Chapter 11: Famanger
668 Words
Alice couldn’t breathe.
Not properly.
Not with him standing right there.
Four years.
Four years of distance, growth, and healing.
And yet, one look at him—
And everything came rushing back as it had never left.
Edwin Gulter.
He looked the same.
Maybe sharper, more refined.
But still him.
Still, the man who had walked away without looking back.
“A-are you okay?” she asked, her voice softer than she intended, her eyes quickly shifting to her son.
“I’m fine, Mom,” he said, brushing himself off as if nothing had happened.
Mom.
The word settled in the air,
Edwin’s gaze flickered briefly.
From the child.
Back to her.
Mom?
Something about it registered.
Not fully.
But enough to linger.
“My apology, sir,” Alice said immediately, accompanied by a faint smile.
“His mind was not on his surroundings”.
It’s fine,” Edwin replied.
His tone was calm.
Neutral.
Unfamiliar.
That was what hit her the most.
There was no recognition in his eyes.
No shift.
No memory.
Nothing.
Alice swallowed, something tightening in her chest despite everything she had told herself over the years.
You’re not waiting for him anymore.
You’ve moved on.
So why did this feel like she hadn’t?
“Say sorry,” she said gently, placing a hand on her son’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry, sir,” he said politely.
Edwin nodded once.
But his attention,
Didn’t stay with the child.
It stayed on her.
There was something about her.
Something just beneath the surface, not different.
Yet Familiar.
But he couldn’t place a hand on it.
“Have we met?” he asked suddenly.
The question hit harder than it should have.
Alice’s breath caught for a second.
She didn’t know what to say.
Uhm Yes,
No!
Too many times in her mind.
“I…” she started, then paused, composure slipping just slightly.
“I don’t think so.” She said firmly.
The lie sat between them.
Heavy, Uncomfortable.
But necessary.
Because what was she supposed to say?
You changed my life.
You don’t remember it.
Edwin studied her for a moment longer.
His eyes narrowed just slightly.
“Strange,” he murmured.
Alice forced a small, polite smile.
“Maybe I just have one of those faces.”
A weak joke.
But it was all she had.
“Mom, can we go?” her son asked, twitching her hand softly
Alice assented. “Yes… Yes, my love, sure we can.”
Totally ignoring the urge to stare at Edwin for the second time.
She doubted her restraint ability.
“Enjoy the rest of your day”, she said in a sotto voce.
Then she turned.
And walked away.
Each step felt like walking on thick mud, but she didn’t stop, didn’t look back.
She couldn’t.
In her wake, Edwin was transfixed
Something wasn’t right.
He didn’t know what it was.
Couldn’t comprehend.
But the moment she walked away—
It lingered.
The way she looked at him.
The way her voice had almost faltered.
And the child.
His jaw tightened slightly.
“Sir?”
Andrew’s voice broke through his thoughts as he approached.
“Your meeting—”
“Reschedule it,” Edwin said suddenly.
Andrew blinked.
“Again?”
Edwin didn’t respond.
Edwin’s gaze is locked in the direction she vanished into
“Find out who she is.”
Andrew paused.
“…who?” he asked carefully.
Edwin’s gaze didn’t shift.
“The woman.”
A beat.
“And the child.”
Across the street, Alice’s steps slowed.
Her heart hadn’t. It raced loudly.
Unsteady.
She gripped her son’s hand a little tighter than usual.
“Mom?”
“I’m okay,” she said quickly, though her voice wasn’t as steady as she wanted it to be.
But she wasn’t okay.
Because of the past she had tried to leave behind.
Had just walked back into her life.
And this time—
It wasn’t going to be easy to walk away again.
- Writer
