Page 233 of From Rivals to I Do

I swallow the lump in my throat, trying to find the right words to ease his troubled mind. I kneel in front of him, my hand gently resting on his trembling shoulder. "No, Henry, it's not your fault. Maya needed some time for herself, but she loves us very much. We just have to be patient and wait for her."

His innocent eyes search mine for reassurance, and for a moment, I wish I could shield him from the pain of loss, from the haunting memories that threaten to consume me. But all I can offer is my presence, my love, and my unwavering commitment to keep our family together.

Henry's small frame trembles against me as he leans into me, his tears dampening my shirt. The ache in my chest intensifies as I recall the day Emily, my

late wife, left this world just after a bitter argument we’d had the night before. The weight of two lost loves hangs heavily on my conscience, each loss

fueling my doubts and self-blame.

Together, Henry and I sit in silence, our hearts heavy with grief. As evening falls, I muster the strength to make dinner, the familiar routine providing a

small semblance of normalcy amidst the chaos of our emotions. The sound of sizzling pans and the aroma of food fill the air, but there is a palpable

absence, a void that no amount of cooking can fill.

As we sit at the table, the clinking of utensils against plates echoes through the quiet room. We eat in somber silence, our thoughts consumed by the

absence of the woman who brought warmth and light into our lives. Henry's eyes dart every now and then to the empty chair where Maya would usually sit.

After dinner, Henry retreats to his room, his grief too immense to bear in the presence of his silent father. I watch him disappear behind his bedroom door,

a lump forming in my throat. I want to be his pillar of strength, the rock upon which he can lean, but how can I fulfill that role when I question my own

ability to protect those I love?

Alone in the quiet house, the memories of loss resurface with a vengeance. I close my eyes and find myself back in that fateful moment with Emily, our

voices raised in anger, words spoken in haste. The pain of regret washes over me once again, the weight of guilt a burden I've carried for far too long.

Maybe the accident would never have happened if we didn't have that fight, I tell myself.

And now, the haunting echoes of that past pain intertwines with the void left by Maya's absence. Doubt seeps into every crevice of my being, whispering

cruel accusations of my responsibility for both losses, that I have failed once again. But I push those thoughts away, reminding myself that I can't let the

darkness consume me.

I retire to my bedroom, the silence of a suffocating companion. I lie in bed, staring at the ceiling, my thoughts a whirlwind of grief and longing. But amidst

the turmoil, I cling to the flickering flame of hope. I find solace in the memories of Maya's laughter, the warmth of her presence, and the love we shared. I

pray silently, desperate for strength, for guidance, for a glimmer of hope in the face of the darkness that threatens to swallow me whole.

I pray that she'll find the peace and clarity she seeks and that our paths will converge once more.

The night stretches on, its dark embrace cocooning me in a mix of longing and despair. The hollowness of the empty bed beside me mirrors the ache

within my soul. Tomorrow will bring its own challenges, its own uncertainties, but I am determined to face them with resilience. For the sake of Henry, for

the sake of Maya, and for my own fractured heart, I will hold on to the glimmer of hope that refuses to fade. As sleep finally claims me, my dreams

become a kaleidoscope of memories and what-ifs, dancing on the fringes of consciousness.

Chapter fifteen

Chapter Eighteen

It has been exactly one week since I made the difficult decision to leave Jackson's home and seek solace at Maria's place. I made up my mind to bury the

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