Sabrina's POV
I looked at Charlie's downcast face, his spoon moving slowly as if out of obligation, not hunger. It felt suffocating to see such a young child learning to accept a loss that should have been too great for his age. I held my breath, trying to keep my voice soft.“Honey, I'm glad you're eating. Even a little bit makes me feel better,” I said, stroking his arm.Charlie just nodded, his eyes never leaving the soup in front of him.Nicholas put down his glass and looked at us both. “Tomorrow, if you want, I can take you to Mom Hazel's boutique before you go home. That way, you can see her in person, and you can help her out if you want.”I glanced at Nicholas briefly, a hint of sincerity in his offer. He knew Charlie needed more than just sweet words, he needed concrete assurance that Hazel was still a part of his daily life.Charlie turned quickly, his eyes sparkling slightly. “May I?” he asked softly.“AbsoluteSabrina's POV My thoughts wandered to many things. Exhaustion from the past few days of being so busy helping Hazel at the boutique, lack of sleep, or perhaps the lingering sadness. Everything was mixed together, making me unsure if my body was protesting against being pushed too hard, or if it was trying to tell me something else.Time passed slowly, but the nausea wouldn't completely subside. Every time I closed my eyes, my body seemed to relive vomiting in front of the sink, making my stomach churn. I could only lie still, letting the morning air slowly enter the room, hoping this strange feeling was temporary and meant nothing more than fatigue."Sabrina?" Nicholas's voice came from behind the door.I braced myself, washed my face, and answered in a voice I tried to sound calm, "I'm fine probably just a cold."The bathroom door opened slowly, and Nicholas stood in the doorway, his face full of concern. He stared at me for a long moment,
Sabrina's POV Nicholas leaned in, whispering softly as we walked into the kitchen. “Are you okay?”I glanced over briefly, then sighed. “I don’t know. I know it’s for the best, but it still feels empty.”Nicholas patted my shoulder lightly, his eyes soft. “Hazel didn’t leave us. She just moved away. We’re all still family, Sabrina.”His words were reassuring, though my heart still felt heavy. I nodded, trying to believe it. “Yeah, I know.”That night, the three of us finally sat in the living room. Charlie showed me his drawing, a picture of a complete family, of himself, Nicholas, and Hazel standing side by side, smiling broadly, with a small boutique in the background.Looking at it, my eyes burned again. Not because I was sad, but because I realized that even though the world outside could be noisy and gossip could spread, we had built something far stronger than that, a sense of belonging that wasn't dependent on address or
Sabrina's POV I looked at Charlie's downcast face, his spoon moving slowly as if out of obligation, not hunger. It felt suffocating to see such a young child learning to accept a loss that should have been too great for his age. I held my breath, trying to keep my voice soft.“Honey, I'm glad you're eating. Even a little bit makes me feel better,” I said, stroking his arm.Charlie just nodded, his eyes never leaving the soup in front of him.Nicholas put down his glass and looked at us both. “Tomorrow, if you want, I can take you to Mom Hazel's boutique before you go home. That way, you can see her in person, and you can help her out if you want.”I glanced at Nicholas briefly, a hint of sincerity in his offer. He knew Charlie needed more than just sweet words, he needed concrete assurance that Hazel was still a part of his daily life.Charlie turned quickly, his eyes sparkling slightly. “May I?” he asked softly.“Absolute
Sabrina's POV That night, the house felt different. Quiet didn't mean empty, but there was a space that was usually filled with the sound of Hazel joking with Charlie, or her little laughs as she helped prepare dinner. Now, only the sound of plates clanking softly on the dining table, and the occasional sound of the still-light rain falling outside, lingered.I sat at the dining table with Nicholas and Charlie. Nicholas had just come home from work, still wearing only the top button of his shirt undone, while Charlie sat in a chair, his chin resting on his palm, listless.I noticed Charlie was unusually quiet. Usually, he'd tell me at length about his day at school, or ask for more soup with a beaming face. This time, his spoon was just stirring the rice on his plate."Aren't you hungry, honey?" I asked softly, trying to elicit a reaction.Charlie shrugged softly. "I'm hungry, but it feels strange eating with just the three of us like this,"
Sabrina's POV "Hazel," I called softly.She looked up from her plate and looked at me. "Yes?""How does it feel to be back at the apartment?" I asked, cautiously, as if the question might break something fragile.Hazel was silent for a moment. Her spoon stopped moving, her eyes lowered slightly before finally looking up at me again with a faint smile, a smile that wasn't happy, but more like gentle resignation. “A little empty,” she finally answered. Her voice was low, honest, and it made my chest throb painfully. “Usually I wake up to the sound of you or Charlie. Your house oddly enough, it feels like home to me too. Now, when I open my eyes, all I hear is the sound of the air conditioner and the windows. It’s quiet. But…” she sighed, “I have to get used to it. I can’t just hang around forever and let people talk nonsense.”I stared at her for a long moment. Part of me wanted to say, “Just let people talk,” but I knew Hazel was s
Sabrina's POV The car's wheels slowly turned over the asphalt, still slightly damp from last night's rain. The wipers occasionally swept across the windshield, leaving clear streaks that revealed the brightening morning sky. I gripped the steering wheel tightly, trying to calm myself with the soft music playing on the radio.However, my mind was completely off the road. Images of Hazel kept filling my mind, she was probably rearranging her boutique's decorations, checking orders, or simply sitting and looking at the shelves already filled with her hard work. I longed to be there, keeping her company. But I also knew my job right now was at home, preparing to welcome Charlie later that afternoon.Suddenly, a long honk from the opposite direction made me jump. I turned quickly, a motorcycle was zigzagging, too close to my lane. Reflexively, I turned the wheel to the left, the front tire hitting a deep puddle. Water sprayed high, soaking part of the windshield. T