Once I Was Lost Novels & Stories

It reminded her of her mother. The aventurine crystal, with its enchanting beauty, became her steadfast companion in moments of uncertainty, a source of solace and strength. Solace and strength were what she desperately needed at that moment as she continued to stare at the ominous letter like staring at it would make it disappear along with all her problems. The warmth she'd felt was short-lived. A text message from her stepfather made her pick up her phone. "I'm back," it said. Her entire universe collapsed. Her palms began to perspire, and she felt her heart almost drop into her stomach.

CHAPTER 4 OLIVIA'S POV Another loud horn blared from across the street. I was already at the window, pulling the curtains aside to check if the delivery man had arrived. I wasn't just excited because my son wanted it; I was more excited to get it back after I lost it five years ago in that hotel room that ruined my life that night.

No upgrade for loss. What I have now is a life trapped behind my eyelids, even when they’re open. My world is texture and sound, yes, but it’s also suspicion and paranoia. It’s soft footsteps I can’t trace. Whispers I can’t locate. A knife slicing into the meat of my trust every time I try to believe someone’s voice is genuine. And I trusted them… once. I trusted the ones who I called family. My parent.

He tore the world apart looking for me. When three days of searching turned up nothing, Grayson went straight to Vidar, demanding to know where I was. But Vidar and I hadn't contacted each other ever since I'd been discharged from the hospital that day. He had no idea where I'd gone. He couldn't reach me through the mind-link, and my phone was turned off. Around that time, Grayson learned from Vidar that while my injuries weren't life-threatening, I'd lost the pup because of the incident.

Literally and physically, and I can't risk that especially after how much time and energy I put in rebranding the new me. All the gym and therapy sessions, all the nights of being awake and weeping as the truth looked me in the eye. Nobody wanted me. Not my father who gave me off to a man who hated my guts, or said man who didn’t even want to look at my face, or any member of his household who either maltreated me or ignored me. And I worked every hour of every day so I never had to feel that way again. “I can’t risk it,” I tell him, “your family is filled with the most horrib—”

My vision started to fade as I lay in a pool of my own blood. Carlo, with our baby gone, I no longer wanted you.

It harbored so many secrets that could never be revealed to another soul, and it also hid the unspeakable and tender feelings of my youth. In the last few years, whenever I couldn't decide between Antonio and Matteo, I would head over to the secret base to be by myself for a little while. However, Antonio and Matteo no longer loved me. They had found a new lover. Antonio had forgotten that he had created that starry sky for me—forgotten that he had promised to love me forever. It was fine. I took a deep breath as I picked up the trash bag and headed outside. I didn't need the stars anymore, just like how I didn't need Antonio and Matteo anymore.

) "Hey there now Where'd you go You left me here So unexpected You changed my life I hope you know 'Cause now I'm lost So unprotected In the blink of an eye I never got to say goodbye Like a shooting star Flying across the room So fast so far You were gone too soon You're a part of me And I'll never be the same here without you You were gone too soon."

And I was not going to lose. *****