LOGINLENA
The guesthouse felt too small that morning. Every wall seemed to hum with the memory of last night, of Roman’s kiss, of the way I had melted into him even though I swore I wouldn’t. Sleep had been impossible. My body was restless, my mind on fire, and the bracelet he gave me was a constant reminder with its delicate weight against my wrist.
I tried distracting myself. I made tea, straightened the couch pillows, even reorganized the tiny kitchen cabinet. Nothing worked. Every nerve in me buzzed, waiting for him, dreading him, wanting him all at once.
So when the knock came, sharp and insistent, I knew it was him before I even opened the door.
Roman stood there, looking unfairly good for so early in the day. A crisp white shirt hugged his shoulders, the top buttons undone, and his hair looked freshly damp, like he’d just stepped out of the shower. His eyes locked on me instantly, sweeping down my frame before meeting mine again, heate
LENAThe sun was already high when I led Isabella out to the pool.The twins were finally asleep after refusing their morning nap for almost an hour. I had watched their chests rise and fall, waited until their breathing turned deep and steady, and only then allowed myself to move away from them. Isabella, on the other hand, had been wide awake since dawn, pacing around the villa in her swimsuit like a restless fish trapped on land.“I don’t want to sleep,” she said for the third time, tugging at my hand. “I want to swim.”So here we were.The pool behind the house shimmered under the sunlight, its surface calm and inviting. It was quiet here, too quiet sometimes, but I welcomed it. Silence was easier than questions. Easier than explaining things I barely understood myself.I helped Isabella put on her floaties, tightening the straps carefully. She stood patiently, watching me with those eyes that were far too observant for a child her age.“You look sad,” she said suddenly.I paused,
ROMANI never thought I would be standing in front of Ava’s house like this.No guards. No driver. No authority backing me up except my own desperation.The porch light was on, casting a harsh yellow glow that made everything feel exposed. I raised my hand and knocked, harder than I meant to. My chest felt tight, like if I didn’t get answers soon, something inside me would collapse for good.The door opened.Ava stood there with her arms crossed, her expression already telling me I wasn’t welcome.“Where is she?” I asked immediately. I didn’t bother with greetings. I didn’t have the strength for small talk.Ava looked at me for a long second, her eyes cold. “I don’t know.”I laughed softly, bitterly. “Don’t lie to me.”Her jaw tightened. “I’m not lying.”“You are,” I said. “You’ve always been bad at it.”She stepped aside but didn’t invite me in. “Even if I did know, why would I tell you?”I swallowed. “Because Lena is my wife. And those are my children.”Ava’s lips curved into a humo
LENAThe house slowly grew quiet after the movie ended.One by one, the children drifted off to sleep right there in the living room. Benjamin was sprawled half on a cushion, half on the rug, his mouth slightly open. Nataniel had curled against his brother’s side like it was the most natural place in the world. Isabella lay on the couch, hugging her teddy bear to her chest, her lashes resting softly against her cheeks.I stood there for a long moment, just watching them.Safe. Calm. Unaware of how fragile everything felt to me.I reached for a blanket and carefully covered them, moving slowly so I wouldn’t wake them. When I straightened, I noticed the empty pizza boxes, the scattered napkins, the half-finished cups of juice.Life, in its messiest and most honest form.“I’ll help,” Billy said quietly behind me.I turned to see him already picking up the boxes, stacking them neatly. We worked side by side without talking, cleaning up the remains of dinner. It felt oddly domestic, like s
LENABy evening, my phone felt heavier than usual.I hadn’t turned it off. I didn’t have the courage to do that yet. Instead, I left it face down on the kitchen counter while I washed vegetables, pretending the vibration against the marble didn’t mean anything. But I knew better.Missed calls. Too many to count.And messages.From Roman.I didn’t open them. Not because I didn’t care, but because I cared too much. Reading them would pull me back into a storm I was barely surviving. Right now, I needed quiet. I needed to focus on the small, simple things—like cutting carrots evenly, like making sure the twins didn’t wander too close to the pool, like listening to Isabella hum softly while drawing at the dining table.I was just about to turn off the stove when a knock echoed through the villa.I froze for half a second.Before I could even dry my hands, Isabella was already on her feet. “I’ll get it, Mommy!”I turned around quickly. “Sweetheart, wait—”But she was already running toward
LENABy the third morning in the villa, reality finally settled in.There was no knock on the door. No familiar footsteps in the hallway. No one else to take over when the kids woke up crying, hungry, or fighting over something small and ridiculous. It was just me.Me and three little lives that depended on me entirely.I woke before the sun, my body trained by years of routine, even though everything else in my life had fallen apart. Benjamin was the first to stir, his soft whimper cutting through the quiet. I reached for him automatically, pulling him close, murmuring reassurances until his breathing slowed again. Nataniel rolled over in his sleep, one arm flung over his brother’s back. Isabella was still asleep in the next room, clutching her teddy bear tightly against her chest.I watched them for a long time.This was my responsibility now. Not shared. Not divided. Not supported by anyone else.And strangely… it didn’t scare me as much as I thought it would.The fear had already
LENAI didn’t answer Billy right away.Agreeing to follow him felt like stepping into something I didn’t fully understand yet. But continuing to drive with no direction, with three tired children in the car and my heart still shaking, felt far more dangerous. I needed a place to stop. Not to decide anything. Just to stop.“Okay,” I finally said. “I’ll follow you.”Billy nodded, relief flickering across his face. He walked back to his car, and moments later, the engine started. I waited until he pulled out before starting mine, following his car from behind.The road stretched forward quietly. There were no honking cars, no impatient drivers, no noise. Just the hum of engines and the steady rhythm of tires against asphalt. Billy drove at a careful pace, slow enough that I wouldn’t struggle to keep up.I kept my eyes fixed on the back of his car, afraid that if I looked away for even a second, I’d lose him.Isabella leaned forward between the seats. “Mommy, where are we going?”“Just so







