The Day You Left Novels & Stories

The children's funeral was scheduled for the following week. For five days and nights, I sat silently in Nate and Cece's room, clutching their photos and refusing to cry or speak. I could almost feel their warmth lingering in the room, and I swore I could still hear them sweetly calling me Mommy. The memories felt so fresh… so real. My childhood friend, Luke Armstrong, rushed back from overseas, dropping a major business deal. The moment he walked in and saw my state, he embraced me tightly.

CELINE POV - THIS IS THE DAY, the opening day of the Heavenly hotel and restaurant. I can’t help but feel nervous, thinking that I will face more people and others are sure to influence people. I am not sure how I will deal with people later and how to talk to them.

He had no idea what to say, he was worried his words would come out wrong. “On that day, on that fucking day, you were mad at me. You fucking left me that day, you left me to be with my sister, you got my sister pregnant!” “No, no. I didn't leave you to be with her. It just happened, I was drunk and… “

I wished it was just a nightmare and I would suddenly wake up. Damien, his eyes devoid of any human emotion, pointed the gun straight at Dad. "Seven days," he said, his voice a cold rasp. "If you don't have the money, you'll be next." Without another word, Damien turned and disappeared through the metal door. His chilling threat still echoed even after he had gone. Seven days was too short a time. It felt like a death sentence, a countdown to a future that filled me with dread. We were trapped, caught in the web of a ruthless man who killed people with just a casual flick of his finger.

“Good morning.” "Serena," he started in a disappointed tone that had me bracing, "I can’t believe that you actually left.” “I thought I clearly stated it last night that I was going to leave.” “I didn’t think that you were actually gonna leave before I woke up! Sneaking in the dead of the night really? Just like that?” I settled at the bay window, watching treetops sway in the dawn. “You know why I left, Cameron. It was time.” “Or is it because Kaden was groping your ass like a trophy last night? You two have something going on?”

People walking, laughing, carrying groceries. The kind of ordinary life that felt very far away from where Sera was sitting. “What do you actually want from these sixty days?” Priya asked. “Honestly.” Sera thought about it. Really thought about it. “I want to leave knowing I tried,” she said at last. “I want to look back on this and know I didn’t just disappear. That I stood in that house and I was real and I was present and I didn’t let them make me feel like I never existed.”

He deliberately trailed off, sliding his hand down Kelly's arm to grab her wrist. I sniffled, but as I stared at that hand that had held mine countless times before, I suddenly found that I had no tears to cry. My voice was a lot calmer and steadier than I had expected when I said, "No need. We're no longer an item, so I wish you two all the best." With that, I turned to leave. The smile on Zachary's face froze momentarily, but then he let out a scoff. "What's with the tough and stubborn act? You'll definitely come crawling back to me within three days. Anyway, I guess I'll just have to enjoy myself with my new babe for today."

And today I learned engaged feels like Day 1 but warmer. Day 1 I cried. Day 204 I cried too. But different tears. Day 1 tears: scared. Day 204 tears: safe. We are not closing book. We are writing new chapter. With straight lights. And $22. And ring. And balcony. And forever.

“When I was four, Dad—” Pete rushed forward and covered his mouth, pulling him away. That is to say, he had known her since he was four. My own child had kept it from me for over a decade. I smiled. Because at that moment, my last attachment to this family vanished. I no longer wanted any of them. I left. Completely left. The first few months after leaving myself were unbearable. I numbed myself with alcohol and gambling, enduring day after day. Then I went to the hospital, and the diagnosis came back.

He pulled a quill, dipped it in ink, and scrawled beneath the last entry: **Day 49:** *She left. I let her. Tomorrow, I leave everything else behind to earn her back. Or die trying.*