Seventy Four

CHAPTER 74

Cassandra sat on the sofa in Jessica’s apartment, her body sinking into the plush cushions that felt warmer than the snowy cold outside. On the table, a cup of steaming tea sat untouched, her hands not reaching for it. Jessica busied herself at her desk drawer, searching for something seemingly important. Cassandra merely watched her friend’s movements with a vacant gaze.

“Cass,” Jessica called out, pulling a small box from the drawer. Her face was serious, far different from usual. She brought the box over and placed it on the table, directly in front of Cassandra. “I need you to open this.”

Cassandra frowned, puzzled by Jessica’s intent. Yet, Jessica’s impatient gesture compelled Cassandra to take the box. Carefully, she lifted the lid. What she saw inside left her speechless. Inside the box were two small bottles—one containing prenatal vitamins, the other holding a medication she recognized all too well.

“What is this, Jess?” Cassandra asked, her voice almost a whisper, laced with a hint of fear.

Jessica sat beside her, her eyes locking directly onto Cassandra’s. “This is your choice, Cass. If you want to continue down this path—a path of revenge—you have to decide. This medication will end your pregnancy. But if you want to end all of this and try to build a new life, the vitamins are your first step toward protecting yourself and that baby.”

Jessica’s words struck Cassandra like a heavy blow. Her throat tightened, and tears began to well up in her eyes. Shaking her head, she struggled to comprehend the situation, which had suddenly become far more complicated than she could have imagined. “Why are you doing this? Why are you making me choose?”

Jessica took Cassandra’s trembling hands in hers. “Because you can’t keep standing at this crossroads forever, Cass. Your life is full of indecision. I know you want to uncover the truth about your parents; I know you want revenge. But… I also know there’s a part of you that wants to protect the small life inside you. I can’t watch you be torn apart like this anymore.”

Cassandra stared at the small bottles in front of her, her vision blurred by tears she couldn’t hold back. “I don’t know, Jess. I don’t know what to do. How can I possibly choose?”

Jessica took a deep breath, trying to calm the emotions rising within herself. “This isn’t an easy choice, Cass. But you need to start asking yourself—what do you really want? What’s your goal? If you choose revenge, you have to accept the consequences. But if you choose life, you need to end this cycle of vengeance and start healing yourself.”

Jessica’s words hung in the air, like an invisible weight pressing Cassandra deeper into her indecision. She closed her eyes, trying to find answers in the sudden darkness enveloping her mind. Yet, her thoughts kept circling back to Alexander’s face, the care he had shown, and his promise to always support her. Her mind also drifted to the past, to her parents’ faces, and the dreams they had once held.

“Jessica… what if I choose wrong?” Cassandra whispered, her voice cracking.

“There’s no right or wrong choice here, Cass,” Jessica replied softly. “There’s only the choice that feels truest to your heart. Whatever you decide, I’ll still be here for you.”

Time seemed to stand still as Cassandra stared at the two bottles. Her hands trembled as she reached for one, but she hesitated mid-motion. Doubt surged through her again with overwhelming force.

Jessica let out a long sigh and stood. “I’ll give you some time to think. Drink the tea. I’ll be in the next room if you need me.”

Cassandra gave a small nod, unable to muster any words. Once Jessica left her alone, the room felt even quieter than before. Only the ticking of the clock could be heard, accompanying the despair that enveloped Cassandra.

She bowed her head, staring at the two bottles with a gaze filled with confusion and pain. “What should I do?” she whispered softly, as if hoping someone could give her the answer.

Thoughts of revenge, the loss of her parents, and the tiny life growing inside her all swirled together. Finally, the tears she had been holding back streamed down her cheeks. She felt trapped in an endless internal war.

In the next room, Jessica stood near the door, listening to the faint sound of Cassandra’s sobs. Her heart felt heavy, but she knew Cassandra needed to face this alone. As a friend, Jessica could only support her, but the final decision lay in Cassandra’s hands. “God, please give her strength,” she whispered softly, closing her eyes for a moment.

When Jessica returned to the living room some time later, Cassandra was still sitting there, holding one of the bottles in her hands. Her face was wet with tears, but a newfound determination shone in her eyes.

“I’ve made my decision,” Cassandra said in a hoarse voice. Jessica looked at her with a mix of relief and apprehension, waiting to hear what Cassandra would say next.

However, Cassandra didn’t immediately explain her choice. She gripped the bottle tightly, as if drawing strength from it. “I need a reason to live, Jess,” she whispered. “If I choose revenge, I’m afraid I’ll lose myself completely. But if I choose life, I’m afraid I’ll forget them—my parents.”

Jessica sat back down beside Cassandra, taking her trembling hand. “You’ll never forget them, Cass. No matter what happens, your memories of them will always stay with you. Revenge won’t bring them back. But life… maybe that’s how you honor them. By living better, by proving you can rise above this pain.”

Cassandra fell silent, pondering Jessica’s words. She knew there was truth in them, but it didn’t make the decision any easier. “I just want everything to end,” she finally said. “I want peace, but I don’t know how to find it.”

Jessica took a deep breath, trying to keep her own emotions in check. “Peace won’t come from these bottles, Cass. It comes from within you. But choosing life is the first step toward finding it. You’re strong, stronger than you think. You just need to believe in yourself.”

Time passed slowly as Cassandra continued to stare at the bottle in her hand. In her mind, flashes of the past and glimpses of the future danced. She saw her parents’ faces, their loving smiles. She saw Alexander, with his caring gaze and unwavering support. She saw herself standing at a crossroads, with two equally difficult paths before her.

“I…” Her voice cracked, but she took a deep breath and tried again. “I’ll choose life, Jess.”

Jessica smiled, tears streaming down her cheeks. She pulled Cassandra into a tight embrace, letting their emotions pour out. “You made the right choice, Cass. I knew you could do this.”

Cassandra closed her eyes, letting herself feel the relief slowly creeping in. But she knew this journey was far from over. This decision was only the first step in a long road toward healing and rediscovery.

****

That night, as Cassandra lay in bed in Jessica’s apartment, her mind continued to churn. But for the first time in a long while, she felt a little lighter. She knew that what she had chosen wasn’t the end of everything but the beginning of something new. With her hand resting on her abdomen, she promised herself she would continue this journey with courage and strength.

In the living room, Jessica packed away the box she had given Cassandra earlier. She felt relieved but also knew Cassandra still had many challenges ahead. With a heart full of hope, she prayed that her friend would find the peace she had been seeking for so long.

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the apartment windows, bringing new hope to Cassandra and Jessica. They knew that today marked the start of a new chapter in their lives, and they were ready to face whatever came next.