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Lydia

“No, I don’t want it anymore, I’m fine now,” Liam said, his words still sounding strained and forced. However, color was beginning to creep back into that once pale face, evidence that he was truly recovering.

“Just one more spoon,” I said, moving the spoon of soup to his lips. He turned his face to the side. Adjusting his back on the pillow ced against his frame. “You said that for thest spoon,” He grumbled.

We spent three days at the hospital. Liam was discharged today. I ced the spoon of soup back into the te. Staring at the te, which still looked untouched, I inhaled a scent of breath.

“I want you to get better,” I said.

“I am better, I don’t need soup.”

I read that soup was good for kids his age and helps them recover quickly.

“Mom, it’s fine,” Mnie, who has been watching us from the side, said. She took the te of soup from me. “I’ll eat the soup so it doesn’t go to waste. Liam and I are one, it doesn’t matter who eats it, he’ll be fine.”

“Yes, Mnie is right,” Liam said, shing a weak smile. A weight pressed down on my chest. If I could, I’d dly switch ces with my boy.

“Alright. I’ll leave you guys to enjoy it.” I said and stood. As I walked out of the room, I caught my reflection in

the mirror.

I walked back to the mirror and stood in front of it. My hair was scattered like a nest, dark circles sat under my eyes, and my skin looked dry.

I walked away from the room, closing the door behind me. For now, my looks don’t matter; what matters is

my son.

“Lydia, Mom called behind me, and I turned. She stood a few feet away from me. Covering the distance between us, her hands wrapped around me, and she pulled me into a hug. “You look tired, I can’t begin to imagine how much toil all of this is putting on you.” She said, tightening the hug. I melt into her arms.

She rubbed my back, soothing me.

“It will be fine.” She pulled away but entwined our hands and led me to the kitchen, “You should have something to eat too,” She said.

“No, I’m fine, Liam needs me,” I say, ready to leave.

“You’ve been with him all day; I doubt staying with him can hasten his recovery.” She said.

“I just care about him so much,” my heart shattered into a million pieces. I was trying to hold myself back from crying, but from the look of things, I was doing a terrible job at that.

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She ced one hand around my shoulder, “You are a mother and so am I… it breaks your heart to see your child in pain, you want him to heal fast and cook for him,” she paused, turning to face me fully.

Her hands slowly moved from my shoulders to my cheeks, “It’s the same for me. Seeing you in pain and this stressed out… words can’t describe how broken it makes me feel, and I want to take care of you too. So, allow me to make something for you.”

“You are my baby too,” She said.

In less than ten minutes, Mom brought out a te from the refrigerator and heated it up.

I settled on the kitchen ind, eating when the doorbell went off, “I’ll go get that.” Mom said and scurried

away.

I focused on my food, not allowing my mind to stray anywhere but my kids. They were more important to me than Victoria and her lies.

Mom returned shortly with Mason trailing behind her. I looked over his shoulder to find Zoe walking with a basket of fruit in her hand.

“Hey,” she greeted, cing the basket on the table.

“How have you been?” She asked in a calm voice, “I’ve been meaning to visit, but you’ve been busy, with the hospital and all,” She said.

I inhaled sharply, raising my head from the now–empty te. “Well,” I began, grabbing a napkin and wiping my lips with it slowly, “as you can see, it’s been a hassle,” I said.

I took hold of the bottle. I tried to uncap it, but I couldn’t. “Let me help you,” Mason said, taking the bottle from me, he uncapped it in one swift move.

Handing it over to me, I took slow sips before cing it on the table.

Zoe’s eyes were misty. “You know this is my fault, right?” She asked, her voice covered in a whimper.

“It’s not-”

“It isb. /bEven after five years, my crime still haunts you.”

I may have been so busy with Liam that I didn’t concentrate on the news or the inte for the days he stayed in the hospital. But I knew the news about me, Victoria, had started and was still active.

It was there in the lingering gazes and his hushed whispers in the hospital.

“It’s not your fault, Zoe.” I said, “I promise I don’t me you. This has absolutely nothing to do with you.” She sat on the stool next to me,

I held her hands, brushing my fingers on her palm softly. “Your mom did this all by herself. You can’t take the me for her mistake, I won’t let you.”

“She’s not my mom anymore.” Zoe dered in a cold voice. “I don’t have a mom.”

11:01 Wed, Sep b24 /bbd/b.

“What?b” /b

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“I severed ties with her.” Zoe said, closing her eyes, she exhaled, “I should have done that a long time ago.” She said almost in a whisper. “That is why I will no longer waste any more time. I don’t want to regret anything anymore.” A look of determination settled behind her sharp gaze.

I am in no position to tell her what to do in this regard, but I can’t stop thinking she had something up her sleeve. “What are you thinking?”

She pressed her lips into a firm line, and inhaled sharply, “I’lle clean. I’ll tell the truth. I killed him, you did nothing, all you did was try to protect me from that monster.”

“No.” I can’t allow her to do that. It will ruin her. “I can take care of this myself,” I assured her.

“But-” I shook my head, then looked at Mason, who was now standing by my side. I nudged him softly by his rib, “Say something.” I said when he didn’t speak.

A few seconds passed before he said, “I think Lydia is right.” His hand found my hair, and he smoothed it. “We can take care of this with you.”

Not we, I.

I don’t want Mason involved either, but I don’t say it. Not right now. I was too focused on his hand on my hair.

His hand in my hair, why did this feel wrong? Why did it-

Gasp!

My hand flew over my lips, “What’s wrong?b” /b

I ced my hand on my chest, looking from one pair of eyes to the other as I steadied myself.

I was too self–aware to even process anything. Mason was here, and I am looking all haggard. I’d have put in a little effort in trying to look good today.

“I am fine, I was just thinking of meeting Victoria.”

“You will do no such thing.” Mason dered. His outburst doesn’t surprise me. “Let’s juste clean, one statement is enough.” Mom and Zoe nodded their heads in agreement.

“That’s what she wants.” And I can’t give her that, “It’s better she figures a way to deal with this, after all, she started it.”

“No, you got it wrong, I know that woman. She knows you’d not want me to go public with the truth for fear of me getting hurt,” Zoe began.

“But I don’t care, if getting arrested and paying for my crime is all I have to do to make things right, then so be it.”

“You don’t know what that means. Prison? I will not allow that. That ce is hell.” With how Zoe was, she wouldn’tst two days there.

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“Please. Listen to me. Let me meet with her once. If she doesn’t budge, then I go with whatever you want.”

b*** /b

I walked through the door, my eyes searching for Victoria among those seated. Last night, I sent her a message requesting we meet. It wasn’t hard to get her to ept.

“You came early.” A familiar voice said behind me. I turned to see Julia standing a few feet away, with a smile stered on her face.

I squinted, looking past her, my eyes searching for Victoria. “She isn’ting.”

I seized Julia up and down, “and she sent you?”

“No, it was me who replied to your message.”

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