Chapter song: "World So Cold" by 12 Stones

What kind of world do we live? Where love is divided by hate. Losing control of our feeling. We're dreaming this life away.

"Where did you go?" Nancy asked. She barged through the front door. "Everyone's looking for you. Why did you leave the hospital without telling anyone?"

"I'm fine, Nancy," I said, giving her a hug. "I just wanted to some alone time. Some fresh air."

"Do you have any idea how worried I was?"

I managed a weak smile. "I'm sorry, but you don't have to be anymore. I'm old enough to take care of myself. I'm going to get some rest for a while now, okay?"

"Alright, dear," Nancy replied, running her hand along her forehead. "But you won't do that anymore. With the condition that you're in, I won't allow it. Your father wouldn't allow it."

"I know..."

I walked into my bedroom and closed the door. I exhaled deeply as I stood against the door, staring blankly at the ceiling.

What was going to happen now? Where could I go? Papa...tell me what to do.

My eyes scanned the room and stopped at the closet. I walked over and grabbed my suitcase on one side, then placed it on the bed. With only half of my sanity left, I threw all the clothes I could and stuffed them into the case.

I opened the drawer of my nightstand in search of the scrapbook. I reached out for it, but my hand stopped abruptly. They were such beautiful memories. Beautiful but now painful memories that lived in those pages.

Finally convincing myself to, I took a deep breath of courage and took it out. As I sat on the bed, I studied the light cover of the scrapbook.

Almost instantly, my eyes welled, and I began losing control all over again.  My hands trembled as they lightly traced over the square that held the first ultrasound picture of Baby Kale.

I hugged the book close into my chest, my knuckles turning white from how tight I was holding it. This pain I was feeling. This pain of loss. It was the worst kind of pain I have ever felt in my twenty-four years of life.

This was going to be the last time. I'm not going to cry anymore. I'm not going to give up and let my emotions take over. I'm not going to be the weak Ally I always was.

This was the last time.

After I finished packing, a knock came at my door followed by Nancy walking into the room.

"Henry's here," Nancy said.

"What is he doing here?" I asked her, even though I clearly knew Nancy would reveal my whereabouts.

"I'm sorry, Ally. I couldn't lie to him. Even after all the things he did, I couldn't do it. I know you lo-"

"It's okay. Where is he?"

She looked guilty, but her expression changed as she noticed the packed suitcase on the bed. "Where are you going, Ally?" Nancy asked. Her eyes darted from the suitcase then to me.

"I can't stay here forever, Nancy," I told her. "I just came back to gather my things."

"Where will you go?"

"That I don't know either."

"Henry's not going to let you go anywhere, Ally."

I nodded. "I know Henry is like that. He always wants to win." I smiled at her, encouragingly. "I should go now."

Nancy watched anxiously as I strolled out of the room with the suitcase. I found Henry waiting in the living room. His back was facing me as he looked out the window. He turned around immediately once he noticed he wasn't alone.

His eyes filled with a short moment of relief as they met mine. He even managed to bare a small smile, but it disappeared within a second as he noticed the suitcase at my side.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"I'm ready. Let's go," I spoke casually.

"What?" Henry asked, caught off guard.

"I said 'I'm ready.' Shall we go?"

Confusion etched deeper along his features as he stared blankly for a moment. "Yes. Let's go."

"Can you take my suitcase out first? I want to say goodbye to Nancy."

"I'll be outside." Henry nodded obligingly and without saying anything more, took my suitcase and walked out the door.

"What's going on, Ally?" Nancy asked from behind me.

"I've decided. I'm going back with Henry."

"You are?"

"Yes. I don't know why. I just know I have to. " I could tell from Nancy's confused expression. She wasn't happy with my decision. "Don't worry about me anymore, Nancy. I can take care of myself now. I promise you. I'll come visit you when I can. Thank you so much for everything."

"Ally, are you sure about this?"

"I'm sure. More than I've ever been. Goodbye Nancy."

.....

As I put on my seatbelt, I felt the back of Henry's hand on my forehead. I refrained from flinching from his touch. Instead, I threw a subtle glare at him. "Ally, are you alright?

"I'm fine," I said, smiling at him. "Can we stop somewhere to eat? I'm starving."

What was I doing? I wasn't going to put myself in this position again. Why was I going back to the house that I dreaded?

No, I can do this...Ally, you can do this!

Before going back to Henry's place, he stopped at a restaurant downtown, one I haven't been to yet. The restaurant was nearly empty which I didn't mind. It was quite uncomfortable to be around a lot of people at the moment.

The stout, hairless waiter asked if we wanted to try their newest addition to their wine cellar and before Henry could say something, I immediately agreed. Henry looked at me peculiarly as the waiter poured us both two glasses of the velvety burgundy drink. The waiter took our order and left, leaving us alone.

I took a sip of the wine the waiter recommended and Henry watched me carefully.

"You never drink, Ally," he said.

"People can change," I responded, hiding the unusual bitterness behind an unfazed look. "I want to ask you something."

"Anything. What is it?"

"Remember... when you said .... that I can have anything in this world?"

"Yes, I remember."

I cleared my throat. "If I ask something of you right now, will you give it to me?"

"Yes, of course. Anything."

My eyes remained on Henry's as I pondered my request. Was I really going to do this? What if he won't agree to it?

No, he has to. If he wants me to return back with him to that house, he will. Henry will.

"So? What is it?" Henry prodded gently.

"I want to negotiate a new contract with you."

He stayed silent, letting me continue.

"I'm not going back with you unless you agree to my term."

"What terms?" he asked as his eyes slightly narrowed.

The waiter returned, ending our conversation for the moment. After he left, Henry didn't touch his food and waited for me to explain. "What are your terms?"

"There's only one," I replied.

"Only one?"

"Yes," I said, nonchalantly. "Does that surprise you?"

He didn't answer right away. I could see his eyes studying every inch of me. He finally spoke, "What is it?"

"Ten million."

Henry's somber expression slowly turned into one with relaxation as he smiled to himself. "That won't be a problem. I'll write you a check in the morning."

Confidently, I took the glass and swallowed the wine down my throat. "That went well. I thought you weren't going to agree with it."

"But I'm not done."

"I knew you weren't going to let it go that smoothly."

"I want to negotiate one condition as well."

"Yes?"

"We must share the same bedroom." The room suddenly became warmer, my cheeks beginning to flush. Thankfully with the intimate lighting, Henry wasn't able to recognize the color in my face. "We're husband and wife, remember. I don't think it should be a problem with you."

"It's a deal then."

"Perfect."

.....

"Where's Nana?" I asked as we entered the house.

"She's away, visiting her sister," Henry replied.

Somehow, I thought it was because of me that Nana wasn't here.

"She's away not because of you," Henry assured my thoughts. I looked over at him, wondering if he actually had the power to read minds. "Don't worry about that. She didn't even know you were coming. I didn't even know."

I nodded at Henry's words and then studied the house. Everything was still as they were. Nothing had changed since I left.

"I want to ask one more thing of you?" I asked, turning around to face him.

"Yes, Ally?"

"Can I stay in my bedroom for one last night?"

It took a few seconds for Henry to respond, but he reluctantly gave in with a sluggish nod.

Henry walked me to my room with my suitcase. Everything was exactly where I left it as well.

While Henry placed the suitcase in the closet, I noticed there was a new photo on the wall. As I approached closer to the familiar scene, I realized it was our wedding photo. Henry was holding me around the waist as he leaned his forehead against mine. The photographer told us to think of the happiest moment we could as we stared at each other. We laughed so many times because it was so awkward. It felt so long ago... I didn't even remember how it felt like in that moment.

As I studied the picture, I felt the real Henry sliding his arms around my waist behind me, resting his head into the side of my neck. "I'm really happy you're back," he whispered into my ear.

I panicked and removed his arms from my waist. I turned around to face him. "I want to get some rest. Can you leave me?"

"Alright, get some rest, alright?"

I nodded, avoiding his gaze.

As I was about to close the door, Henry stopped me, putting his hand on the door. "I just wanted to let you know I'm going to Evelyn's wedding tomorrow. I don't have a choice not to go. If you wanted to join me... I know it's still a little early for you to get out there, but I wanted to let you know. You don't have to say 'yes'."

"No, I'll come," I answered. His features perked with consolation. "I need to get out there again. I'll book an appointment with Cynthia tomorrow."

"Okay. I'll see you in the morning. Good night, Ally."

.....

I woke up the next morning, having almost forgotten that I was back in Henry's house. As I moved to get out of bed, I noticed that there was a yellow note on the nightstand.

Meet me in my office when you are awake.

- H

I washed my face and without changing my sleepwear, walked into Henry's office to find him working away at his desk. He closed his Mac laptop as he saw me at the door.

"Did you have a good night sleep?" he asked with a gentle voice.

"It was okay. How about you?"

"Better than most nights, knowing you're just down the hall."

"What business do you have with me?" I asked, changing the subject.

"Did you forget already?" Henry asked. "Your check?"

"Oh, yes...My check," I replied, dumbfounded while Henry chuckled. It was a sound I missed and I repressed the urge to laugh with him.

He stood up and walked around the desk to pull out the empty chair for me before retreating behind the desk. I watched as Henry pulled out his check book from his drawer. He grabbed the silver pen clipped to his shirt, and I noticed that it wasn't just an ordinary pen. It was the one I gave him for his birthday.

Again, I repressed the urge to be moved by him. So he kept a silly pen. It didn't mean anything compared to what he had done in the past.

I continued watching him as he concentrated writing out the check.

After he signed the check, he slid it to me across the desk. "I left the amount blank. You can write whatever amount you want. You shouldn't have any problems as I have already called them ahead of time."

"Thank you." I took the check from the desk and stood up to leave.

Henry quickly stood up to follow me and gently wound his fingers around my wrist. He pulled me around to him, wrapping his arms around my waist. "Now that you have what you want, can you at least give me a smile?"

I thought about for a second before managing a quick smile for him. "There, is that enough?"

He nodded with a smirk. "For now."

Back in my room, I stared at the piece of paper with nothing but his nicely yet scribbled signature. Why was Henry being so yielding like this?

He probably had an agenda of his own.

Thank you for reading! I hope you like this chapter! Like & Comment!
- Achimay