Damien Shaw I wake up groggy, my body feeling heavy and sore. The first thing I notice is the dull ache in my back, where they harvested the bone marrow. It’s not unbearable, but it’s enough to remind me what just happened. I blink, trying to focus as the world slowly sharpens around me.“Mr. Shaw?” a nurse says gently. “You’re in recovery now. How are you feeling?”I clear my throat. “How’s Lily?” It’s the only thing I care about, the only thing I need to know.The nurse smiles softly, adjusting something on the IV beside me. “The transplant will happen soon. She’s doing well, and the doctors are confident the procedure will go smoothly.”Relief washes over me. I exhale, my body sinking back into the bed. The pain throbs, but it’s manageable. None of it matters as long as Lily has a fighting chance.Imogene isn’t here. She must still be with Lily, making sure everything is in place. I close my eyes, trying to imagine her standing by our daughter’s bed, her hand stroking Lily’s
Imogene Scott The days after the transplant are a blur of fear and waiting. Every small beep of the monitors, every flicker of change in Lily’s expression, sends my heart into overdrive. I can’t breathe. My mind races with worst-case scenarios, and no matter how much I try to push them away, they creep in, clawing at my sanity.I sit by Lily’s hospital bed, my fingers lightly brushing her soft curls. She looks so small under the blankets, her skin still pale, her body fighting a battle that I can’t help her with. It tears me apart. Every hour feels like a lifetime, and I cling to any shred of hope the doctors offer, though their reassurances often feel hollow. I hate that I have to rely on them, on treatments I barely understand. Damien is always nearby. He sits beside me, his hand on my shoulder or holding mine when I tremble. "She’s going to be okay," he tells me over and over again but I know he’s just as scared. I can see it in his eyes, the way they linger on Lily’s fragile
SIX MONTHS LATER…Imogene Scott The late afternoon sun filters through the large windows, casting a golden glow on the room. I stand at the door beside Damien, welcoming our guests with a smile. It’s Lily’s third birthday and I can hardly believe it. Six months ago, the very thought of celebrating anything seemed impossible. Now, here we are, surrounded by balloons, streamers, and the sound of children’s laughter filling Damien’s house.He had insisted on hosting the party at his house because he thinks it’s going to be a hassle for guests to attend a party at an apartment on the sixth floor of building. I totally disagree but I had to give in because if I didn’t, he would bring up how over the past few months, I’ve been turning down his offer for me and Lily to move in with him.I glance at Damien as he greets our guests. His hand is resting lightly on the small of my back. His smile is easy and relaxed. He leans toward me and whispers, "I can’t believe we’ve made it this far.
Imogene ScottThe party hums with laughter and excitement, the clatter of children playing blending into the background as I watch Lily twirl around in her princess gown. She looks so happy. It's everything I ever wanted for her, and more. The months of worry and fear feel like a is finally behind us and I can’t help but be grateful.My phone buzzes in my pocket, pulling me from my thoughts. I glance at the screen and see an unknown number. For a second, I think about ignoring it, but step outside onto the porch, away from the noise to answer the call."Hello?" I answer."Imogene, it’s Elinor."I freeze, my hand tightening around the phone. Elinor. I haven’t spoken to her in months. She came to the hospital once to see Lily and that was it. I told her never to show her face in front of me again. She called me, left messages, but I haven’t had the strength to engage. I had to time to deal with her. Now, she’s using a different number. Of course.I try to end the call, my thumb hove
Imogene Scott I’m unable to take my eyes off the ring as Breonna and I pack up after the party. Emmett also stayed behind to help and for some reason, those two do not seem to get along at all. I leave Breonna and Emmett to oversee taking down the balloons while Damien and I walk our remaining guests out of the house—Dad, Lila, Aunt Tilly and Kia.“I’m so glad you came, Dad.” I say, pulling him into a hug.He pats my back. “I’m so glad everything is finally working out.”Lila gives me a hug too, while Damien shakes hands with Dad. As Dad and Lila get into their car and drive off, I turn to Aunt Tilly and Kia.“Thank you so much for coming, Aunt.” I say, putting on my best fake smile.After saying his goodbyes, Damien goes back into the house, leaving just me and Aunt Tilly. “I…want to ask you for a favor, Imogene.” Aunt Tilly says as soon as Damien disappears into the house.I swallow hard. I should’ve known. She suddenly showed up after all these years. I should’ve known somethi
Imogene Scott“I forgot to add a sippy cup to her lunchbox.” I say, waltzing across the living room to the kitchen.“I got it.” Breonna says, rushing out of the kitchen and we almost bump into each other.I sigh in relief. “We made it.” I reiterate as I glance at the clock on the wall.It’s Lily’s first day at school and somehow, I had woken up too late. If Breonna hadn’t arrived at my apartment early this morning to help out, only God knows what would’ve happened.Breonna walks to the dining table and unzips Lily’s lunchbox, placing the sippy cup into it. “Damien will be here any moment.”“Lily’s ready.” I say, sinking into the couch.Damien had insisted on dropping Lily off on her first day at school and I’m really excited for both of them. Breonna goes into the room to bring Lily out. My baby looks so great dressed up for school.She’s wearing a radiant smile on her face as usual and her deep sapphire eyes are sparkling. Her black hair is in a neat bun. She’s in a pretty white b
Damien ShawBeing out of the office for six months was something I didn’t think I would be able to do until Lily’s illness. Imogene and I had taken time off work for six months to take care of Lily and be there for her. Now that everything has finally fallen back into place, she back running her gallery and I’m back at IMU.Most of all, dropping Lily off at school today gave me the kind of fulfillment I never thought I’d ever feel. My family is finally okay again. Last thing I’m the least is for m and Imogene to be together again legally. But I don’t want to push her into doing anything or rush her. I recently just proposed so I’ve decided to give it time.My heart soars with happiness as I pull up in front of IMU. It feels nice to be back at the company after so long. It’s all thanks to my assistant, Miles who’s been overseeing every activities in the company, that IMU is still running smoothly.“Good morning, Mr Shaw.” Gerald says I step out of the elevator when it dumps me on th
Imogene Scott [Hi, Imogene. Can we talk?]Keith’s texts keeps playing on my mind as I get ready to leave home for the gallery. I’m not surprised that he would wanna talk, he’s been a little supportive over the last six months.He visited Lily at the hospital at least four to five times a month. I had thought Damien would be mad but I guess he was so consumed by it all that he didn’t seem to care. Keith’s support during hard times pretty much wrote off any grudge I had against him. But I’m not sure why he suddenly wants to talk. I grab my bag and step out of the house, making my way into the elevator. It dumps me on the ground floor and when I get to the parking lot, I get into my car and drive out.When I finally arrive at the gallery, Emmett gives me a blow-by-blow of what’s the happenings at the gallery. I’m pretty sure I zoned out during half of it. “By the way, Breonna might be working here for a while.” I say as I settle into my office.Emmett has really taken so much car
Damien Shaw “What else do you need me to grab? Your handbag?” I ask, watching her in the mirror as she pulls her hair up into one of those quick, messy buns that somehow still looks perfect on her.We’ve been in this house for a few days now. No noise. No schedules. Just the two of us. It’s been good but I figured she might want to stretch her wings a little. When I found out there was a small art center just half an hour from here, I booked us a private session. No people. No distractions. Just space and light and canvas.“I can grab my bag,” she says, walking to the bed where it’s tossed beside the sundress she picked earlier. It’s light yellow that ends just mid-thigh. Her bare legs steal my attention for a second longer than I mean them to.But I’m faster. I reach for the bag before she can.“You’re not allowed to carry anything,” I say, grabbing it and slinging it over my shoulder. It’s half the size of her and somehow still weighs a damn ton.She frowns at me like I’ve ju
Imogene Scott The sun is starting to go down when I wake up. The blanket is still tucked around me, and I stretch, feeling the tightness in my muscles from the nap Damien insisted I take after lunch. My body is still warm. I glance over to the clock, surprised by how much time has passed.As I sit up, Damien appears in the doorway, a small smile playing on his lips. His eyes are bright, and there’s a glint of mischief in them. He’s holding something behind his back, though I can’t tell what.“Feeling better?” he asks, his voice low, smooth. I nod slowly, still trying to shake off the drowsiness.“You wouldn’t let me sleep through the afternoon, would you?” I tease, stretching again as my arms reach above my head, my back arching. He chuckles softly, shaking his head.“I had a plan for you,” he says, stepping into the room. His smile widens. “So, I prepared a little something special for you while you were asleep.”I raise an eyebrow. “Oh really?” “Yes, really,” he says, an
Damien Shaw It’s surprising how bright the morning sun is after the heavy rain last night. I shift under the sheets and my hand reaches out instinctively, searching for Imogene, but the space beside me is empty.I sit up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. The house is quiet. I swing my legs over the side of the bed, the cool floor sending a slight shiver up my spine.As I step into the hallway, the aroma of fresh apples wafts through the air. I follow the scent to the dining area and find Imogene seated at the table, meticulously slicing apples into thin wedges.“Why are you doing this so early in the morning?” I ask, approaching her.She looks up, a soft smile playing on her lips. “I just crave apples.”I chuckle, “You should’ve woken me up to cut them for you.”“It’s fine,” she replies, focusing back on her task.Suddenly, her phone beeps. She sets down the knife and picks up the device, answering the incoming video call. Kia's face appears on the screen, and beside her is
Damien Shaw We go back inside after the rain. I lead Imogene to the bathroom where I prepare her a hot bath. Steam curls up from the tub as I swirl my hand through the water, checking the temperature. Not too hot. Just warm enough to soothe her bones. She stands there quietly beside me. Her lashes are still damp from the rain, and I help her out of the oversized hoodie with gentle hands. My fingers graze her shoulders, and I swear, even soaked to the skin, she glows. There’s a peace in her eyes I haven’t seen in weeks.She steps into the bath with a small sigh, like her whole body is unraveling, and I wait for a second—just watching her exhale. Then I step out, give her space. She needs this.While she soaks, I clear the chaos we left behind. Plates. Crumpled napkins. Half a pint of chocolate ice cream melting on the coffee table. The rain’s still coming down in sheets outside, thick drops racing down the windowpanes.I grab a towel, ruffle it through my hair, then toss it o
Imogene Scott I slept through the night for the first time in weeks. No jolting awake. No sweat-slicked skin. No dreams of drowning in shadows. Just silence. Stillness. Peace.My eyes open slowly, blinking into the quiet morning light spilling through the gauzy white curtains. The ocean breeze flows in from the slightly open window. My head doesn’t feel like it’s been split in two.I pull the blanket down and sit up, cradling my growing belly with both hands. The twins will be here in a few weeks. Two heartbeats fluttering beneath my skin. Two tiny souls I haven't even met, but already love with an intensity that’s terrifying and beautiful all at once.My fingers press gently into the bump. “You two are going to be okay,” I whisper. “We’re all going to be okay.”A soft smile pulls at my lips. It’s real this time. Not the kind I force at dinner tables or mirror reflections. No, this one is real.“What are you smiling about?”Damien’s voice startles me. I look up as he steps into
Damien Shaw The sun spills through the curtains as my eyes flutter open. I groan, registering the soreness in my bones. I rub at my face, letting my hand fall onto the bed beside me…It’s empty.My heart kicks up, a sudden thrum against my ribs.Imogene is not here.The sheets are still warm, faintly scented with her shampoo and her pillow’s half-squashed. She couldn’t have gone far. But still… my throat tightens as I sit up fast, pushing the blanket off. My bare feet hit the cool wood floor and I stand, eyes scanning the quiet bedroom.I don’t call out. Not yet. My gut twists like it always does when she disappears from my line of sight. I step into the hallway, and I’m immediately hit with a warm, sweet and smoky smell.Pancakes?I follow the scent into the kitchen, tension loosening slightly with each step. And then I see her.She’s standing by the stove, her back to me, swaying ever so slightly to some melody in her head. She’s barefoot, in nothing but my oversized black T-shir
Imogene Scott“Mummy, how long are you going to be gone?” Lily’s small voice floats toward me.I pause, my hand hovering over the zipper of my suitcase. The last dress is folded neatly inside and I press it down before turning to face her. She’s standing by the edge of the bed.“Mummy will be back in a few days,” I say gently, kneeling in front of her and smoothing her curls with my palm. She looks at me like she’s studying me, trying to see if I’m telling the truth or just saying what I think she wants to hear.“Will Mummy be better by then?” she asks.My breath catches.Better.I nod, brushing my thumb across her cheek.“Yes, baby. Mummy will be fine.”Lily thinks about that for a second, then smiles. “Yes, then Mummy can go. Anty Kia will take good care of me.”A soft knock sounds on the door just as I press a kiss to Lily’s forehead. Sheila steps in. “Is there anything else you want to take to the water park, Lily?” she says.Before Lily can answer, Kia walks in right behind
Imogene Scott When I open my eyes, it’s dark outside.The ceiling fan spins slowly above me. My body feels warm as I place my palm on my forehead and try to register what time it is on the wall clock across the room. But my vision’s a little blurry and I can’t make out the numbers, so I sit up instead, blinking away the sleep.I swing my legs off the bed and the cold wooden floor kisses my bare feet. I tug Damien’s hoodie tighter around me before padding to the door. I didn’t mean to sleep that long. I was just going to close my eyes for a few minutes.The hallway is dim. I make my way down slowly, hand on the banister. My joints still feel a little stiff from laying in one position for too long.When I reach the last step, I spot him.Damien’s seated at the dining table, one elbow propped up, his head resting in his palm. His hair’s tousled like he’s run his hand through it a hundred times tonight.“Hey there,” I say, softly.His head snaps up.“You’re awake?” His voice is low.
Damien Shaw I help Imogene off the examination table slowly, my hands gripping her waist. She's light and it unsettles me more than I let on. She sits up and swings her legs over the edge, her fingers resting on my forearm to steady herself."I'm okay," she says softly.She’s not. But I nod anyway. We walk out of the room together and back into the office, where Dr. Rogers is typing something into her computer. The click of the keys fills the silence.She looks up and smiles, though there's a trace of something behind her eyes. Concern, maybe. Caution."Everything looks good so far," she says. "But we’re entering the home stretch now. Just a few more weeks. You both need to be careful, especially you, Imogene."Imogene nods politely. “We will.”I thank her and reach for the door handle, ready to leave. I’m already thinking about the drive home, when Dr Rogers calls out to me. “Damien, could I speak to you for a second?”I stop and glance at Imogene.“I’ll wait in the car,” she