She trusted me that much? I never knew. She always treated me like I was some kind of weak and fragile disappointment.
How odd it felt to be complimented by Judy Luthel? I talked to her for a while about the company and all it’s recent developments.
She also wanted to know about several ongoing projects she was handling before the coma and I told her about it.
But, when she had asked me about Markian, I unconsciously gave her a weak smile and redirected her questions to something else.
I didn’t want her to worry about anything and I sure as hell didn’t feel like hearing her nag of how poorly I handled the issue.
For the first time in a very long time, my mom and I were finally having a conversation without me crying my eyes out, and it felt good.
After a while, the nurse came in and informed us that it’s time for my mother to rest. It would take another few days for her to fully recover and that was good news to me.
I plan to keep the issue about my on-the-verge-of collapse marriage away from her for as long as possible.
I kissed my mother goodbye and left the Luthel mansion as I headed home. Heather’s words kept ringing back in my ears and I felt depressed all over again.
She was right about a few things thought. I can’t just hurt people knowingly and come back with a simple ‘I’m sorry’, and expect things to be ok again.
And when she had said, ‘who knows what i would bring with me tomorrow that could utterly shatter Markian’s heart and peace of mind?’ I couldn’t help but agree with her too.
It seems in the end, Markian’s love and trust for me was the sacrifice I had to make for the well-being of everyone.
Eventually, that picture resurfaces and finds it’s way to Markian, would he ever forgive me? And even if he does, will he ever truly be ok living with the woman who might have ended the life of his ‘one true love’?
I couldn’t bear to go home yet, i was scared I’ll break down and might decide not to leave Markian.
So, I took a detour and found myself at the dog park were i usually go to do some thinking.
But, all the while I sat there on the bench, I couldn’t help looking over my shoulder every minute- feeling like I’m been watched by someone.
I guess that’s one habit that would stay with me, even though Carlos was now in jail. I was getting more and more nervous as it got pretty late and cold at the open park.
I looked at my watch and it was already past 7pm. I still had to pack some of my stuff at the mansion before Markian and Heather would arrive.
So, I hurriedly grabbed my purse from my laps as I stood up from the bench to leave. But something in the shadows caught my attention, making me wonder if I was truly being watched.
“Is… anyone there?” I asked nervously.
What if it’s a thug or a gunman? Oh my, when did the park become so unsafe?
I quickly turned around to escape, uncertain of whom or what was lurking in the shadows.
“Hey Sis…” a voice called out from the shadows, and I stopped instantly.
My heartbeat races thrice as much and I could feel my hands shivering from the expectations of turning around.
I immediately felt a ringing in my ear and I swear, for the next few seconds I could only hear loud echoes
Slowly but surely, I turned around to see the very familiar face that belonged to the very familiar voice.
“So… Sophia…?” I manage to call out to the person standing in front of me.
“Hello Livy… it’s been a while,” she said with a smile that made her slim lips look even slimmer.
I was finding it difficult to stand still as my legs were about to give up on me.
“So- tell me sis, what the fu’k have you been doing with my husband while I was gone?” she asked, shocking me to my core.
She looked different in more ways than one. Her once rich-black long and luscious hair had lost their length and texture, as they now looked dusty brown and in a bob.
She had faint marks- scar marks, running from one side of her face down to her neck. But her eyes and lips were that of Sophia’s.
I stared at her for almost 2 mins before she snapped me back to reality.
“Are you gonna keep staring at me like some dumb b’tch?”
That is Sophia, alright. Her potty-mouth haven’t lost its ability to leave a stink each time she speaks.
I walked closer and closer to her, careful of my steps as I involuntarily kept moving towards her.
I began seeing strange images and flashes, of a memory? They were brief, but I could tell what I was seeing.
I see Sophy- I seem to be pushing her off me or pulling at her, it isn’t clear enough. We were both standing in front of her red Tesla model s car, whose head lamps light were boring a hole in my eyes.
Were these flashes of a memory I can’t quite remember, flashes of the night Sophia had died?
Could this be another one of my guilt-dreams or was Sophia really standing right in front of me?
I finally got to where she was standing and I pulled her into a hug, just to feel her warmth and smell her hair. I needed solid evidence to be sure that this wasn’t one of my dreams or my subconscious playing tricks on me- and it wasn’t.
I was wide awake, and this person right in front of me was my real flesh and blood sister, who I thought had died 5months ago.
“Did you really miss me that fu’king much or are you just being a sh’tty crybaby?” she asked as I couldn’t hold back my tears.
“You have no idea how much. Thank you so much for being alive and well. Lately, living without you have been hell.” I confessed in all sincerity as she finally hugged me back, tightly.
We must have locked each other in an embrace for more than 3mins as it seemed I could stop crying. We eventually released each other and I could finally look at her face again.
If this is a dream, I do not want to wake up yet. I held her hand and felt her shiver slightly as the night breeze blew cold air across our faces.
I pulled her by the hand and led her to my car that was not very far from the dog park. We drove to a night diner few blocks from the park, and I ordered 2cups of hot chocolate and some French fries.
As I ordered, I stole glances at her to see if she would have any fond expression to my order- since hot chocolate and fries was kind of our thing when we were younger.
But she didn’t show any keen expression whatsoever- not even after our orders were served.
Could it be that she can’t remember our hot coco-fries moments?
“What the heck is this filth?” She asked to my surprise.
“It’s hot choco-fries, remember? We enjoyed having this when we were younger, and we would ask Claris to make it for us almost every evening. Don’t you remember?” I asked in surprised and confusion.
“Sorry, I can’t really remember anything about my past. It took me 2months to remember my husband’s name, and I only remembered yours 2 weeks ago.” She replied to my dismay.
“You mean you can only remember Markian and I?” I asked unnerved, and she nodded in affirmation.
“What exactly do you remember? How did you know where to find me? And if you remembered