Chapter 7
1076 Words
Ariel’s pulse quickened as the weight of the moment pressed against her chest. She forced a shallow breath, her gaze never leaving Max, who stood in the doorway, his innocent face oblivious to the storm of emotions swirling inside her.
Ariel forced a smile on her face as she jacked her head towards Max.
Max, with his cherubic cheeks and wide eyes, was still too young to understand the weight of the conversation he had just walked in on. Ariel wanted to smile, to soften, but the bitter taste of the past lingered on her tongue, and she couldn’t escape it.
Her voice warm and comforting. "Max... how long have you been standing there?"
His gaze flitted to Anya, then back to her. "I just wanted to say goodnight," he mumbled, his tiny voice like a whisper.
Ariel’s heart squeezed. The innocence in his eyes, the sweetness of his voice, was a stark contrast to the haunted memories she carried. She swallowed hard, fighting to keep her composure as the smile on her face became more stiffened.
“Mama… are you fighting with Papa?” Max’s small voice trembled, laced with worry and sadness as he looked up at her.
Ariel froze, her heart clenching at the question. Max had always asked about his Papa, yearning for a connection she wasn’t ready to support.
She’d done everything she could to keep Luis out of Max’s life. Excuses, reports to school authorities, warnings—they’d all been her armor.
But Luis always found a way. Whether it was sneaking into Max’s school or showing up during recess, he’d managed to squeeze himself into Max’s life, much to Ariel's upsetting.
Max would come home, his face glowing with joy as he shared stories of playing with his Papa. Each tale felt like a knife, carving away at Ariel's resolve.
Taking a deep breath, Ariel knelt down to his level, her forced smile betraying the chaos inside.
“No, baby. Mama isn’t fighting with Papa. We’re just… having a little misunderstanding, that’s all.” She said softly, tucking a stray lock of his dark hair behind his ear.
Max’s wide, innocent eyes blinked up at her, filled with hope and curiosity. “When can I see Papa again?” He asked, trying to sound cheerful but unable to hide the longing in his voice.
Ariel swallowed hard, her slender hands cupping his chubby cheeks. “Soon, sweetie… soon.” She whispered, her smile strained, tinted with both worry and care.
Max smiled broadly at her, his young mind accepting the answer without suspicion. He was just a little boy… unaware of the complexities of life.
Ariel looked into his black wide eyes, so clean and clear that she could see herself in them.
“Baby, Mama will leave you to Aunty Anya for a while. I'm going on a business trip, and I won't take you along with me, because I will need to focus, but if you miss Mama…you can tell Aunty Anya to call Mama for you. I love you baby.”
Max kept quiet like a good and polite child that he is before he responded.
“Love you too, Mama.” Max said, as he nodded his head in understanding, his small hands wrapping around her neck in a hug that felt too pure, too innocent for the life she had led.
But inside, everything felt fractured, like shards of glass she couldn’t gather back together.
She held him close, she never wanted to leave Max, he's her last happiness, her daily reminder that she's not alone in this cold world.
Her breath was unsteady. She weeped in silence, tears flowed down her cheeks. She couldn’t let him see her falter, couldn’t let him feel the weight of the past pressing down on her. Not now.
But as she looked at him—so pure, so untainted by the darkness of the world—she couldn’t shake the feeling that the past wasn’t finished with her.
Luis wasn’t the only shadow that followed her. There were deeper scars, ones that hadn’t healed, ones that made her distrust the very idea of love, trust and safety.
Ariel’s heart ached as she watched him run off to his room.
_______
A week had passed in a blink of an eye. The knock on Ariel’s door that morning had been brisk and deliberate. When she opened it, she was greeted by two sharply dressed men in black with neutral expressions as their sunshades wouldn't allow anyone to read their expression.
“Mrs. Lucas” One of them said, his tone clipped but polite. “We’ve come to assist you with your move.” With their hands folded to the back. Like they wouldn't dare take a step without her consent.
She blinked in confusion, Mrs. Lucas? The name felt foreign, an identity she is still struggling to process.
Without protest, Ariel let them in, watching as they packed up her modest belongings. There wasn’t much to take—her life had never afforded her the luxury of excess.
Anya assisted them in loading the bags into the car. Her face was a mix of concern and reluctance as she handed Ariel a small lunch bag. “Something for the trip.” Anya said softly with a heartwarming smile on her face.
Ariel smiled, her gratitude mixed with sorrow. “Thank you…For everything.”
Anya pulled her into a tight embrace. “Be strong, Ariel. You’ve faced worse before. You’ll get through this too. I strongly believe.”
Ariel nodded against her shoulder, drawing strength from her friend's words. Then she turned to Max who was clutching his favorite toy truck. But his eyes were fixated on her mama.
Ariel knelt to his level “Be good for Aunty, alright? Mommy will be back soon.” Her voice was shaky, but she maintained her composure.
Max, too young to understand the gravity of the situation, nodded and hugged her tightly. “Okay, Mommy. I love you.”
“I love you too, baby.” Ariel pressed a kiss to his forehead, lingering for a moment before she pulled away.
With one last glance at her little boy, she climbed into the luxury black car. Anya and Max watched as the vehicle disappeared into thin air.
Ariel gaze was fixated on both of them as their figure became smaller as the vehicle pulled away. Her heart broke all over again.
- Writer
