Vera's POV:It was an awful taste.Different from when I was drunk.A hand touched my back, and I look up to see Sam's pale features. He didn't say anything, instead open his arms, a small opening. He didn't want to embrace me without my permission.I dropped into him, and he grunted lightly.Sam rubbed my back, still not speaking a single word as they dragged Cason outside.The days continued passing, and everything eventually falls back into its usual pace.After taking a few days off of work to watch over Sam, I went back. Of course, people question why Sam wasn't present. I told them the truth - he was hospitalized.Then, I smiled and said: "It's because he missed a scheduled time with me."They would laugh, telling me how he deserves it for neglecting his duties as my assistant.I watch as Marisa went back to her real family.Cradling Marisa back and forth in my arms, I smiled as she giggled. With each open smile, her baby teeth revealed itself, "Oh, Marisa. You're going to grow
Vera's POV: I sat there, besides Sam, as they carried in three bodies.Their gazes shifted to the man next me, as if glaring might help them feel better.Sam's body began to shake, and I supported him by holding his hand. I've been hearing him practice what he'll say when he meets the family for the previous few days.People around Sam had been preventing him from meeting the family out of fear that he might have another panic episode. They are currently outside."I-I'm sorry.""Sorry? When did you actually develop emotions, you, damn murderer!" exclaimed Bob, who I later learned was Robert Isola.It turned out that Bob, using a fake name, had gotten a job as a bus driver to patrol the streets near Vivus, knowing that Sam was an investor there. He later became a cab driver when Lisa informed him that I no longer resided in the apartment complex. When he dropped us off, he had access to the community.Everything had been arranged from the start; Lisa had been on Bob's bus, informing e
Vera's POV:My sight lingered back towards Sam, who still held his stance. Soon, the doctor arrived, patching him up and begged him to stop getting hurt. I settled beside Sam as everyone disappeared from the room. He was laying on his stomach due to the new injuries.We didn't speak, merely breathe in each other presence."Do you believe-" he finally said, "my actions are selfish?"For the past few weeks, I merely watch as one event happened after another; not voicing any personal opinion on Sam or anyone else decisions.I felt partially responsible for what had happened; Sam was too eager to find me resulting in the death of the young girl. However, even knowing that, I still felt as if I am an outsider to all this.Mrs.Thompson and Harper had talked to me, begged me in helping them change Sam's mind about going to prison. I couldn't do it. Each time I see him and his determination to right his wrong, my tongue was tied.How can I stop a man who is trying to amend his sins? To come t
The phone rang and she stared at the unrecognizable number. Vera licked her forefinger, pressing her sandwich down. She slide her pinky across the screen, placing it against her ear "Hello?"The woman, on the other end, twisted her chair as her assistant placed down the schedule. "Vera Brown?""Yes, may I ask who is calling?"There was short chuckling before the other end responds: "Cornelius Sutton.""Ah, yes. Hello, Mrs.Sutton." Vera bowed her head despite Cornelius being in another building."You didn't call me." There was a slight amusement in Cornelius's voice.Vera tapped her fingernails against the counter; as the memories of Cornelius offering surface. "I apologize, but I'm going through some stuff, and it slipped my mind. I don't do it often.""Did you know-" she spoke slowly, "excuses are a tool for incompetent?""I-I apologize.""Don't tell me I made a mistake in my recruitment Ms.Brown because I don't make mistakes." Vera swallowed firmly. She understands that the business
Vera smiled, an extensive one as Sam stroke her cheek, "Really?"He nodded, "Truly happy."She laid there, soul dripping into his as the flashes continued from above. It was a memory, one in which they would never forget. "But-" Vera didn't like his tone, "We shouldn't be together."At that moment, the dream came crashing down, and everything went dark. The artificial lights from outside lingered inside the room; Vera can barely see her face as she sat upward. She attempted to calm herself down, not wanting to get back into her old habits of assumption. "Why?"Sam sat upward, he didn't dare look at her."Look at me," Vera demanded. "Look at me and tell me...Why?" Each word was tormenting her heart.When she was looked at him, the world faded. Everything didn't seem to matter as they held each other. She wanted to be there for him, even though the roughest time. She thought he felt the same too.In the end, it was all her own delusion...assumption...a habit that can't seem to be broken
"Humans are said to be the only 3-5% of mammals that pair bond."Sam Thompsom was born with a photographic memory - hyperthymesia. Hyperthymesia is a condition that leads people to be able to remember an abnormally large number of their life experiences in vivid detail.And with the very situation in front of him, he couldn't help but remember a lecture back in high school. "They say the neural basis for monogamy comes from the neural network we develop as babies when we are being mothered, perhaps that is why we often call our lover: baby."His family didn't know about this other condition until his preadolescent years."But here comes the interesting part, it is said: if you are physical with anyone you aren't sure you want to stay with for the rest of your life, then you damage your ability for your pair bond to last a lifetime."He remembers most if not all of his high school - from the repetitive lectures to the students cramped in the hallway. But even with his photographic mem
• November 6, 2015; • SundayVera's POV I applied red lipstick while brushing my curly, dark hair away from my freshly applied mascara. I rose up, looking down at my perfectly filed nails and checking the maids uneasily shuffling in the corner of the room.My feet shine against the carpet as I exhale. As the maids and butlers came around me, I picked up the black luggage and pulled it behind me. The wheels and my heels, like the scattered shoes, echoed along the corridor.When I saw a familiar portrait, I came to a halt and bit my bottom lips.In the photo, we were standing next to one another, but there was a space between us. I was dressed in a huge white gown, one I'd always dreamed of wearing on my wedding day. He was the most gorgeous man in whatever room we were in, dressed in an immaculate black suit. My lips were smiling, but his were frowning.I laugh and lift the frame. He made it clear that he didn't want to marry me.That night, he didn't even touch me.As I continued hea
Vera's POV: I met him on the first day of high school—the boy who would become my world for the following four years.Growing up, I was a daddy's little princess, a silver spoon-fed girl. My family wasn't as rich as the majority of the kids at Pandora Academy, a school for future world leaders, but we were doing well for ourselves.That was my first day out of homeschool, and I remembered it so well. Dad loved me so much, and he used to tell me how brutal the world is and that I shouldn't go out there until I'm ready.He was correct.On my first day of school, I understood that being a dark-skinned lady puts you in the minority. To get leverage, you had to achieve more than others your age. Otherwise, you'd be left out, or, should I say, isolated? I wasn't as wealthy or intelligent as the other ladies, but I was satisfied with where I was with my tiny circles of friends.When Lilly grabbed my shirt, I nearly choked on my chicken nugget. "Oh, my God! "It's them!" she exclaimed.I look