where fates collide

it's terrifying, isn't it?
that even love isn't always enough.

(united we stand, divided we fall)

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I paced at the porch back at the household, when Grecia came through the huge door with a helpless sigh and shook her head. Concerned, I asked, "Any words from her?"

Grecia replied, "Nothing, my child. However, she reminded me that she would be at the hospital for an appointment with Dr Chen tomorrow and requested for me to help her with the preparations. "

I stayed silent for a moment before vocalising a painful thought, "Has she always gone alone to these appointments?"

The old lady dropped her head and expressed heartbreakingly, "Aillard would remind her and offer to go with her. I would also offer to visit the hospital with her, but Wren had always mentioned that she would go alone."

Not knowing what to say, except understanding how bitter disappointment must've weighed so heavily in her heart upon my sudden disappearance and without any knowledge of the child that she had excruciatingly carried in her in the past six months, I decided to leave for today and visit her again tomorrow. Just when I turned around, Grecia grabbed me by the arm and asked, "Sir, I think you should go to the hospital with her."

I smiled placing my hand over hers as I said, "I wasn't planning to let her visit the hospital alone, Grecia."

I woke up earlier today to dress myself up. Now that my body is a lot heavier, my movements feel more restricted and everything becomes more effortful. Thankfully, with Grecia's help, I managed to get downstairs and settle myself comfortably at the dining table to have my breakfast with the rest. Aillard took a bite of his bread and looked towards me again. I noticed that he had been staring at me for a while now. I took a sip of the warm milk before I finally asked, "What is it?"

"Are you heading to the hospital later?" he asked.

I nodded and pretended that I didn't know what the rest of the folks in the household were all concerned with. I knew that he was back, and I knew that he had been trying to meet me. I saw him pacing on the porch while Grecia tried to convince me to give him a chance to at least hear his side of the story. I simply couldn't. I had imagined almost all possible scenarios of how I would face him again but I couldn't bring myself to put down that bitter disappointment that ached within my chest.

I anticipated and feared his reappearance.

There was so much yearning deep down to be reunited with him again. I wanted to tell him that just like me, he was also freed from the golden cage that trapped him within. Yet, I couldn't accept that he had let go of my hand, thinking it would be the best for me after all that we had weathered through the years. He did it once for good, but the second time hurt my pride deeply. If I had forgiven him easily again, it would only show how simple it was to trample all over my sincere love.

No one dared to add a single comment to the morning conversation because they respected my decisions and feelings. Grecia quietly prepared all that was necessary and the chauffeur was already at the porch, waiting for me. I looked around and the familiar silhouette of him was absent on this very day. I looked towards Grecia and remembered that I had told her about my appointment. Was my intention not properly conveyed to him?

"Are you okay, darling?" Grecia asked, worried.

I swallowed the lump of bad-tasting emotions and replied, "I am. Don't worry too much, I'll be back soon."

The car arrived at the hospital shortly and I went right in to head to the lift so that I could get to the gynaecology department. The hormones must be messing with my mood again, because every digit up in the display of the lift, I felt the knot of sadness tightening in my chest. I didn't want to end up crying in Talia's office but I had to be realistic that something of such was definitely going to happen.

I was ready to bawl my eyes out until the control broke loose even before I could see Talia. The familiar silhouette that I was waiting the whole day was sitting on the benches outside Talia's consultation room. His eyes were fixed on the thick folder in his hands. From my memory, he was a fast reader. Yet, he took his time with each page as though trying to learn every word in the pages by heart.

He must've felt my presence when he turned and saw me. The first call of my name already left a huge impact on me.

"Wren?"

I must've been a horrible mess because he quickly placed the documents down and walked towards me. His hands cupped my cheeks as he used his thumbs to wipe away the tears from the corner of my eyes. I stared right into his grey eyes and he tenderly asked, "Why are you so upset?"

I felt so many confusing emotions at once — anger, love and sadness. This was the first time, I've met him after so many months and this was none of the scenarios I had imagined of our reunion. For a headstrong person like me, I felt so small right now and I wondered what was it about him that he could always disarm me this way. Ever since I finally learned of his name, I always wanted to try calling him by that. Again, this was nothing like all I had practised but I tried, "Alek."

His eyes went wide for a moment before he calmed down enough to respond, "I'm here, angel. I'm sorry, really sorry for everything."

He wrapped his arms around me and I could no longer hide all the bad emotions that I wasn't able to digest since he left. All the sadness, disappointment, anger, insecurity, longing and yearning overflowed itself as I wept in his embrace. I cried, "H-How could you leave me?"

Alek held me tighter but careful enough to not hurt me. He breathed into the crown of my head, "I'm terribly remorseful, my little songbird. I couldn't lose you, but I've spent every day torturing myself with the choice I made to leave you. I wanted to give you a better life but I ended up bringing pain and misery to you."

I was a huge mess, choking on my words with tears that clogged my throat and blabbering words I didn't mean at all, "I-I hate you so much."

Yet, Alek only cradled my head and allowed me to hear his beating heart as he blamed himself, "Yes, I know. I made a grave mistake this time."

He pampered me with his soft tenderness and I drowned at the knowledge that his love had not ceased a single bit when apart — our hearts grew fonder, even when pain tore through it.

Talia gave us a long moment before she directed us into the ultrasound room. She rested Wren down on the examination chair and applied gel to her abdomen. Talia caught my attention and pointed towards the monitor, "Look at him."

On the screen, I saw the silhouette of a baby moving and when I looked towards Wren, her excitement and joy were apparent. At this moment, I couldn't describe the feeling that was kept within me. Maybe it was guilt, at the knowledge that Wren had carried him all by herself all these while without me being by her side to support her. Maybe it was happiness when I knew that the woman I loved with the whole of my heart was happy to bear a child for me. Maybe it was love, as it manifested itself as a new life that would be brought to this world.

Wren looked towards me and said, "Won't you say hi to Caleb?"

I replied, "I wanted to say more than hi, angel."

An honest confession and she laughed, bright and melodious like windchimes against the gentle winds of spring, "You can talk to him when we go home later."

Home.

I didn't know that a simple word like this could feel warm. A little wary about my current predicament, I checked, "Can I go home too?"

Talia had to burst out a laugh to make me look even more pathetic at this point, while Wren did nothing but stare at me with wide eyes. She exhaled softly, "Where else would you go, Alek?"

I knew I was far from being forgiven, but being able to step into her place of residence was a good first step to begin with. Maybe Mallory was right from the beginning, this was a key to freedom and a chance to start anew (only if I don't screw it again).

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