Chapter 04: Flames of fire

SOPHIA

After a few days I was at the hospital settling some things and overseeing an incoming project for the children's wing, to my surprise I heard a familiar voice in the corridor.

My heart skipped a bit with curiosity of seeing the person I turned and gaze afar a distance I became shocked seeing Ava.

She was dressed in a lab coat talking to one of the doctors.

“What's she doing here?" I wandered around with a quickening pulse.

“Sophia". Ava said, noticing me and approaching with a bright smile. "I never expect to see you here either”.

“If I discover you're spying on me, I’ll never take it easy with you, my annoyance may cause you alot”.

"Is that a threat?”. She asked.

"Stay away from me and my husband Liam, must I see you everywhere I go, for crying out loud, what do you want?”.

“It seems you're losing your mind, it will be better if I run some diagnosis on you”.

"Are you trying to insult me? Don't worry I could say the same”. I replied, trying to bring my voice steady. “So what brings you to the hospital?".

Ava gestures to her lab coat. "I’ve taken up a position here, it's always my dream to work in pediatrics, and when I heard about the expansion project I couldn't resist”.

I felt the ground shift beneath me. Ava was not just back in our lives; she was now working at the very hospital where I spent most of my time.

“That's……wonderful” I managed to say, though the words felt like they were lodged in my throat.

“Isn't it?" Ava beamed. "I can't wait to get started. We’ll be seeing a lot more often".

The thought made my stomach churn, I couldn't escape her no matter where I turned.

I left the hospital and went back home with a heavy thought in my mind.

In the evening I sat with Liam at the dimming table pushing my food around the table as he talked about his day.

My mind was elsewhere replaying my encounter with Ava at the hospital.

“Sophia, are you ok?". Liam asked, noticing my distraction.

“I saw Ava at the hospital today”, I said, cutting straight to the point.

Liam looked surprised. “You met her again, what was she doing there?".

"She has taken a Job there. In pediatrics". I replied, watching his reaction closely.

Liam blinked clearly, taken aback. “I had no idea, but I knew she studied medicine abroad, maybe she just wanted to utilize her potential".

"Sounds interesting, I never knew we'd come in contact at the hospital”. I said my voice was edging with frustration.

“Liam's not just there for a visit. She's inserting ourselves into our lives- into my life”.

Liam sighed, rubbing his temples. “Sophia, I understand how this looks, but Ava’s a professional. I’m sure she's just pursuing her career”.

“But why here? Why now?”. I pressed my voice rising. “It's too much of a coincidence”.

“I don't know Sophia”, Liam said, his voice rising in a different tone. “But I can't control where she walks, we just have to deal with it".

"Deal with it?”. I echoed, feeling a surge of anger. “This isn't something we can just deal with; Liam. Ava is a threat to our marriage, and I won't sit by and watch her tear us apart”.

Liam's face hardened, and for the first time I saw a flicker of irritation in his eyes.

“Sophia, you're overreacting. Ava is not a threat. She is just someone from my past who happens to be in our lives right now”.

“And you expect me to believe that?".

“Is not a thing of belief is a thing of fact, it's nothing but truth".

"what if she's not content with just being in the past?". I demanded with a trembling voice. "What if she's trying to get you back by acting so nice just to back up his evidence?”.

“What evidence are you talking about?".

“Have you forgotten, you're claimed to be the father of her child, aren't you seeing her tricks".

“There's no trick here, Sophia".

“There are a lot of tricks, be sensitive you will see for yourself, can't you see she's always after me just to win my heart of acceptance so she can finally strike back".

Liam stood up, his chair scraping against the floor. “Sophia, I can't do this right now. I won't let Ava or anyone else come between us, but you need to trust me and stop bothering yourself”.

“Trust you". I whispered. Feeling the tears welling up in my eyes. “How can I trust you when I see the way she still affects you".

"I can't believe you're saying this, are you trying to say I’m cheating on you?”.

“Not that Liam, I noticed ever since she came you haven't given me attention, you barely treat me like your wife, even the plans we intend on you never deliberated on it again, Liam is there something you’re not telling me?". I said, with tears rolling down my eyes.

“You’ve to stop this Sophia, you're hurting yourself and I don't like it”.

"I would rather hurt myself fighting for our marriage than see us apart, is it because of the child she claimed you to be the father? Or is it because we don't have a child of our own that's why you're not reacting when I bring up any issues about her?”.

Liam looked at me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. “Sophia I love you, but if we keep letting this come between us, we’re only going to push each other away”.

He turned and walked out of the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. The silence was deafening, and the doubt in my heart only grew stronger.

As I sat there, staring at the empty chair across from me, a question echoed in my mind, one I was too afraid to ask aloud: Was Ava really just a memory for Liam, or was she something more?.