All Chapters of With All My Love: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

The trailer was cold, but not a single speck of dust remained. I had spent three weeks scrubbing, rearranging, and throwing away the remnants of a life I no longer wanted to remember. Every corner, every surface, every shadow had been meticulously cleansed, stripped bare of the grime and sorrow that had accumulated over years. The air, though no longer thick with the scent of stale beer and desperation, still held a faint, lingering chill, a persistent reminder of the emptiness that had once permeated these four walls. I had believed that with enough bleach and enough effort, I could erase the past, sanitize the memories, and finally, truly, move on.The cracked floor still bore the ghosts of my past, the place where I had once broken. It was the exact spot where fists had rained down on me, a relentless assault that had left me bruised and battered, not just physically, but deep within my soul. The splintered wood, even after countless hours of scrubbing, seemed to whisper tales of a

By the time we got home, it was dark. All I could think about was sleep, but the letter burned in my mind. The kids scattered; Henry tugged off his shoes, and Carly talked a mile a minute. I made my way to the kitchen, trying to calm my nerves.“Hey, I got dinner!” Natasha called, walking through the door of our shared three-bedroom apartment.The apartment had been our dream from the moment Henry turned three. He needed his own space, his own little world, and we’d worked tirelessly to save enough to upgrade from the tiny two-bedroom we’d shared for the first two years of his life. It wasn’t fancy, but it was ours, and it felt like home.“Did you hear me? I got pizza!” Natasha said again, her voice rising with mock impatience.“Oh, thanks,” I replied, stepping out of the kitchen. The letter was still in my hand.“What’s that?” she asked, her eyes narrowing as she spotted it.“I got a letter,” I said, my voice hesitant.“Yeah, I can see that. What’s it about?” she pressed, her tone cu

Present ~ AnnabelleThe town hadn’t changed much in six years. As I drove down familiar streets, I gripped the steering wheel too tightly, anticipation mingling with a sense of dread. Natasha sat beside me, watching the scenery and my face for any sign that coming back was a mistake. In the back seat, Henry slept soundly. I wondered if he would ever have to confront the same shadows I left behind.The ice cream shop still featured its pink-and-purple colors, with the striped awning swaying in the breeze. The high school looked the same, with its red brick and big windows. Even the roads had the same cracks, scars etched into the pavement. But not everything stayed the same. A glass building where the old hardware store used to be looked out of place.I tried to focus on the road, but I could feel Natasha watching me. “You gonna tell me what’s going on in that head of yours, or do I have to guess?” she asked.I exhaled. “I’m fine.”She snorted. “Right. Because you look so fine right n

The last time I remembered, Pittstown only had about two motels, so when I searched for housing, one immediately caught my eye. Years ago, it had been a rundown place. But after driving around for what felt like forever, I finally spotted the newly revamped building. At the entrance to the three-bedroom apartment, a woman stood waiting, twirling a set of keys. Her vibrant purple hair stood out, and her name tag read Isha.I clutched my printed confirmation and stepped forward. “Hi, Isha,” I said, my voice slightly hoarse from the long drive. “I booked the three-bedroom apartment for a month.”She nodded. “Yep, you’re all set.” She handed me the keys and pointed down the corridor. “It’s the floor unit. Fresh renovations, great view. You’ll love it.”Just then, Natasha walked over, balancing a couple of bags and holding Henry’s tiny hand.Isha smiled warmly. “Well, you all enjoyed your stay. And welcome to Pittstown.” She climbed into a small Subaru and drove away, leaving us standing i

2002 Past ~ Age: 12~December 23rdJesse and his family had left for the holidays, leaving Annabelle utterly alone. The trailler was quiet, except for the cool air that seemed to sweep through in unpredictable waves of cold and slight warmth.She didn't know where her mother was. She didn't know where her father was. But she did know they weren't coming back tonight, or even in a couple of days.The hunger was too much. She hadn't eaten all day. The house was desolate: no food, no heat, and nothing alive, just the smell of dust and an empty fridge that hadn't held much in months. She needed to eat. But she had no money, nowhere to go, and no one she could trust without practically begging.But she did know where she might find food: Betty’s Diner.It was four miles away.The walk was grueling. The cold air stung her exposed skin like a thousand tiny needles, numbing her fingers and making her teeth chatter uncontrollably. Her breath hung in the air, crystallizing with each exhalation.