ANMELDENEVELYN. "You've reached Hazel Bennett, I'm probably busy or something so please leave a message that I would probably never get to—" I hung up the phone before her voicemail recording even stopped. I had tried calling Hazel for the umpteenth time but to no avail and I would've left her a message if only I didn't know she never checked her voicemail. My eyes dropped to the suitcase in my hands and I let out a sigh. My flight was tonight too so I couldn't drop by Nicholas's house before leaving which meant I couldn't see her. Everything happened so fast, from deciding to visit my foster parents to booking the flight and ultimately packing my bags. I knew I needed an escape, or perhaps maybe just a time away. I just didn't want Hazel to think I abandoned her. So I drafted a letter and left it on top of her dresser, hoping that one of these days, she would come here when I'm gone then she'd see it. I wasn't sure how long I would be gone, either. It all depended on whether Dylan was oka
HAZEL. I was numb. While my whole world crashed beneath my feet, I was numb. There was a piercing sound that rang through my ears and the throbbing of my heartbeat in the back of my throat was loud. I had never felt this miserable until now. Merely the thought of losing my aunt rendered me so powerless and weak. I dropped to the ground, holding her up in my arms. Agnes’s eyes were closed and her body was cold and her light grey hair fell across her forehead."Something's wrong,” I called out to Nicholas and there was a crack in my voice. I threw my head over my shoulders, watching him grasp his phone to call 911. He was just in his eyes about to ask me to marry him but oh how everything can change in mere seconds. There I was with the crippling fear of losing Agnes. Something I never thought was possible, at least not for many years. And even those years, I never looked forward to. "Call for help!" I yelled, hoping it was loud enough to quiet the noisy thoughts that raced through
HAZEL."Nicholas," I called out his name, finally urging him to continue our much-needed conversation. I walked into the room and closed the door behind me. He took off his jacket before turning to me."I'm sorry I lied to you," I couldn't quantify the extent of regret I felt the entire day. When Nicholas looked at me, I had hoped to God that he saw that I was genuine, and thankfully he did because something melted his heart in that moment. "Everyone lies," His voice was low and his jaw, tight."For some reason, everyone always lies to me, it's been that way since I was a kid. First, it was my Dad saying that my Mum was the only one that he ever loved then it was my mother telling me that she was fine with whatever he was doing—that she was okay when I had to watch her break herself from inside out," Nicholas said and I started to notice the water in his eyes."And then I grew up and still, the lies didn't stop. I became powerful and out of fear, people still lied to me. That was why
KAYLA.My steps echoed as I walked through the facility’s hallway. I entered the back of the prison, on my way to the visitation room to see my sister. The sound of my sinful red-bottomed stilettos clacked against the tiled floors and I finally pushed the door open, Lucy was already seated on the opposite end of the table, waiting for me.“I was caught up in traffic,” I heaved, taking off my glasses and setting my bag on the table between us. There were two guards at opposite ends of the room, with whom Lucy made eye contact whilst just sitting there for a second. That same second, I had noticed the bruise on her neck and the dark circles around her eyes that showed she hadn’t been sleeping well. “Orange looks awful on you, Jesus,” I tease, an attempt to lighten the atmosphere but Lucy only heaved a deep breath. She hated this place I could tell. Which was why I was trying my best to get her out of here as soon as I could. "Are you okay?" I asked, reaching for her hands before the g
LINDA ADAMS.I cleared my throat, slicing through the food in front of me with metal cutlery. Occasionally, I lifted my face to look at Ferdinand and there was always this smile on his face for a second or two, after which was even a longer silence.Almost like he wanted to say something but then wouldn’t. For some reason, Giselle’s voice kept ringing in my ears."My whole life, father never changed. What makes you think that he's ready now?” She was right. Giselle. But there was nothing wrong with having a little hope. I had given Ferdinand the benefit of the doubt one too many times, I had no idea what I would do if he were to leave again…like he always did.I ran my hands through my curls before finally breaking the silence.“So why did you insist on this dinner?” I couldn’t control my cheeks lighting up. I hadn’t seen my husband in so long. “I take it you’ll be around for a while now?” I asked, remembering I saw about three suitcases in his car. I was on the moon but the moment Fe
GISELLE.I stood up once I heard the knock on my door. Mum and Dad couldn't be back this early—they'd only just left, I thought. Or maybe they got into a huge fight before they even got anywhere and the dinner was canceled. I tried to hold in my chuckle as I reached for the door handle and when I pulled it apart, I met the biggest shock of my life. My heart sank to the soles of my feet once I saw her face. A face I thought I'd never see again. A face that had been plastered on every wall in Seattle underneath the boldened words, WANTED."Donna!" I gasped. She stormed in once the door was slightly opened and everything happened so fast I needed a moment to register. "What are you doing here? You can't be here," I said. Donna shot a look over her shoulder."Well I have nowhere to go," She shrugged her shoulders. "Thanks to you, the entire plan failed and the police got to us!" Donna yelled. I scanned the surroundings from the corner of my eyes, in search of something I could use to pro
GISELLE.Hazel's call came in while I was driving. She had called for the one millionth time but I wasn't going to answer it. After the article came out, I was a mess. I remember staying at my phone in disbelief."Surely it isn't Hazel?" I asked, staring right at her picture on the front page. It c
HAZEL. "I can explain."My stomach knotted as I scrolled through the now viral article, hundreds of comments came in by the second. Fuck! All I thought about in that moment was Giselle."This is bad. This is really bad." I hyperventilated while Evelyn stood in front of me, her arms crossed while s
HAZEL.A million thoughts raced through my head. There was a brief pause between us and then I asked."Giselle? Why not Giselle?" Nicholas folded his arms. I felt so terrible imagining how she'd react once she found out about this. "Because we tried." Nicholas replied and for a moment, I was surpr
HAZEL."I want you to bear a child for me."My jaw dropped and the creaking silence that followed his words told me he was serious. Without any hesitation, I clutched my purse."That's ridiculous," He saw I was about to leave when he drew me back. I halted, my gaze dropping to him. His eyes were fi







