Se connecterLydia POVThroughout that day at work, I was so destabilized and disappointed in myself, but I wasn’t doing much self sabotaging because I have learned to give myself grace for trying to do so much.But then, in as much as all my years of therapy sessions, it looked like none of it was paying off because why was I still unable to give myself that same grace?I started taking deep breaths.Slow ones.The kind my therapist taught me.And then I realized that I was actually handling this better than I thought.My anxiety wanted to deceive me into believing I didn’t know how to care for my kids.It kept whispering the same questions over and over again.Why did I allow him back into the kids’ lives?Why did I accept him back at all?Don’t I love myself enough?Why didn’t I choose Marcus over and over and over again?Then I caught myself.No.That wasn’t the truth.That was my anxiety talking.No.That was my overthinking.Actually, no.That was my imposter syndrome.I immediately correcte
Lydia POVI was in the middle of approving decorations for my room. My room was basically bland, in Anna’s words. She always said it lacked the excitement of a woman who had so much to live for.So she sent me a bunch of inspiration pictures. There was a polka-dot-themed room—wait, polka dots? I would definitely have a panic attack. Then there was a Barbie-themed one—hold up, I’m not sixteen anymore. There was also a pastel-themed room, which honestly wasn’t bad. Then I saw one I absolutely loved. It was an onion-pink-themed room, and I was obsessed with it.I was just about to reply to Anna’s message when I saw a text from Dave.Hold up.What does he want from me now?But the second I saw the word meeting in the message, I opened it immediately.“I’ll call you back, Anna,” I texted before opening the chat properly.Then I saw it.He wanted me to meet him the next day.I replied immediately.The rest of the day flew by, and before I knew it, it was the next morning.I got ready for wo
Dave POVI decided to message my lawyer that same night and told him to prepare Lydia’s and I divorce papers because that’s the best way to get Lydia to meet up with me and to also soften the blow I was about to deliver.The divorce papers arrived faster than they should have. Not legally faster. Not technically faster. Just emotionally faster than anything that significant usually is.My lawyer arrived in the hotel lobby looking like a man who had been personally offended by the concept of sleep. Which meant he had probably crossed at least two time zones and three levels of irritation to get here. I respected that. Loyalty like that is rare.I signed my portionAs I was about to sign it, it felt so weird.It felt like I was losing something very valuable and important.I was thinking of that night where Lydia and I were so chill, the way I found out about interest in PR and all.I was so lost in my thoughts that my lawyer said Mr Ashton?I raised my head up and signedHonestly, I ha
Dave POV By the time I got back to my hotel suite that night, the city lights had already taken over the skyline. Country Z looked different at night. Softer. Less intimidating. The glass towers reflected gold and silver across the river while traffic moved below in neat streams of light. I loosened my tie as I stepped inside. The shopping bags carrying Ava’s dresses and Eli’s shoes sat on the dining table. For a moment, I found myself smiling. Ava was going to love the constellation themed dress. And Eli was absolutely going to pretend he didn’t care about the shoes before secretly wearing them every chance he got. I already knew the routine. I was still thinking about that when my phone rang. The caller ID immediately made me straighten. Daniel. Acting CEO. Friend. One of the few people on Earth I trusted with my company. I picked up immediately. “Daniel.” “Dave.” His voice came through clear. “Tell me you’re finally sleeping like a normal human.” “I slept fou
Dave POVAs I drove away from Lydia’s house that evening, I should have gone straight back to the hotel.That would have been the logical thing to do.Go back.Answer emails.Review reports.Pretend I wasn’t still smiling because Eli had bankrupted me in Monopoly and called it capitalism.A normal evening.A productive evening.Instead, I found myself driving toward one of the luxury shopping districts.The twins had spent the entire afternoon talking.And somewhere between discussions about dinosaurs, rockets, butterflies, and scientifically responsible tanks, I had learned more about their preferences than I had in six years.Ava liked soft colors.She preferred practical things over flashy things.She hated uncomfortable fabrics.She loved stars.Books.Anything astronomy related.Eli cared surprisingly little about clothes but had very strong opinions about shoes.Apparently shoes needed to be useful.Durable.Capable of surviving adventures.Whatever that meant.So naturally, I f
Dave POVThe drive started awkwardly.Not hostile.Just awkward.The twins occupied the backseat while discussing something that apparently required my complete exclusion.“…because velociraptors were smarter.”“They were not smarter.”“They absolutely were.”“Tyrannosaurus was stronger.”“That’s not the same thing.”I attempted participation.“So—”Neither noticed.“Eli—”Nothing.“Ava—”Still nothing.Remarkable.I had been ignored.The conversation continued without interruption.Then an idea occurred to me.“Astronomers discovered a possible new dwarf planet candidate recently.”Silence.Instantly.Both heads snapped up.Ava leaned forward immediately.“Wait.”Eli sat upright.“What?”I smiled.Success.“Very recent observations.”“How recent?” Ava asked.“Last few months.”“Where?”“Outer solar system.”“Past Neptune?”“Far past Neptune.”Now both children were fully engaged.Questions came rapidly.Could humans visit it?How long would it take?Could there be life?Did it have m







