LOGINARIELLA I froze. It wasn’t inappropriate. It wasn’t… that. But it was.... Familiar. Too familiar. Asher laughed, reaching up to ruffle her hair, messing it up playfully as someone would do with a younger sibling. “Hey, stranger,” he said. Leon stood beside them, smiling brightly, clearly loving
ARIELLA I exhaled. “Okay.” “I’ll see you later,” he said. “Don’t be late for dinner,” I responded. “I want a promise.” A small smile slipped into his voice. “Okay. I promise.” “I love you.” I couldn't help myself. “I love you too.” The call ended and I stayed there for a moment longer, star
ARIELLA The truth was… maybe I did. Maybe I had seen them before. Maybe I had grown up around them. But I didn’t actually know who had died. “I don’t know,” I said honestly. “Maybe.” Leon frowned again. “Then why didn’t you go to the funeral?” I hesitated. “I guess I should have,” I admitted
ARIELLA After breakfast, I tried to keep the morning as normal as possible. For Leon, and most importantly…For myself. “Mom,” Leon said, looking up at me, “should we go and prepare my study room? You told me that I could help.” “Of course,” I said. But before we walked out, I turned toward Marg
ARIELLA I held his gaze. “I can’t survive without you,” I said again. “You won’t have to,” he replied quietly. “I’m going to be okay. I’ll come back. I have to. You and Leon are waiting for me. I won’t break that promise.” He lifted my chin gently so I had no choice but to look at him. “I just
ARIELLA I woke up to feel light kisses on my face. I opened my eyes to find Asher hovering over me, pressing soft kisses against my skin. I let out a small laugh as he brushed his lips against mine before straightening. He was already dressed. Tie in place. Hair perfectly styled. Everything about
ARIELLA Maria held my hand tighter. “Go back with your head high. Show them how strong you are. Stop feeling guilty for wanting good things. Family comes first.” I smiled faintly. “I don’t think they mean one's own family when they say that.” She laughed, pulling me into a hug, and then I left h
ARIELLA He kissed me again, slower this time, lingering for just a heartbeat longer, “Mommy! Daddy!” Leon’s voice rang out from the dining room. “You two are like Grandma and Grandpa instead of mommy and daddy! You’re so slow!” he shouted, his head popping around the corner as he stared at us acc
ARIELLA Other days at the Island were for the sea. We took a small boat out past the shallows, the water impossibly blue beneath us. Leon learned how to snorkel, initially clinging to Asher before slowly letting go. I cheered when he finally swam on his own, his laughter muffled by the water, bubbl
ARIELLA Our wedding was amazing.... It was everything I’d ever dreamed of and more. Magical. Timeless. The kind of night that felt suspended between fantasy and reality. It surpassed every image I’d painted in my mind, every whispered wish I’d ever made about my wedding with Asher. As soon as th







