Anastasia’s POV
The door closed softly behind Kilian, leaving a lingering tension in the room. His words still echoed in my mind, but I pushed them aside as I returned to the pile of documents on my desk. The complexities of the meeting we’d just had would have to wait; there was something much more important on my mind.
A light knock interrupted my thoughts, followed by the familiar voice of my assistant. “Ma’am, Jamie is here. He’s been asking to see you.”
Before I could respond, the door swung open, and there he was-my little boy, bursting into the room with more energy than I could ever muster after a long day of work.
“Mommy!” Jamie called out, his eyes wide with excitement. “I told nanny I wanted to see you!”
I looked up and couldn’t help but smile. His presence had a way of brightening even the most stressful days. “Come here, sweetheart,” I said, holding out my arms.
Jamie ran over, launching himself into my embrace. His small arms wrapped tightly around my neck, and I could feel the warmth of his affection wash over me.
“I missed you, Mommy,” he murmured against my shoulder.
“I missed you too, my love,” I replied, kissing the top of his head. I glanced up to see his nanny standing hesitantly by the door.
“He’s been very insistent,” she said with a faint smile, clearly relieved that Jamie had finally gotten what he wanted.
“Thank you for bringing him,” I said, nodding at her. “You can take a break now. I’ll be with him.”
The nanny nodded and slipped out of the room, leaving us alone. I pulled back slightly to look at Jamie, who was already starting to tell me about his day.
“Mommy, guess what? We had this really cool event at school, and I won a prize!” He pulled out the small trophy from his bag, holding it up with pride.
“Wow, Jamie, that’s amazing!” I said, taking the trophy from him and pretending to examine it closely. “You must have done really well.”
“I did! And I want to tell you all about it,” he said, his eyes shining with excitement.
I smiled, knowing that no work could ever be more important than this moment. “Why don’t you tell me everything? We can even go out for ice cream to celebrate. How does that sound?”
Jamie’s face lit up. “Yes! Ice cream, please!”
“Alright,” I said, standing up and holding out my hand for him to take. “Let’s go celebrate your big win.”
Jamie eagerly grabbed my hand, and we walked out of the office together. As we made our way to the elevator, he recounted every detail of his day-how he had participated in the games, the friends he’d played with, and how he felt when he won the trophy. His animated storytelling brought a smile to my face, and I felt a sense of pride in how much he had grown.
By the time we reached the lobby, Jamie was practically bouncing with excitement. The staff greeted him warmly, and he basked in their attention, showing off his trophy to anyone who would look.
Outside, the city was bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun. We strolled down the street hand in hand, Jamie’s laughter ringing in the air as he continued to talk about his day. Moments like these reminded me of how important it was to balance my work with time spent with my son. Despite the demands of my career, Jamie would always come first.
When we finally arrived at the ice cream parlor, Jamie’s eyes widened at the sight of all the flavors. He chose a double scoop of his favorite-chocolate and vanilla-and we sat down to enjoy our treats.
“Mommy, can we do this every time I win a prize?” Jamie asked between bites.
“Of course, sweetheart,” I said, smiling at his enthusiasm. “We’ll celebrate every victory, no matter how big or small.”
As we sat there, enjoying our ice cream and each other’s company, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of contentment. My life had its challenges, but moments like these made it all worthwhile. Jamie was growing up so quickly, and I was determined to savor every moment I had with him.
—–
As the cool morning breeze filtered through the open windows, I felt a sense of calm wash over me. The familiar sights and sounds of home brought a wave of nostalgia that I hadn’t realized I’d missed so much. Jamie’s cheerful voice echoed down the hallway, and I couldn’t help but smile at the sound.
“Mommy!” Jamie called out as he burst into the room, his little feet pattering against the wooden floor. “Guess what? Auntie Sophia is coming to visit us today!”
I chuckled softly, bending down to his level and pulling him into a hug. “Is that so, my love? Are you excited to see Auntie Sophie?”
Jamie nodded enthusiastically, his eyes shining with excitement. “She’s one of my bestest friends, Mommy! We’re gonna have so much fun!”
I ruffled his hair affectionately. “I’m sure you will. Auntie Sophia always knows how to make things fun.”
As we settled in for breakfast, I couldn’t help but marvel at how much Jamie had grown in the past few years. He was no longer the tiny baby I had cradled in my arms. Now, he was a bright, energetic boy with a smile that could light up the darkest of days.
We spent the morning together, sharing stories and laughing at Jamie’s endless supply of jokes. His laughter was infectious, and for a moment, the weight of the past few years felt a little lighter.
As the clock struck noon, the doorbell rang, signaling Sophia’s arrival. Jamie sprang up from his seat and dashed to the door, his excitement palpable. I followed him, smiling at the sight of my best friend as she walked through the door.
“Sophia!” Jamie exclaimed, wrapping his arms around her legs in a tight hug.
“Hey, Jamie! Look at you, getting bigger every day!” Sophia grinned, scooping him up into her arms. “How’s my favorite little guy doing?”
“I’m good! Mommy and I have been having so much fun!” Jamie beamed.
Sophia glanced over at me, a knowing smile on her face. “Sounds like you two have been busy. How are you holding up, Ana?”
I shrugged, offering a small smile. “We’re managing.”
Sophia nodded, her gaze softening looking at Jamie. “I’m glad I got transferred here. I’ve missed you so much .”
Jamie squirmed in her arms, his excitement bubbling over. “Auntie Sophia, are we going to play today? I want to show you my new toys!”
Sophia laughed, setting him down. “Of course, we’ll play later. But first, I need to catch up with your mommy.”
Jamie pouted slightly but nodded in understanding. “Okay… But you promised!”
Sophia winked at him. “I never break my promises.”
With that, Jamie dashed off to find his toys, leaving Sophia and me alone in the living room. We settled onto the couch, the comfortable silence between us speaking volumes.
“It feels like it’s been forever,” Sophia said softly, her eyes searching mine.
“It has,” I replied, my voice equally soft. “But you are here now.”
Sophia reached out, taking my hand in hers. “You’ve been through so much, Ana. I can’t even begin to imagine how hard it’s been.”
I looked down at our joined hands, the memories of the past five years flooding back. The accident, the coma, the long road to recovery-it had all been a blur, a painful chapter that I had tried to forget.
But some things couldn’t be forgotten. Not entirely.
“I never expected to survive that accident,” I admitted quietly. “It’s a miracle that I’m even here.”
Sophia’s grip tightened on my hand, her eyes filling with concern. “You’ve always been a fighter, Ana. Even when things seemed impossible, you never gave up.”
I shook my head, a wry smile tugging at my lips. “I didn’t have much of a choice, did I? I had to survive for Jamie’s sake. He needed me.”
“And he still does,” Sophia said firmly. “But don’t forget that you need to take care of yourself too. You’ve been carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders for so long. It’s okay to lean on others sometimes.”
I sighed, leaning back against the couch. “I know. It’s just… difficult. So much has happened, and I still don’t have all the answers. There are so many things I don’t understand.”
Sophia nodded, her expression thoughtful. “You don’t have to have all the answers right now. It’s okay to take things one step at a time.”
I smiled gratefully at her, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. Sophia had always been my rock, the one person I could count on when everything else seemed to be falling apart.
“Thank you, Sophia,” I said, my voice filled with sincerity. “For everything.”
Sophia smiled back, her eyes warm with affection. “What are best friends for? Besides, I’m not going anywhere. We’re in this together, for life.”
Our conversation was interrupted by Jamie, who came running back into the room, his arms full of toys. “Auntie Sophia, look! I brought my favorite ones to show you!”
Sophia laughed, patting the seat next to her. “Come here, Jamie. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
As Jamie eagerly began showing Sophia his toys, I watched them with a smile on my face. The past may have been filled with pain and loss, but moments like this-moments filled with love and laughter-reminded me of what really mattered.
And as I sat there, surrounded by the people I loved, I realized that coming back home had been the right decision. The road ahead was still uncertain, but for the first time in a long while, I felt like I could face it.
Flashback
The room was dark, the only sound was the steady beeping of the machines that surrounded me. I was floating in a sea of darkness, my mind foggy and disoriented. I tried to move, but my body felt heavy, as if it was weighed down by an invisible force.
Voices echoed around me, distant and indistinct. I couldn’t make out what they were saying, but there was an urgency in their tone that made my heart race.
Then, there was pain. A sharp, searing pain that shot through my entire body, pulling me out of the darkness and into the harsh reality of my situation.
I was in an accident.
The memories came flooding back, each one more vivid than the last. The screeching of tires, the blinding headlights, the sound of metal crunching as the car collided with something solid.
And then, nothing. Just darkness.