Chapter 37: Unexpected SaviorMy heart raced as I watched the ambulance speed away, carrying my mother to the hospital. Panic gripped me, and I felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness. But once again, it is Mrs. Synclair who comes to my rescue and drives me to the hospital.For me, it seemed like she is a godsend, who had appeared just in time to help me navigate the sudden complexities that life had thrown in my direction.The sterile hospital walls seemed to close in around me as I clung to the hope that the doctors could save my mother.Amid the chaos, Mrs. Synclair sat beside me with genuine concern. Her eyes held a mix of empathy and regret."Kyra, I'm so sorry about your mom. If there's anything I can do to help, please let me know," she said, her voice carrying the weight of sincerity.Tears welled up in my eyes as I managed a weak smile. "Thank you, Mrs. Synclair. I really appreciate your kindness, but you’ve already done so much for me."As we sat in the waiting room, she
Chapter 38: A Beacon of HopeI stand there, a silent observer in the sterile hospital room, watching as the doctors draw Jordon's blood.Despite his assistance in saving my mother's life, a chilling sense of foreboding grips me, an unsettling feeling that I can't shake.Jordon's actions, though seemingly altruistic, leave me uneasy as if a silent debt has been forged, and I'm now entangled in his web.As the medical procedures unfold, I can't help but dwell on the implications of my indebtedness to Jordon.What does he expect in return for this life-saving act?I sense that he has maneuvered the situation to his advantage, positioning me precisely where he wants me.The complexity of emotions swirls within me – gratitude for my mother's life, coupled with an underlying fear of the unknown.The hospital room is bathed in the sterile glow of overhead lights, casting a clinical ambiance. Mrs. Synclair, seated by the bedside, looks at me with concern etched across her face.Her grandchild
Chapter 39: TrappedWe walked in silence and the words of Mrs. Synclair kept ringing in my head. And also I remembered what she told me way back in the car about him and Cathy.My heart raced as Jordan guided me to a secluded area of the hospital, away from prying eyes and curious ears.The sterile smell of disinfectant surrounded us, intensifying my unease.Despite the nagging feeling that something wasn't right, gratitude for Jordan's role in saving my mother compelled me to follow.In the quiet corner, I finally mustered the courage to question Jordan's motives."What do you want, Jordan? Why bring me here?" I asked, my voice betraying a mix of curiosity and apprehension.I stood in the sterile hallway of the hospital, my arms folded tightly across my chest, staring daggers at Jordan as he approached. His confident stride matched the arrogance in his eyes, and I felt my anger boil beneath the surface.This had been a fucking mistake. How could you’ve been so stupid, Kyra?"Kyra," h
Chapter 1: Coming Home “Hey, babe!” Gabriella’s cheerful tone was the only thing keeping me from turning my car around and heading back the way I came. “I know you’re immensely stressed right now, and I wish I could be there with you to take the blow, share some of your pain, but you know I can’t. It’s going to make matters worse and you’ve done enough running away already. Just be careful, baby. And promise to call me at least ten times every day! I love you! And you know I’m always with you. Bye.” I removed the phone from my ears and stared at the screen for a good five minutes. Gabby’s smiling face stared back at me. Her dark hair was blowing back from her diamond shaped face in the wind, highlighting a thousand shades of blue and her electric blue eyes were filled with joy and laughter. Her smile was contagious; it made the corner of my lips tilt upwards. But then my eyes shifted to the two storied Victorian styled house looming in the background of my phone, and my smile faltere
Chapter 2: Ms. Stonewall Ms. Stonewall’s dance studio was located on top of Berkley’s Bakery. And why was that relevant? Because she had once told us that she wants to see how well we fair against the sweet temptation lurking around the corner and still come out victorious. It was a test to see who amongst us would get into the elite dance team. As a result, she had lost half of her initial class strength to the bakery while the other half struggled to sneak behind Ms. Stonewall’s back to grab a bite of the tempting desserts on display in front of the store. In the end, only three of us had been left standing after she had finished her little test. Rika because she had diabetes and couldn’t have sweets; Pamela because she hated sweets and adored spicy food. And then there was me. I didn’t have any other excuses to resist temptation other than the fact that I had wanted to be on her elite team desperately. From a very young age, dancing hadn’t just been my passion, it had been my o
Chapter 3: Reuniting with Friends “Angie! Rika!” I got up to greet my friends but was instead tackled to the ground by both of them. Angel Michelson, the golden haired, blue eyed beauty was another one of the dancers in our elite dance group along with Rika Palmer, the brunette with hazel eyes. Angel and I have been inseparable ever since Kindergardenth, but I met Rika in Ms. Stonewall’s ballet academy when I was chosen for the elite class. I was so glad to see them in person after being apart from them for seven whole years! We had been chatting, calling and messaging each other through the years though, but I can hardly call social media connection as ‘keeping in touch’. We hadn’t been able to meet up and have lunches or dinners or even go to the movies like we used to when we were teens. I had missed our sleepovers and girls nights most of all. “You guys!” I hugged them to my sides. “How did you know I was here?” “Words already circulating,” Angie told me when we all pulled ba
Chapter 4: A Blast from the Past “Kyra, don’t.” Angie grabbed my hand as I was about to leave my seat and head over to greet Cathy. “It’s for the best.” “For the best?” I asked her incredulously. “Cathy is married to Jordan in my place and she has two kids with a third on the way and I only get to know about all of this just now? Is that what Rika was about to say earlier? That the town shouldn’t blame me because Jordan is already married?” Rika gave me a guilty look from beneath her lashes but she too placed her hand on top of mine to get me back into my seat. “A lot has changed, Kyra.” Rika begged me to understand. “Everything isn’t as easy as it looks.” “Then tell me!” I pleaded with them. “Tell me what happened after I left so I can understand. Why is Cathy married to Jordan? And if the problem had been resolved, then why is everyone still so mad at me?” “We will.” Angie told me. “But not here, especially not where everyone can overhear and judge our reaction.” “Yeah, let’s j
Chapter 5: Back to where it all Began “Are you sure you’re alright?” Rika asked for the millionth time as we drove back to the hotel I was staying at. “Yes. I’m fine.” I told them through gritted teeth. My knuckles were white against the steering wheel and I was driving a few miles over the speed limit, but this was Ruthwell, the sheriff had only one job here and that was to solve family disputes and the odd cases of stolen lingerie. Nobody would care if I was driving at a hundred miles per hour. But then again, with how my welcome back party to my hometown has been going on so far, I wouldn’t be surprised if I get pulled over for speeding and handed a thousand other bills along with them just for breathing Ruthwell air. I never should’ve come back. Promise or not, this had been a terrible idea. I knew what I was doing when I decided to leave this godforsaken town for good and I have never regretted that decision in the past seven years that I had been away. But now that I wanted