Chapter: For AveryJessica sat beside her daughter’s bed, her fingers gently tracing slow circles over the back of her tiny hand. The steady beep of the heart monitor filled the room, grounding her against the swirl of emotions causing turmoil inside of her.Ethan entered the room quietly, a paper cup of coffee in his right hand. “Figure you may need this,” he said, offering the cup to her.Jessica blinked at him, then took the cup. Her fingers brushed his, sending an unwanted shiver down her spine that had nothing to do with the cold hospital air. “Thanks,” she whispered slowly.He pulled a chair beside hers, settling down without saying another word. For a while, they just sat there, the low hum of machines the only sound between them.Jessica broke the silence first. "When did everything between us get so... complicated?"Ethan leaned closer to her, resting his elbows on his knees."Maybe when I stopped seeing you as someone who was enough for me," he said after a beat.Jessica stared into her coffee
Last Updated: 2025-04-29
Chapter: Goodbye, FinallyThe screen on Ricky’s phone dimmed, but the words from the text had been seared into his mind; Jessica curled up against Ethan, her hand resting on his; the intimacy he saw was impossible to ignore.He had come to the hospital with his heart racing, fear on every step he took, worried about Avery even though he and Jessica had just had an argument.Now, all he could feel was cold.The burn of betrayal wasn’t loud or fiery. It was still, quiet and creeping. Like a crack beneath the surface of something he’d convinced himself to forget. Deep down, he’d always known. But tonight made it real to him.His feet moved before he made the conscious decision to step back into the hospital.The door stood slightly ajar. Beyond it, the soft sound from Avery’s heart monitor pulsed like a clock to king down.Jessica stirred when the door creaked. Her eyes opened up slowly, then they widened as they landed on Ricky. She sat up fast, pushing herself out of the chair. “Ricky,” she whispered, alr
Last Updated: 2025-04-15
Chapter: Farewell Lullabies The rhythmic beep of the monitor was the only sound coming from the hospital room for a long while. Jessica sat next to Avery, her fingers brushing back the damp strands of her hair. She’d been humming, soft, quiet, just enough to soothe her little girl. The tune wavered here and there like her voice was on the edge of breaking forever.Ethan stood near the window, arms folded, watching both women.“She’s holding steady,” the doctor said to both parents, stepping into the room. “Her fever’s under control for now, but we want to keep her for observation. Her blood work shows signs of a viral infection, most likely the flu, but we won’t know more until the test results come back.”Jessica nodded, barely looking up at the doctor. “How many days?”“Two to three, minimum. She’ll need rest and fluids going into her. We’ll monitor for any secondary infections, just to be safe, so she doesn’t have to come back here.”“She’s going to be okay?” Ethan asked, his voice sounding tight.The
Last Updated: 2025-04-15
Chapter: Fast and Afraid“Come on, Jess,” Ethan’s voice was tight with panic as he yanked open the car door. Jessica didn’t need to be told twice. Her heels barely even hit the floor before she was inside his car, slamming the door behind her. Ethan was already behind the wheel, his jaw locked, eyes cold and focused like a missile locked on a target as he reversed with a sharp turn.Her heart was already racing, but it slipped entirely when he blew through a stop sign on the road without slowing down.“Ethan!” She gaped, grabbing the dashboard.“Sorry, I’ve got this.” He said voice clipped. “I’m not wasting a damn second of our time.”Jessica twisted in her seat, fingers brushing Avery’s cheek. Her daughter’s head lolled in her arms like a doll, her skin flushed, her breath shallow and fast. Just as fast as they had returned to the house to get Avery.“Avery, baby, can you hear me?” she whispered, moving a strand of her daughter’s hair behind her ear. “It’s Mommy. I’m here for you, sweetheart.”Avery’
Last Updated: 2025-04-15
Chapter: BallroomFEW WEEKS LATER“You can’t be serious.”Jessica sighed, placing the phone on her other ear. “Dad, I know this looks right, but Avery wants me to be there.”She heard her father’s disapproving silence stretched for a moment before he finally spoke up. “Jessica, this is Ethan’s family we are talking about here. They will use every opportunity to remind you that you lost custody of your daughter. Even though it’s only temporary.”“I know,” she admitted, rubbing her eyes. “But this isn’t about me. It’s about Avery.”“She’s an only child. She doesn’t understand what this is doing to you.”Jessica swallowed the lump in her throat. She understood what her father was talking about. Every moment spent around Ethan, his world, and his family took something away from her, leaving her exposed.But her little girl wanted her to be present. That was all that mattered.A soft knock at her apartment door made her come back to reality. “I have to go, Dad. I’ll call you soon.”She hung up and pulled op
Last Updated: 2025-02-13
Chapter: Bun Bun“No, no, no...” Jessica’s voice trembled as she read through the words again, her fingers holding on tightly around the document as if she would squeeze enough and the ruling would change. Her vision began to blur with tears, her entire body going numb from the shock.“Jessica?” Ricky’s voice came but cautious this time around, the argument between them had been forgotten temporarily. She took a step closer, but she shut it down.“Sorry, but I need to be alone.” She whispered, her voice barely audible to him.“What? Jessica what’s going...”“I said I need to be alone, Ricky!” she snapped at him, her grief and frustration boiling over. Without waiting for him to leave, she grabbed a coat from the rack and stormed out of the house, slamming her door behind him. When he was ready he would leave and lock up.The cold night air hit her cheeks harshly as she walked aimlessly down the street. Her mind was a field of chaos. They had finally taken her. They hadn’t finally taken Avery. The cour
Last Updated: 2025-02-12
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