LOGINStellaOne Year Later…The beach breeze is warm against my skin. The sound of laughter and light conversations fill my ears, causing me to smile more than I have for in the past. My brother's sit on the opposite side of the table, while my parents, Lillian, Adrian, and I are on the other.We decided
StellaI was discharged from the hospital just a few hours ago. Adrian kept me in his car while he ran out to the store and bought all new groceries for me, buying me snacks and drinks for me to eat while I relax at home. It is a really kind gesture from him, something that he never would've done fo
Adrian looks at me and I shake my head, signaling for him to stay. He silently nods and remains in place, watching as the room is slowly vacated, my father remaining behind. His eyes flicker between us, the way I instinctively reach for Adrian’s hand.“What is it that you’re doing, Stella?” my fathe
StellaAdrian stayed by my side for the rest of the night. He held my hand and called the nurses over when I needed more pain medication to ease the stinging and burning feeling inside of my body. He helped me adjust my pillows and got me more blankets, bribing the teenage girls next-door to offer u
Stellathe first thing that I can hear is the faint beeps of a hospital machine. There is a hospital like ambience, just beyond my consciousness, rooted in reality, it is in a place where I am not. I can listen to the sound of nurses and doctors talking, but I fall back into a state of unconsciousne
AdrianMy heart races inside of my chest. I can’t think straight and I feel so dizzy, having to sit down since my legs feel like jelly. I tried to convince myself that everything is okay, that Stella is not in need in that Clara is just over exaggerating what she said on the phone, but something in
I turn my gaze to Luca who looks like he is about to blow up from excitement. I hold back a laugh and turn to grab his first. I walk around the table, watching as he vibrates from excitement, and place the bag in front of his eyes.“What is it?” Luca looks up at him.I play coy and shrug. I walk bac
To them, I am simply a bag of spare parts that they can pick apart and freely choose from. To them, I am nothing more than an inconvenience until they decide that I am worthy enough for their love.It doesn’t help that Adrian, a man who was supposed to fulfill the role as my husband, always takes th
AdrianStella diverts her gaze away from mine. I clear my throat and subtly fix my suit. Her gaze comes back to me and she watches my hands before turning to her lawyer and giving him a nod.“Adrian,” the man begins. I raise an eyebrow and watch as he reaches below the desk, pulling something out of
Adrian“Thank you for visiting our restaurant, sir, please come again soon,” the hostess who stands at the front door of the restaurant beams at me as I pass them by. A bag hangs from my hands with two to go boxes inside. Clara’s untouched meal and my leftovers sit inside.Walking out to my car, I c







