LIAMI could feel her eyes on the nape of my neck as I walked back home. A pair of eyes prodded into my skin and made me alert and uncomfortable. Still, I didn’t turn. I thought she would swerve to the other side when we got to the junction, but she didn’t. Instead, she spun to the same path as me.At this point, I knew Loretta had been caught. There was no way she wasn’t stalking me. Why the hell was she following me around? What did she want from me?Shutting my eyes, I sighed and turned so that I could face her. She stopped in her tracks when she saw me, and her brows raised in a questioning manner. She wasn’t merely surprised—she wasn’t scared.“Did you forget something at the mart?” she asked, her expression laced with confusion and astonishment.I rolled my eyes and cleared my throat. What did she think she was doing? Trying to deceive me? She wanted me to believe she was truly concerned about me when she was stalking me? How dare she pretend in front of me?“Stop the pretense,
GENERALLiam got out of bed weakly, rubbing his eyes and yawning. It was the weekend, and there was no work, so he had all day to sleep, and he made sure to use it well. The only reason he was getting out of bed was because of his grumbling stomach. He had been reminded of food.He went straight to the bathroom, took a quick bath, and got into an oversized T-shirt and a pair of shorts.Walking into the kitchen, he strolled directly to the cabinet above and opened it. His eyes widened when he couldn’t find what he was searching for in the cabinet.“Gosh! I finished all the noodles last week,” he muttered, closing the cabinet weakly.At the same time, his stomach made another grumbling sound. This time, the hunger made his body tremble, but it stopped again.Dejectedly, he hissed and went to the refrigerator. If he couldn’t get noodles, he should be able to get some fruit to eat. He remembered keeping some fruit there a few weeks ago.To his shock, the refrigerator was empty and filled
VIOLETMy body trembled vigorously, even though it had already been hours since the incident happened. I held onto my children tightly, afraid that they could drown if I released my grip on them.Different thoughts serenaded my head. They weren’t pleasing. They sent chills of trepidation over my body. Different what if questions raised themselves in my brain.What if Stewart and the other swimmers weren’t there to save Nyla?What if Stewart and the other swimmers weren’t able to save her after doing everything?The hand of cold gripped me tightly, causing me to shut my eyes and throw my head backward. The children were still on my chest, and my arms were protectively around them.After two hours of driving, our car stopped, and the side door was opened a few seconds later. “Don’t worry. I will take them,” Stewart mumbled, scooping the children, who were fast asleep, into his arms, and we headed inside.He went straight into their bedroom and tucked them into their beds one after the o
GENERALEverything happened so fast that it was almost too late before they could comprehend what was going on. The little girl was throwing her hands up as she struggled with the violent wave and sea.“My baby! Nyla!” Violet cried out, her voice shaky and filled with fear. Her body trembled as though she were an epileptic patient. She wanted to dive forward, but Stewart held her back. He acted faster than she did.He dove into the sea and hurried toward the young girl. Before he could see where she was, her head was no longer visible.Violet’s vision blurred, and she felt a thick lump clog her chest, making breathing difficult and erratic.“My baby! Somebody save my baby! Please, save my baby!” she shouted, holding onto Nathan tightly as she staggered backward. Her knees weakened, and tears streamed from her eyes uncontrollably.Everyone at the beach moved closer and gathered at the scene. A few swimmers joined Stewart and began to search for the little girl.Everyone was tense. Ever
– GENERAL –The golden sun hovered low on the horizon, casting a warm, amber glow over the sea. The waves whispered against the shore, their rhythm steady and soothing, while the sky above was painted in soft streaks of orange, pink, and lavender. It was the kind of evening that made everything feel right.Violet stood barefoot at the edge of the ocean, the foamy water licking her toes as she laughed, watching Nathan and Nyla dart between the waves like little bolts of joy. Stewart, a few paces behind her, was crouched beside a growing sandcastle, his hands covered in damp sand and seashells as he pretended to be the royal architect of “Castle Nathan and Nyla.” He hadn’t finished building the castle as the children wanted.Violet couldn’t stop grinning as she watched how serious he seemed when it wasn’t even a real house.“Dad! The tide is coming! You have to finish the wall!” Nathan yelled, eyes wide with urgency. He waved at his father.“I need more shells for the towers!” Stewart r
VIOLET“Mummy! We are ready!” the children’s voices wafted into my ears from the living room. I could perceive the urgency and frustration in their voices, and that brought a smile to my lips. Checking myself in the vanity for the umpteenth time, I was eventually convinced that I was perfect.It was our first family outing. We’d planned to visit the beach. Ever since they heard Stewart speak about it, they wouldn’t stop talking about it. I was literally compelled to listen to their everyday plans about the beach. They’d asked their father to take them to the mall the previous day, and they got both what they needed and what they didn’t.They had been calling me to get out of my room for minutes now, and I could imagine how frustrated and eager they were.Stepping out of the room, I saw Nyla standing by the door. The moment our eyes met, she rested her hands on her hips and sighed. The posture made me raise one of my eyebrows. There was something wrong. When did my Nyla become this big