“We will move out of this unit tomorrow.” I said nothing when Aiden announced that our long-awaited move to our new home was finally about to happen. It's a mix of emotions; excitement, but also a little fear. As much as I am looking forward to making this place feel like home, there is still an unknown element that can be unnerving. We have been waiting for so long and all the little details are starting to fall into place and before we know it, the big day will be here. I looked down at my stomach, still not able to make out any hint of a growing bump. But Aiden was doing everything he could do to make sure our unborn baby was safe and healthy. He had been creative in his approach to prioritizing my safety first. From keeping an eye on me while I went for long walks, ensuring I took my vitamins every day and making sure the food he was providing was nutritious - all these considerations had been taken into account. “What do you want to do before we move out?” I gaze at Aiden, who
“I…i-”My hands started to shake with fear as I looked at Adam, my breath catching in my throat. I wanted to say no, but the words were stuck in place. A million different excuses and arguments tried to escape from me, yet nothing came out as my mouth remained frozen shut. Every instinct told me this wasn't something I should agree to, yet here I was still unable to express myself. Is it because of Adam's intimidating presence or my own fear that kept me from voicing my opinion?“Please…” he begged.I shifted my jaw, looking over to Alicia next to me who appeared incredibly perplexed trying to fathom why Adam would want to suddenly speak with me.The intensity in his gaze made me hesitant but intrigued at the same time.“O-okay…”I was just about to get up from my spot on the couch, preparing to follow Adam wherever he went when suddenly Aiden stepped in between us, his expression ominously intense.He had a clear message in his gaze; he was warning me not to go anywhere with Adam. I
It’s awkward.Well, to be honest with you Aiden didn't even seem to be paying attention to the conversation. I kept stealing glances at the other two, who both seemed just as uncertain of what to do or say. There was an awkward silence that hung in the air like a fog and none of us seemed able to clear it away. I could tell they wanted desperately for someone else to take charge and break this stalemate.“Leilani! Let’s go here!”Oh, wait, except for Alicia who seems to be the only happy person today. Aiden and Adam are the ones who aren't exchanging any words.Alicia grabbed my hand and tugged me along cheerfully towards the large fish pond. We silently stepped into the still, shallow water, feeling the fish quickly swarming around our feet. I could feel their delicate scales brushing against my skin, and it was a truly unique sensation that I had never experienced before. She grinned at me with an infectious joy as she watched me squirm from surprise but also delight.Deciding to go
Before I could utter a single word, he had already pulled me away from the spot.The look of determination in his eyes was difficult to ignore, but I wanted to resist, to say something or protest. Yet, all my attempts were thwarted by what felt like a wall of silence between us as he looked straight ahead, unresponsive and seemingly unaware of how I was feeling.I quickly survey the area, searching for Aiden and wondering if he is here, somewhere far away watching me. I know that if he is and catches me doing something I shouldn't be doing, I will be in a world of trouble. It's moments like this where my fear of his disapproval overwhelms my better judgement and stops me in that spot, frozen from taking the risk.Adam didn't slow down until we arrived at a public restroom. He peered around the corner cautiously, scanning the area for any potential onlookers before tugging me into the room and firmly shutting the doors behind us. He still hadn't turned to face me yet, opting instead to
Adam’s eyes widened in shock and disbelief, his gaze slowly meeting mine. I could see the turmoil in his expression; confusion, fear, disappointment all playing a part.“I-it’s Alicia…” I whispered at him.Adam closed his eyes, as if he was in absolute anguish. None of us said a word, we didn't know what to do. When the door swung open, we both knew it meant instant death for us if she saw us here together.“W-what are we going to do-”Adam hastily clapped a hand over my mouth, his gaze warning me to not make any noise. My breathing was short and shallow as Alicia's voice echoed outside the door. Fear gathered in my throat, making it difficult to swallow.“Ahmm…if someone’s inside, please I need to pee! It’s urgent!”Adam groaned audibly, his expression profoundly pained. He inhaled deeply before his gaze swept around the room, searching for something – some kind of solace or reprieve from the anguish he felt within.“D*mn, I couldn’t find Leilani and I couldn’t find Adam. And now, na
“A-aiden, wait-!”Before I had a chance to do anything, he had already revved up the engine of his car and sped away, leaving me in a cloud of dust. It all happened so fast - one moment he was beside me and the next moment he was gone. I tried to chase after him, but it felt like it was too late; there was no way that I could catch him now. He put more and more distance between us with each passing second, until eventually his car dwindled into nothing.The moment I see Aiden, memories and visceral fear come flooding back. He was a criminal in the past, and I witnessed firsthand how he could take someone's life without hesitation or remorse. It's like his past is coming back to haunt me all over again, making my heart beat faster and my breathing quicken. This isn't the same person I once knew; he is capable of such brutality and violence if provoked.If I don’t stop him, something bad might really happen.I glanced around and spotted a taxi cab in the distance, my immediate response
I couldn’t bring myself to look at him in the eyes as he drove us back to our apartment. His knuckles had whitened as they clutched the steering wheel more and more tightly, and I could see his jaw had tensed while he stared straight ahead. It was terrifying being in the car with him like this, his shoulders tense and barely a word uttered between us. We were both aware of each other's presence but it felt like miles separating us because neither of us were talking.I was gripping my seat tightly, unable to take my eyes off the window in an attempt to calm myself down. After his outburst at the amusement park just earlier today, I have no idea what will happen between us in the near future. Will he be able to forgive me for what happened? Questions buzzed around my head like flies and all I could do was sit there with a heavy heart.But I knew it was impossible for him to forgive me. I looked over at him and saw his hands sparking up a cigarette before the flame illuminated his face.
Aiden clenched his jaw and looked away, avoiding my gaze. Despite the tension in the air, I continued to explain my point of view to him so he could understand where I was coming from. His silence indicated that he was struggling to comprehend what I was saying, despite his best efforts.“I didn’t like what happened, Aiden. But I was powerless to do anything about it. It hurts to admit it, but I felt weak and useless in that moment, unable to go up against such an overwhelming force and fight for myself. Those years of neglect had left me so unaccustomed to receiving any attention at all that when I did get even just a little bit of it, the sensation was almost too much for me handle.”I hesitantly placed his hand over my chest, gently resting it upon my beating heart. It felt strange and comforting at the same time as I stared into his eyes, feeling a sense of peace. His touch sent a wave of warmth through my body and I felt the steady rhythm of my heart thudding away beneath his pal