7. Unanswered Questions
1550 Words
In her private office at the hospital, a young woman took a moment to relax. She swiveled in her chair, her blonde hair cascading over her shoulders. The gentle sunbeams filtered through the window, casting a warm glow on her, and an air of elegance surrounded her.
Her eyes, previously closed, blinked open as she looked around her office. Her gaze lingered on the wall adorned with framed certificates and awards, evidence of her hard-earned achievements over the past five years. Among them, a framed picture caught her attention. It depicted her standing proudly with her twins, Aiden and Adeline, one on each side.
Sophia sighed as she gently brushed her hair away from her face, feeling the exhaustion seep into her bones. Glancing at her wristwatch, she noticed that the school's closing hours had come and gone, and the twins were likely already home. The weight of her demanding work schedule had left her with little time to spend with them this week.
A pang of guilt tugged at her heart as she thought about how much she had missed.
The hum of the hospital outside the office seemed to fade into the background as Sophia turned her attention to the task at hand which she had to finish in two hours.
Her concentration was soon interrupted by the faint sound of Adeline's giggles echoing down the corridor. Before she could react, the office door burst open, and in rushed Adeline. Aiden, ever the responsible brother, followed closely behind.
"Mommy!" Adeline exclaimed, her face lighted up with excitement. Sophia's weariness faded away completely as she watched them step in together, she crouched to the floor as she saw her daughter rushing up to embrace her.
"How was school today?" Sophia asked, she closed her eyes and took in Adeline's lingering baby soap scent which made her relax.
"Adeline, remember we are in a hospital; Mommy often tells us "Hospitals are places where people need peace," Aiden said behind Adeline who was already wrapped in Sophia's hand. Just like Adeline, he wasn't with his school bag, but he had his lunch box held tightly in his hand.
"Fine fine. I'll keep it down next time" Sophia chuckled at Adeline's eye roll directed at Aiden who stood by the door like a grumpy five-year-old.
"Baby, come give Mommy a hug" she whispered. His eyebrows twitched.
"I'm not a baby, Mommy," he mumbled, but he didn't hesitate as he walked up to her and gave her a tight embrace. Sophia gently kissed their foreheads, closing her eyes, savoring the soothing feeling that washed over her as she inhaled the scent of their hair.
Adeline and Aiden possessed the same pale green eyes and dark hair, reminiscent of Alex, a name that had been forcefully etched into her mind throughout the years, no matter how desperately she had tried to forget. A bitter smile played on her lips as she stood up and then seated herself with Adeline on her lap. While Aiden chose to sit down on the couch in the office.
Adeline was a beacon of light and sunshine in their lives, she exuded warmth wherever she went, effortlessly making friends and brightening up any room with her bubbly personality. Her plump adorable cheeks were evidence of her love for food, especially indulging in treats like cakes and chocolates. Her signature look featured her hair styled in twin ponytails adorned with bows on each side.
Aiden on the other hand, was the yin to Adeline's yang. He possessed a more reserved and introverted nature, often observing from the sidelines rather than seeking the spotlight. While Adeline thrived in social settings, Aiden found solace in quiet contemplation.
Although they were identical in terms of their looks, their personalities held stark differences. Adeline's outgoing nature complemented Aiden's thoughtful introspection.
No matter how hard she tried, Sophia's mind would always drift back to five years ago, when she had almost lost them during childbirth. The memory of that experience haunted her. How would she live a life without these two bundles?
But as they say "Bygones are bygones." she reminded herself. She had both of them with her, fully healthy, what more could she ask for?
"Did Nanny bring you back from school?" Sophia inquired, her gaze shifting towards the door.
"No. Uncle Finn's school pick-up routine has been rock-solid for the past three to four weeks, and he's been thrilled about it! He made sure the nanny knew he was the official pick-up guy. He's always there on time even before our school's closing hours, just like yesterday, the day before, and even four days ago. But here's the best part – he never fails to bring along the most divine cakes. It's like a delicious tradition,"
Adeline exclaimed with infectious enthusiasm. Her left hand playfully patted her tummy, savoring the cake-filled delight, while her right hand gently massaged her forehead as she recounted the delightful moments.
Aiden responded to his sister's comment with an exaggerated eye roll. Sophia chuckled and continued, "Oh, come on, Aiden. Look at this!" She joined Adeline in gently patting her tummy and grinned, saying, "Her tummy says it all."
Simultaneously, a young man entered the office, carrying two bags and a lunch box.
"Hi, Sophia" he greeted warmly. His neatly swept blonde hair framed his handsome face, accentuating his defined jawline and a captivating smile that revealed charming dimples on both sides of his cheeks.
"Thank you for handling the pick-up duties, Finn. Work can be stressful, so you don't have to do it every time."
"It's something I genuinely enjoy, so no worries," he said, closing the door behind him and taking a seat beside the small guy on the couch, gently brushing his fingers on Aiden's head.
From the moment the twins were born, and even before their arrival, Finn had consistently been a pillar of emotional support in every facet of their lives. During those years, Sophia had never broached the subject of the pictures, and Finn hadn't considered it appropriate to bring it up either. After all, these past five years had seen Sophia at her happiest, and he didn't want to disrupt that.
With a smile and a nod, Sophia said to Aiden and Adeline, "Let's go wash your hands."
A while later, the three of them reentered the room, but Finn was nowhere to be seen. Adeline seized this opportunity to have a conversation with her mother. She exchanged a knowing glance with her brother, who simply shrugged and mouthed, "You're flying solo." before flopping onto the couch. His words insinuated that Adeline is responsible for initiating the conversation with their mother because he is not going to help her.
Adeline pouted, yet without hesitation, she voiced her thoughts, saying, "Mommy, earlier at school today, our teacher covered the topic of family dynamics, including the roles of a father and a mother." Sophia felt a quick flutter of anxiety at the mention of a father, briefly pausing, already foreseeing the direction this conversation would take.
Despite her conflicting emotions, she didn't fail to keep a smile on her face "And what else did your teacher say after that?"
Adeline continued, "Ms. Beatrice talked about the upcoming Student and Parents' Fun Fair next month. She said that every student must attend with their parents."
Sophia sat down on the office chair and picked up Adeline who was still speaking "Is that so? I came across a text message about it a few days ago" As she spoke, she carefully removed the ribbons from Adeline's hair
The Student and Parents' Fun Fair was an annual tradition organized by the twins' school, and Sophia had never missed it, no matter how busy she was. She reassured, "I'll plan and adjust my schedule to ensure I will be there."
"That's lovely, Mommy, but it's not what I was trying to say," Adeline pouted and found comfort by resting her head on the curve of her mother's neck.
Sophia inquired, "Well, what is it that you want to tell me, dear?"
Seeing that his sister was hesitant to bring up the topic, Aiden chimed in, "Mommy, what she's trying to say is, will we ever meet our daddy, and is it possible for him to be in attendance this time around? At least for this year?"
Sophia felt a familiar tension rise within her as they asked about their father once again. Each time the subject came up, it brought back a haunting sense of unease. From the very moment they started speaking, their first question had always been, 'Mommy, where is daddy?' and she had always responded with, 'Daddy is on a business trip.'
As Adeline and Aiden grew, their inquiries about their absent father evolved, but the uncertainty in Sophia's heart remained constant. She knew someday she would have to tell them that although they do have a father, he doesn't know about them and he probably doesn't care.
Sophia attempted to maintain an unaffected demeanor, but Aiden swiftly detected her momentary hesitation. Adeline, nestled in her arms, also picked up on her mother's racing heartbeat in response to the question.
After a solemn silence, Adeline finally spoke up with a quiet question, her voice tinged with sadness, "He won't be there, will he?"
- Writer
