CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

“When I was younger my mom told me that my dad was among the stars and If I wanted to speak to him I should look up to the stars,” Ashley said softly and chuckled. She and Alan lay next to the stream as they watched the stars.

“Same story my mom told me,” Alan said and turned towards her direction.

Laughing “When I figured out the truth I stopped speaking to the stars,” Ashley said calmly.

The both of them lay in silence for a while before Ashley broke it.

“Alan?” Ashley called out with a tinge of uncertainty.

“Yeah?” Alan answered hoping that she would continue what she had to say.

“Who am I to you, aside from a contract wife?” She asked, holding her breath. She knew she was testing the waters but she chose to feed her curiosity instead.

Sitting up, he scanned her face properly. “An escape from reality” Alan answered, studying her eyes which glinted from hurt to pain and quickly masked itself up.

Sitting up “An escape from reality? I am not in your reality?” Ashley asked, pouting, sh