“So, where do you plan to go now that you’re a free man, young one,” intoned Zia Scott with the deepest tone she could omit as she emptied the bottommost drawer of the cabinet across from Gray’s hospital bed.
“Let’s see,” replied Gray all the while sitting up on the bed and folding her blanket. “I’m thinking of going to the most extreme amusement park and ride all the attractions, none spared, parole officer,” she said dryly with not one bit of excitement in her expressions.
Zia promptly turned around to face her. “You know you can’t go anywhere yet! You’re finally leaving the hospital after 15 days, but the doctor said you still have to stay home and observe the progress of your wounds for a week before coming back for a follow-up consultation,” she noted.
“Then, why did you even ask?” grunted Gray. After neatly
They went to a seemingly isolated place to meet who?!
“Your mother?!” exclaimed the evidently surprised Zia Scott, looking up at the woman by the door. “Excuse me?” asked the seemingly bemused woman as she glanced at the little girl. Then, she dragged her eyes to look at Gray. “How may I help you?” “Y-you’re,” stammered Gray, her eyes quivering with confusion. “Where’s Amanda Corbett?” The woman put her palm on her chest. “I amAmanda Corbett. Do I know you?” Even with her name verified, Gray was still having a hard time believing. The woman just had a very close resemblance to a woman that once shunned her. She may have not seen that woman for over five years already, but she figured that’s how the wrinkles and age spots would find her face right now. “N-no,”
“Who are you?” asked an utterly bemused Zia. Amanda shifted her glance at Gray who was also waiting for whatever answer she had in store. Her eyes swiveled between the two. “How come you have a picture with our mom’s? Zia asked once more. Amanda gave them a sweet smile. She put the box on the floor and took the photo. “We were best friends.” She walked past them and settled down on the couch. “We were friends, the four of us, back in high school.” She glanced at them. Gray and Zia shared a confused glance then they also decided to sit around the table. Zia hopped on the couch, sitting beside Amanda while Gray was on a chair, just beside where Amanda left the box. “You and Alexandra really look alike in this photo,” said
“They were lovers?” repeated Zia for clarification. “Yes…” Amanda paused and glanced at Gray. “Are you okay hearing this, dear? I mean, if you’re uncomfortable—” “No, do continue,” intercepted Gray. “I’m intrigued.” “Okay,” said Amanda. “But first,” she rose from the couch. “I’ll go get you girls something to drink. What do you want, juice, coffee?” Zia raised her hand. “Sophia wants juice!” “Juice for the little lady…” Amanda glanced at Gray. “I’ll go with juice, too, thanks,” said Gray. As soon as Amanda was out of the living room, Zia eyed her. “Isn’t it freaky?!”
“I’m Rory,” said a little girl with honey colored skin, barely reaching three and a half feet. Gray eyed the little girl. “You’re…Rory?” “Yes!” The little girl hopped. “That’s what mommy call Rory.” “Okay, then, Rory…” Gray squatted down to level with her line of vision. “Why were you dumbly looking for a fictional character?” Rory tilted her head in bemusement. “Huh?” Gray sighed. “Fairy godmother, why were you looking for her?” “Oh!” Rory broke into a smile. “Daddy say Rory…”she paused and fumbled with her fingers as if searching for the words to say from behind her head. “Good kid,” she continued. “Fairy godmother come.” Gray
“I mean,” uttered Amanda Corbett, staring at another photo that looked like a family picture of her, her husband and child. “ I know he never loved me, but he loved our child more than anything in the world.” Zia, who was just keeping herself occupied with stuffing cookies into her mouth, thought to herself, “Why are you dropping this heavy drama on a child that’s not supposed to understand any of it?” “Cookies!” Zia’s attention was shifted to an energetic voice approaching the plate of cookies. “Rory,” called Amanda upon seeing the little girl on the table. “You’re up already?” Rory jumped in the embrace of Amanda as their eyes met. “Mommy!” she exclaimed. Following Rory wa
“Come on, I’m famished,” bellyached Zia Scott while inside the elevator with Gray Stewart, going up to Gray’s apartment. “It’s already past eight.” The elevator dinged along with the opening of the doors. Gray stepped out and Zia sluggishly followed. “You know, hunger is not good for little children like me,” complained Zia once again. “Why was there heavy traffic on a Sunday, anyway?!” she grunted. Gray just ignored her and made her way to her apartment. After punching in the passcode, the door clicked open. “How unethical of you to come home late?!” reprimanded Azriel as soon as Gray opened the door and met his eyes. “The supper I’ve arranged has turned stale!” Upon hearing the familiar voice, Zia ran to the door and t
Zia Scott kept the rim of the glass on her lips to cover the fact that they were trembling from uneasiness. “And the things you know about Azriel,” Edward added. “It’s like you know him the way I know him.” “W-what,” stuttered Zia with her hands tightly clutching the glass covering her lips. “Sophia d-don’t understand.” Just then, the microwave dinged which stole his attention. “For a minute there,” he continued as he opened the microwave and took out the bowl of butter noodles. “I thought I was talking to Zia.” SHATTER! The shattering sound immensely echoed throughout the apartment. “A-are you alright, Sophia?!” prompted Edward
The bottle of aspirin rattled as Gray Stewart shook one pill out. When she brought one to her mouth, Zia approached her on the kitchen counter. “Are you still having those nightmares?” she whispered. “I thought they stopped while you were in the hospital?” Gray finished downing a glass of water and looked down at her. “It did.” She closed the lid of the pill bottle and put it back on a drawer. “Now, it’s back.” She turned and went to the dining table and saw Azriel sitting at the head of it. She pulled back a chair farthest from him and took a seat. Zia also pulled back a chair, the one beside Gray, making herself the center between the two siblings. On the other hand, Edward was already seated on the other side of Azriel, right across from Zia. “Dig in, you guys,” i