Snowflakes and Second chances

FARMERS MARKET

I manage to shake off the terror coursing through me and snap out of my shock long enough to understand that with the way Sebastian was solely focused on connecting his fist with Jacob's face without pause, he'd be dead if I didn't try to do anything.

With shaky hands as I screamed for Sebastian to please stop, I manage to dial my brother's number and all but ramble out a brief explanation of what was happening as I cried.

“Sebastian please! You're going to kill him, it's not worth it!” I cry and not knowing what else to do before Julian got here, I throw all caution to the wind and grab at his arm just before he goes in for another hit.

Jacob, who hadn't expected any of this in the least and, had barely had any time to recover or try defending himself, lay on the cold floor, scattered with his bloodied beat up face as he groaned and twitched softly, and I sigh in relief that he was still alive.

As much as I'd be pleased if he didn't exist anymore, I didn't want Sebastian to be responsible for that, hell I didn't want anyone I cared about to have his filthy blood on their hands, hopefully he'd find his own way to death by himself soon.

Maybe it's my teary face or the fright in my eyes, but whatever it was, my actions work and Sebastian steps away from his victim taking in my face before grabbing me gently and pulling me close, and he reviewed me like a mother searching for bruises on her kid.

“That fucker put his hands on you Amelia, are you hurt? Look at me and tell me where it hurts, and I'll personally take out a tooth for every scratch on you.” I can't meet his eyes and as he tilts my face up, ensuring I wouldn't be able to look away and lie, I begin to cry.

Sebastian sighs pulling me into his arms, my whimpering, pity excuse of an ex-husband left by the side as I soak his soft sweater in my warm tears.

Julian's car pulls up a few seconds later breaking off our hug and I remain numb as I watch them talk for a bit away from me as I sat on the same doorsteps Jacob was just seating on a few minutes ago.

They call for a cab and haul his passed out ass inside, giving the initially reluctant driver his home address and a generous tip for the mess his blood would leave on the car seats.

My eyes drift down to my dress that Sebastian had unintentionally smeared with Jacob's blood on his hands and I immediately begin to feel sick.

When I say I'd like to be left alone, neither of them argue with me, and I'm genuinely grateful to them for being here and helping me deal with the Jacob dilemma at that moment.

We all knew we'd definitely be seeing him soon and probably his family or worse a police report against Sebastian, but we refuse to talk about it and I leave my brother and his friend in their deep conversation in seated in the living room going to lock myself in my room.

The chances of Julian telling Sebastian everything was skyrocketing, my brother might not be one to break a promise, but he wasn't one to lie to his best friend as well.

If there was a feeling that'd sum up shame, disgust, embarrassment and regrets all in one, that's what I could say I was feeling at the moment.

How I remained the only one blind to everything wrong with Jacob for so long would forever surprise me, there had never been a moment I felt more stupid than I had felt for every single time I remembered one thing or the other I had stomached in like a f*****g loser.

When dad gets home later, I refuse to come down for dinner, lying that I wasn't feeling too good, and he brings me a bowl of steaming chicken soup.

From our conversation, I can tell he wasn't made aware of what had happened earlier, and I'm grateful to both Sebastian and Julian for that. I make a mental note to talk to the both of them tomorrow, finish the soup that was just too tempting to ignore and then drift off to sleep.

I'm woken the next morning by Zoey bursting into my room with breakfast her mum had sent her to bring over and when she tries to ask about my gloomy mood, I pull out the period card lie and much to my relief, she buys it undoubtedly.

Breakfast is just the both of us as I had somehow overslept and dad hadn't woken me up, thinking I was probably ill after my lie last night.

He had left after telling Zoey to please check in and tell me not to come to the diner today and rest up instead.

It wasn't going to be fair to add my problems to everyone else's, I feared dad's health was deteriorating as I was beginning to take note of how he seemed weaker occasionally and couldn't get around the house by himself at times.

The potential outcome of laying out all my Jacob bullshit on him scared me, I was yet to get to the bottom of why he was taking some prescribed tiny white pills every day, imagine if he did get a hang of this and something happened to him? I'd never be able to live with myself…

Zoey suggests we go check out the farmers market that was having a sale today, all my protest falling on deaf ears as she all but forces me to freshen up and get dressed before literally dragging me into her car and driving off.

The place is parked when we arrive, the aroma of various dishes, fresh flowers, fruits and various scents all mixed is soothing in a way and soon, we're moving from stand to stand, tasting and buying whatever catches our interest.

Zoey stops to listen to the owner of a stand explain to the interested crowd gathered how to make a special family snack she was exhibiting, but I'm more interested in the cute wine stand set up just after hers.

I'm busy admiring the finger painting on the wood that looks like it was done by a kid, not noticing the smiling face in front of me until she giggles, and I'm pleasantly surprised to see Sophia staring back at me with a wide grin.

Realization hits me right after, and I feel my tummy begin to twist in nervousness because it was a sure that if she was here, then her father was definitely just around the corner somewhere, and now I'd have to face him about yesterday.