, making the splashing stop. I will fix the faucet later. And I came back, lending my hand out for Brandon, with both our hands held to each other. Brandon tried to stand but slipped again, this time making me fall on top of him. The fall made us cackle again. We couldn't help but laugh at our ridiculous situation.
But this time something started to feel heavy in my chest. With the laughter, every type of emotion started flooding through my heart and into my eyes, making me realize all my losses—the emotions that were there but still hidden—the realization, the thought that I wanted to but was not being able to accept for so long—the fact of losing everything and everyone all at once. As the laughter subsided, a wave of sadness washed over me, causing tears to stream down my face. It was as if the weight of my losses had finally caught up to me at that moment. The realization hit me hard, leaving me feeling vulnerable and overwhelmed with grief. There wasn't a single tear in my eyes on the day when I lost everyone, but now, in front of a complete stranger, the heaviness that has been beneath my heart for so many days is finally coming out as tears.
I'm crying and mourning for the first time in days.
Brandon looked at me with concern, as tears didn't stop streaming from my eyes. With my heart so heavy, I felt as if I couldn't breathe. "Jane, Are you okay? I shook my head at his words.
Brandon picked me up in arms, concerned looking at the condition. He gently whispered, "It's okay to let it all out. I'm here for you. Holding onto him tightly, I finally allowed myself to fully surrender to the overwhelming grief that had consumed me.
It didn't hurt that bad when I lost everyone, but now that I can't even see their faces or their smiles, they will never talk to me or cheer me up again. I'm alone with no one—no family, no love, no siblings, nothing. My body started shivering, not from the cold but from the realization. Tears streamed down my face as the weight of loneliness settled upon me, a heavy burden that seemed impossible to bear. In that moment, I understood the true depth of my loss and the profound emptiness that now filled my heart.
Brandon placed my body on the bed. "You get changed, and I go get some water for you. He said, leaving me alone. I was inert, with my mind heavy with all my emotions, and changed into the first thing that came in hand, sitting on the bed, as my eyes stared at my hands that were shivering badly. The room felt suffocatingly quiet, amplifying the ache in my chest. I longed for solace, for someone to understand the pain that consumed me.
Brandon knocked on the door before coming in. "Drink this," he said, placing a glass of water in my hand. With my hand shaking badly, I couldn't even take a gulp of water on my own. Brandon placed his hand on mine, helping me drink a bit of water. "Why don’t you take a rest? Take my number and call me if you need anything. He wrote his number on a piece of paper.
"Don't leave, please," I said, holding his hand. I don't want to be alone, not now. I'm too afraid of myself. Brandon looked at me with concern in his eyes, understanding the depth of my fear. "I won't leave you alone," he reassured me softly. "I'll stay by your side until you feel safe again. He sat on the bed as he asked me to go to sleep. I nodded my head, trying to close my eyes, holding Brandon's hands in mine.
It was that day, and it's today. It’s because of Brandon that I decided to get proper psychiatric treatment. At first, I thought it was a waste of time, but I started to feel the change in me. The pain of the suffering hasn’t disappeared, but it is better than it was before. Making me a better person and providing me with a friend like Brandon in life.
I sighed as I packed my things. The patient took longer than I expected. Jane must be waiting for me. I hurriedly gathered my belongings, feeling guilty for keeping Jane waiting as I quickly made my way to my office, only to see Jane with her eyes closed, lying comfortably on my chair. I'm not surprised to see her fast asleep, with her delivery date coming close and no one by her side looking for her or taking care of her. I couldn't help but feel a pang of concern for Jane's well-being. It was clear that she needed someone to support her during this crucial time. It’s already very tough for a woman to give birth to a life, but in Jane’s case, things are intense. Jane's situation is compounded by the fact that she is facing this challenging time alone. She has to do everything on her own with no one around to care for her. I do my best to help her, but Jane is such an independent woman. She never asks for anyone’s help, even when needed, and that’s what worries me the most. Even more
Our ride home was not long enough, and within half an hour, we were both standing at the front door of my house."I should go," Jane said as I was about to open the door. I could sense the reluctance in her voice, but I didn't want our time together to end just yet."But why? What about our dinner plans? I questioned.I could see the disappointment in her eyes as she hesitated to respond. "I don’t want to bother you," she finally said, looking down at her feet.Jane," I said reassuringly, placing a hand on her arm. "You’re never bothering me, and by the way, Marlene is also waiting for you. Calling out Marlene’s name always works to grab Jane's attention. Jane loves her, and not once does she say no to Marlene. I might be selfish for using my daughter as an excuse to spend time with Jane, but it is what it is, and I don’t mind because it brings us all together. Jane looked up, a small smile playing on her lips. "Okay," she said softly, her voice filled with gratitude. "Let's go see Mar
The dinner was fun. When I spend time with Brandon and Marlene, whenever I’m with them, I sometimes forget my sorrows and just enjoy the present moment. Their infectious laughter and genuine camaraderie always uplift my spirits, creating a joyful atmosphere that is hard to replicate elsewhere. The ease and bond that I feel around them is very hard to describe, but the moment they appeared in my life, there was not a single time that they made me feel lonely or sad. Their presence brings so much joy and laughter into my life. It's incredible how they effortlessly create a positive atmosphere, making every moment together unforgettable. But today, when Marlene made Brandon the father of my child for a second, it seemed funny, but that is something I don’t think that I can accept. I don’t want anyone else but Jared to be the father of my baby. Marlene's unexpected announcement left me feeling conflicted and unsure about the future. While I appreciate her humor, the thought of anyone othe
"Are you okay?" he asked. Our gazes met, and I moved my head from left to right, pointing my finger at the crimson spot on my bed. His eyes followed the direction of my finger, widening in shock as he took in the sight of the crimson stain. Brandon runs his hand over his head as he grabs both my cheeks in between his hands, staring into my eyes. "Jane, calm down and tell me, how do you feel?" Brandon asked. Words don’t seem to form out of my mouth as my voice starts to choke from my cries. Tears stream down my face as I struggle to regain control of my emotions. The weight of the situation becomes overwhelming, making it difficult to articulate my feelings. "Calm down and breathe," he responded, making me sit on the bed. He gently places his hand on my back, offering me comfort and support. Taking a deep breath, I try to steady myself and find the words to express the turmoil within me. "Look at me and follow my lead; breathe in, breathe out, breathe out." I focus on his soothing v
"Jane." I heard someone calling my name, distracting me from my thoughts as I felt a hand over my shoulder. I glanced up to see the origin of the voice and found myself locking eyes with Brandon. "What are you doing standing up here? Brandon questioned, concern evident in his voice. "You seemed lost in your own world." I mustered a smile and replied, "I just needed some fresh air and a moment to clear my head." . "Where are the kids?" I stated, redirecting his attention to somewhere else. "They went to play in Liam's room. Didn't you notice?" Brandon said, raising an eyebrow. "Is everything okay? You seem a bit off today." "What were you thinking standing up here for so long? Brandon asked, his worry growing. "Nothing; I was just lost in thought," I admitted, avoiding eye contact. "Well, there must be something in your mind that kept you so occupied that you didn't notice Liam entering the room," he said as he raised his left eyebrow in question. I shifted uncomfortably in my
The sun goes down as the moon takes its place. Stars scattered in the sky cover it as it twinkles like a diamond in the sky. The night comes alive with a symphony of crickets and the soft rustling of leaves. The gentle breeze carries a sense of tranquility, inviting us to gaze up at the celestial beauty above. Lying on the bed, looking at the sky by the window, and watching as the stars twinkle and shine, the view is always fascinating to the young minds of the children, as they continuously stare at it silently. Their imaginations soar as they wonder about the vastness of the universe and the possibility of other worlds beyond our own. The night sky becomes a canvas for their dreams and aspirations, inspiring them to reach for the stars in their own lives. "Mama," Liam calls, watching the sky with fascination. "Why can we only see stars at night and not in the morning? With Liam’s age, his curiosity is growing too, and his mind is full of questions, always looking at me to answer hi
Where the hell is Brandon? It's ten in the morning, and he is nowhere to be found. I want to shout the words in frustration, but I can’t, at least not in front of the kids. I glanced at my watch again, growing increasingly impatient. Brandon's absence is causing me to worry, as he's never been this late before. I quickly brainstorm possible reasons for his delay, hoping that he's simply caught in traffic or facing a minor inconvenience. I can’t remember how many times I have tried calling, but he hasn’t replied once. As I anxiously tap my foot, I consider the possibility that his phone might be dead or that he accidentally left it at home. The knot in my stomach tightens as I wonder if something more serious could be preventing him from answering. I tried one more time just in case he picked up, but groaned in frustration when he ignored the call. I decided to send him a text message instead, hoping that he'd at least respond to that. As I type out my concern and hit send, a sinking
“Good morning, Jane. I heard someone greeting me the moment I stepped out of the house. “Good morning, Mrs. Samuel,” I replied with a smile on my face. She is one of my neighbors, whose house is right next to mine. “So... how are you?” “I’m fine,” I said with a smile. “I made some cookies. Why don't you come later and have some for Liam? She said brightly. “I would love to,” I replied, making my way towards Brandon’s house. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel are such a lovely couple in their eighties. Their story is filled with many ups and downs, but yet they are happy together. Looking at them made me think of Jared. He was everything—my boyfriend, my love, my first kiss, my prom partner, everything. In every step of my life, he was there for me, supporting me and standing by my side. We also have our ups and downs, but in the end, we lost our love in the battle of life. And he is nowhere but in my memories. I sighed, shaking my head. I can't change the past, and thoughts of happily ever af