Page 108 of Broken Bonds

There’s hardly room for the both of us, but somehow, we managed. Her body is accommodated between my spread legs, her back on my chest, while she caresses my hands, which rest on her little bump.

“I’m sick of hospitals, I’ve reached my limit of them lately,” she murmurs. “To the extent I’m tempted to have a home birth.”

“In your dreams,” I respond. I’m not going to put either of them at risk. They are too precious for me to gamble with their lives. We will return to a hospital, whether my wife wants it or not.

“I’m more worried about you than me.” She turns her head over her shoulder, so our gazes meet. “There is no hospital for the wounds of the soul.”

I can’t lie to her, no way.

“I’m confused, I feel sad for him. For the life he could have had and will no longer be able to.”

I drop my head back, closing my eyes. Broderick’s face as he said goodbye keeps repeating in my mind.

What would have happened if my brother didn’t get sick, and I was the one who stayed in that place? Would I have been filled with similar hatred like he was? Would I have blamed him for stealing my chance?

“That’s normal, I think,” she replies. “They say twins have a very strong bond.”

My body tenses. “How come I never felt it? How could I live my life without remembering my twin brother was lost and needed my help? I should have come back for him.”

Stella moves in my arms, this time she looks straight into my eyes, taking me by the chin.

“Don’t do that, guilt will eat you alive,” she scolds me, her gaze full of determination, and love. “You were a child facing a new reality. It was normal for you to forget. Let him go, Lionel, and honor his memory by doing what he asked of you with his last breath. Live, live for him and for you.”

Live, because he thinks we deserve it.

What have I done to deserve this wonderful woman? I thank the force that moves the Universe for having put her in my path.

You chose well, Brother. I also tell him.

“And also live for this gift that’s coming.”

That makes me smile, genuinely this time.

“You are right, Hvezda, for you, for him, and for her as well.” My hands go back to her belly, searching for her soft warm skin.

“She?” Stella asks, her hands falling on mine.

“She,” I reply confidently. “Hannah.”

“Hannah?” This time our eyes meet, electricity sparks, love is here, weaving its strings around us. Getting closer and closer.

“Our gift,” I reply, remembering what I once read as a child in an old story. “Our gift from heaven.”

“Hannah Kral,” Stella replies before leaning in to kiss me on the lips. “I love it.”

Me too, me too.

???

“I’m not enjoying this surprise,” Stella complains as I help her down the rock path on the side of the mountain. We walked slowly and very carefully, as she has a blindfold on, which makes her even more impatient.

She and I have a lot in common, our perseverance, as well as our discipline. Love for nature and for a simple life. We were two lost souls, looking for each other in the dark, now that we’re together everything is light, we fly together. She makes me live fully.

Gone is the time of us living in fear and remorse, now we’re free. Free to love, to build our future together.

But something is still missing, and I plan to solve it.

“Don’t be impatient,” I say as we continue down the path.

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