Jay zipped up his suitcase and looked around the apartment one last time. Every corner held a piece of memory—some recent, some old. The folded blanket on the couch reminded him of Riele asleep just nights ago, her hair spread across the pillow like a poem unfinished. The faint scent of her perfume still lingered in the room, fragile and fleeting.He sighed and reached for his phone, unlocking it with shaky fingers. He opened their message thread, his thumb hovering for a second. Then, he typed:“I’ll be at the airport in a few hours. Terminal 4, Gate 6. I hope I see you.”He didn’t want to beg. He didn’t want to sound desperate. But somewhere in the silence of that message, he had tucked all his longing and vulnerability. He stared at the screen for a heartbeat before hitting send.Maybe she’d see it. Maybe she wouldn’t. Either way, he had to go.He picked up his bags and walked out, shutting the door behind him like someone sealing off a chapter.The airport was loud. People wheeled
The soft sizzle of eggs in the frying pan filled the kitchen with warmth. Morning sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting golden stripes across the white tiles. Jane stood at the stove, gently flipping the omelet, her mind wandering as it usually did—wondering what the day would be like, wondering if Kim would even eat with her, wondering if the smiles he’d given her lately meant anything real.Then she felt it—arms, warm and firm, wrap around her waist from behind.She froze.Her breath caught in her throat, the spatula slipping from her fingers and landing on the counter with a light clink. Slowly, she turned her head, her heart thudding hard in her chest.Kim.He was smiling softly, forehead resting lightly against her temple, like the weight between them had finally loosened.“Morning,” he said, his voice low.Jane blinked, stunned. “Morning,” she whispered back, unsure if she was dreaming.Their baby’s cry broke the stillness. Kim gently let go and nodded toward the bedroom
Riele stirred from sleep slowly, her limbs stretching lazily against soft sheets. For a moment, everything was still, a blank page between dreams and reality. Then came the sound—faint, bright, bubbling.Laughter.Giggles, too.She blinked open her eyes. That voice—Charlotte. And that laugh… Harry’s. She sat up halfway, blinking as she tried to get her bearings. She rubbed her eyes, then turned toward the window where morning light filtered through the curtains. In the distance, more laughter. A tiny voice giggled, squealed. That had to be Hope.Her heart fluttered, caught between warmth and confusion. How did she get here? The last thing she remembered was being in Jay’s car. Had he carried her in? Why didn’t he wake her? She scanned the room, her clothes from yesterday hung neatly on the back of a chair. Her phone was charging beside the bed. Everything was in place.Except her thoughts.She pushed the blanket away and headed to the bathroom. The shower was warm against her skin, bu
Kim staggered through the front door, the sharp scent of whiskey trailing after him like an unwanted memory. His coat was draped carelessly over one shoulder, his shirt untucked and half-buttoned, and his tie dangled from his pocket like an afterthought. The silence of the house wrapped around him, yet it felt deafening—too quiet for a home, too hollow for comfort.Jane looked up from the couch as the door creaked. Her heart skipped a beat. She hadn’t heard from him all day. For a moment, she feared something had happened. But there he was, physically, at least. His steps were unsteady, his eyes distant, pain etched into the corners of his mouth.“Kim,” she called gently, rising to her feet.He didn’t answer. Instead, he walked past her with slow, heavy steps. But then, just as she reached for his arm, he stopped. Her hand met his sleeve.Kim turned to her with weary eyes, red-rimmed and raw from emotion, and whispered, “Teach me how to love you.”Jane froze. Her breath caught in her
The night air was cooler now. Riele stepped out of the restaurant with her arms folded against her chest, trying to hold herself together. Her eyes were dry, but inside, a storm brewed, one she didn’t have the strength to express. Her heels tapped softly against the pavement as she walked toward the curb.Just then, a familiar silhouette appeared under the streetlight. Jay.He said nothing at first. His eyes studied her face—her trembling lips, her tired eyes, the way her arms clutched her bag tightly like it held the pieces of her broken heart. She didn’t have to say anything either. Somehow, he already knew.Without hesitation, Jay stepped forward and pulled her gently into his arms.Riele didn’t resist. Her head rested on his shoulder, and for a moment, she allowed herself to breathe, really breathe. He smelled like fresh rain and cologne. Safe. Warm.From the corner of his eye, Jay caught a glimpse of Kim through the restaurant’s window, still seated, staring blankly at the space
Kim stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his collar for what must have been the tenth time. He couldn’t stop smiling. There was a softness in his eyes that had been missing for a long time. Today felt like the beginning of something... something he wasn’t sure he deserved but still hoped for.He picked up his watch and glanced at the time. He’d gone over the things he wanted to say in his head again and again. Every sentence, every apology, every memory—they all meant something. He wanted to say it right, for once. Maybe this would be the moment they started again.As he turned to leave the room, Jane stood at the door holding their baby. Her eyes were tired, and her voice was quiet.“Are you going somewhere?” she asked, watching him closely.Kim didn’t answer. He walked over to the crib, leaned in, and pressed a soft kiss on the baby’s forehead. The child stirred lightly, and Kim smiled again—but not at Jane. Without a word, he brushed past her and left the house.Jane stood still