Sienna’s POV
My stomach felt warm and full, the lingering aroma of seafood fried rice still rising from the plate in front of me as I leaned back into the plush seat of the family-style restaurant. The cool air from the AC brushed gently against my face—a welcome contrast after a long, emotionally draining day.I looked around. The restaurant wasn’t fancy, but it felt comforting. The décor was simple: warm, dim lighting, dark brown leather-covered wooden chairs, and walls painted in earthy tones. A few families sat at nearby tables, children laughing, couples speaking in soft tones with shared smiles. There was life here—a kind of calm, unrushed life that seemed more certain than mine.Sienna, you’re okay here, I whispered to myself. At least for tonight.I leaned back, letting my body relax. The exhaustion wasn’t just physical—it lived in my thoughts, in the constant reel of memories playing behind my eyes. Noah’s face, his laugh when I’d chase him through the parkSienna's POV The car kept moving, and I stared out the window, letting the blurred city lights become my escape from the tightness in my chest. I wasn't here to relive the past, only to comfort my son tonight. That’s it. At least, that’s what I wanted to believe.The roads we took were quiet now. Tall buildings loomed in silence, their shadows flickering across the window I held onto. The cold from the AC mingled with the night air seeping through the vents, creating a biting stillness that crept through the corners of my mind.The fading sounds of the city as we moved farther from the center made me realize how unfamiliar this journey felt, even though the route wasn’t new. A route that once felt like home—back when everything was whole. Back when I sat in this seat not as a visitor, not as someone holding back—but as a part of them.In the front seat, Liam stayed focused on the road, both hands gripping the wheel—too tightly, maybe. Tension lined his jaw, his sho
Sienna's POV“Are you sure you’re going back there?”Liliana’s voice was soft but clear amid the passing cars and the night wind that was starting to bite. We stood on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant, the neon light above casting our reflections onto the rain-damp pavement.I looked at the black car. Inside, I could make out Liam’s silhouette in the driver’s seat, Emily beside him, and Noah in the back, his face turned toward me as if afraid I might disappear at any moment. A weight settled in my chest that I couldn’t explain, but I took a deep breath and answered quietly, “I just want to make sure Noah sleeps well tonight. That’s all.”Liliana looked at me for a long moment, as if searching for cracks in the decision I had just voiced. “After that, I’ll go back to the apartment. To your place,” I added, trying to reassure her, even though my heart was racing out of rhythm.She finally nodded. “Alright. I’ll wait there. But if you change your mind, o
Sienna's POV I looked at that small face again, and for a moment, the world around me faded. There was something broken inside me, but something else slowly started to come back together. And maybe, just maybe… this is a small step toward something I have yet to understand. “I didn’t expect to see you tonight,” Liam’s voice finally broke after having been just a silent presence across the table for so long. I turned slowly. His gaze wasn’t as aggressive as usual, nor as cold as what I had received when everything fell apart. But behind his eyes, I could see unanswered questions, unhealed wounds, and feelings that—somehow—still lingered. I only nodded, offering a thin smile. “Me neither.” There wasn’t much more I could say. Things were already complicated enough. Too many things that couldn’t be fixed with a single conversation or look. Liliana sipped the last of her juice, then leaned back against the chair. In a calm yet firm voice, she said, “It’s lat
Sienna's POVI never imagined I would be sitting at the same table with them. Not in a situation like this. Not in a 24-hour family diner with soft yellow lights and the faint sound of frying coming from the kitchen. But here I am now, sitting next to Noah, flanked by Liliana, while Liam and Emily sit directly across from me.No one speaks. Only the sound of Noah’s spoon stirring his half-melted vanilla ice cream and the gentle hum of the AC breaking the silence. My eyes briefly met Liam’s—just for a moment—before we both looked away. Emily kept her head down, hugging her glass of milk, who knows what she was thinking. Liliana beside me only held my hand tightly under the table, as if she knew I needed an anchor so I wouldn’t get swept away by my own emotions.“Mommy likes vanilla ice cream, right?” Noah’s small voice finally rang out, innocent and honest as always. He offered me a spoonful of his ice cream.I smiled, though my heart trembled. “I do, sweetheart. But
Sienna’s POV Liam leaned down, nodding as Noah spoke to him animatedly. Emily stood on the other side of Noah, gently ruffling his hair with a soft smile—as if she had always been there. As if… I had never existed.The pain came like a wave, crashing from a direction I didn’t expect. I knew I was the one who left. I knew I was the one who chose silence. But seeing them like that, as though I had never been a part of their lives at all, made it hard to breathe.I had to leave. Right now.I was just about to stand when the sound of small footsteps approached from the side.“Sienna?”I turned in panic. Liliana stood there, eyebrows raised. “Why are you hiding like that? Are you trying to run away from me?”I motioned frantically with my finger to hush her. “Sshh… please, Liliana. Don’t be loud.”She frowned. “Why? What’s going on?—”“Let’s go. Now,” I whispered urgently, grabbing my bag. “Please, Liliana. Now.”Liliana looked confused, but befor
Sienna’s POV My stomach felt warm and full, the lingering aroma of seafood fried rice still rising from the plate in front of me as I leaned back into the plush seat of the family-style restaurant. The cool air from the AC brushed gently against my face—a welcome contrast after a long, emotionally draining day.I looked around. The restaurant wasn’t fancy, but it felt comforting. The décor was simple: warm, dim lighting, dark brown leather-covered wooden chairs, and walls painted in earthy tones. A few families sat at nearby tables, children laughing, couples speaking in soft tones with shared smiles. There was life here—a kind of calm, unrushed life that seemed more certain than mine.Sienna, you’re okay here, I whispered to myself. At least for tonight.I leaned back, letting my body relax. The exhaustion wasn’t just physical—it lived in my thoughts, in the constant reel of memories playing behind my eyes. Noah’s face, his laugh when I’d chase him through the park