Once it was time for dinner, I got up from my desk and headed down the hallway to the dining area, warmly lit by the single ceiling lamp. Meanwhile, my living room stayed shaded under the evening blue.

I opened the fridge and scooped out portions of the stuffed peppers, the heated aroma of the tangy sauce and ground meat enveloping my face and started warming it in the microwave as it gently hummed to life. I hoisted myself onto the granite counter, the stone cold and solid beneath me.

Raiden came waddling in, like a shadow in his black hoodie and blue shorts. He stopped by the counter to watch the microwave. He peered at the microwave and was just watching it, while rocking with his hands tucked in his pockets.

I suddenly pulled him into a tight hug. He flared his arms as I pulled him close, wrapping him up in my arms, and then I kissed his forehead. "How are you my love?"

"Sunt bine," he said, muffling that he was fine.

"That's good," I said and brought his face up. I caressed his cheeks as I finally released him. The poor boy looked like I almost squashed them like a pancake as he was trying to roll them back out.

"Are there any new games that would you like me to buy for your Switch?" I asked. I leaned back into the counter as I watched him fiddling inside his pockets.

"Um nu really. I still have a lot I started but I need to finish," He said, smiling sheepishly. with his light, tinted cheeks, and his eyes bouncing around.

"Aw okay then no more new games for the meantime," I said, "Have you completed any?"

"Only this Pokémon let's go game. Then I'm going to finish the Archeus game that I started but I left it for a bit because I wanted to focus on one."

"O okay. And what about your Minecraft? I can't remember the last time you've shown me something you built," I said, as I brushed some bits of hair behind my ear.

"Don't worry Mami, I'm just working on this castle in my world but when it's finished, I'll show you!" He exclaimed.

"Okay Ray, I'm looking forward to seeing it," I said and ruffled his hair. I quickly glanced at the microwave which was nearly done.

"Since food is almost ready, how about you go get your sister and you two can set up the table?"

"Alright!" he said and ran off. He soon came back with Reina and they began circling the dining table, setting down table mats along with the plates. Once the microwave pinged, I set the food and slid into my seat. My mouth began to water as the food aroma floated in the air. My kids handed their phones to me and then sat down themselves.

"So do you guys have any ideas for what we can watch for movie night tomorrow?" I asked. I cut apart the bell pepper and started eating.

"I think we should watch a superhero movie," Raiden piped up. He leaned back into his seat, taking a big bite out of his pepper as the sauce got all over his cheeks.

"I'm feeling like watching a comedy," Reina said. She propped herself up on her chair, and began scooping out the meat to eat it.

"Okay, I think we can come up with something that will fit both of your moods." I quickly finished one pepper and picked up another, savouring the sweet tangy flavour that mixed with the meat.

"Oh, how about Captain Underpants?" he suggested excitedly. "That movie's main guy looks so funny with just his underwear on!" he snorted and started laughing in his seat.

"Oo I forgot about that one!" Reina said with a mouthful, "That's a good idea, we should also get some snacks after school tomorrow!" Her sunny face then brightened with excitement under the ceiling lamp.

"Da! We could get the ROM chocolate bars! And some drinks," Raiden added as he dug into another bell pepper and stuffed his face.

"How about when we go to Mega Image tomorrow, I get the snacks and you get the drinks!" she suggested.

"Okay, let's do it!" he said and they did a series of high-fives.

I munched on my food, smiling to myself that we were still having these late movie nights. It's been our little tradition since they were toddlers. Back then I would decorate our old living room to the theme of the movie, so it can be more of a magical experience, and make up for the time I was away studying and working.

I suddenly felt my phone buzzing repeatedly in my pocket. I briefly took it out of my pocket to look at the home screen and could see Stefan's messages.

Stefan: Hei I hope your enjoying your evening

- Would you like to meet up again this weekend?

- I would just love to see you again

I put my phone away, planning to reply to him later, but still appreciated the invite. Then finished off the peppers and the remainder of the sauce with some bread. I kissed my kids and helped them with any homework before returning to my desk.

When I finally finished work at midnight, I powered down my laptop, relaxed back and let out a long exhale, feeling my breath travelling out. I glanced out my window to see the eyes of the other apartments sleeping peacefully, with the curtains shuttered down against the backdrop of the golden city lights that ran like veins.

I smiled while my eyes drooped slightly. I tucked my kids' phones back into my drawer and stood up, preparing to get ready for bed. I changed into my dusty pink night robe and drifted into the bathroom.

Once I got the hot running water, 1 lightly dipped my fingers into the foamy bubbles. The warm water lapped at my tips with the perfect temperature. Then I slowly lowered myself in the bathtub, letting the warm ripples engulf me.

I relaxed back, moaning with happiness as the bubbles soaked my skin. The tension was mellowing out of my muscles like the bubbles were encasing them and floating away. The heated steam swirled around in the air like a sauna, while my eyes fluttered closed.

Once I was all scrubbed clean, I changed into my pajamas and fell onto my puffed out comforter, outlined with flowers. I settled within its folds, wrapping myself up as it softly cushioned my stomach. I sighed like I was sailing away as I stared out the window.

The dark, moody clouds slowly unfurled the moon. It roamed high above the buildings, casting down its crystal glow that travelled down my floor, where my tears started falling freely. Every night, when there were no more pattering footsteps, and when the deafening silence of the night allowed my mind to wander back to Xavier and burn against him.

I sniffled more, rolling onto my side, while my tears were continuously flowing onto my pillow with hate pooling. The only time I got to freely free this without any interruptions.

I twisted the fabric of my pillow as the tears streamed down. I absolutely hated that I wasted my love and gave my all to someone that never truly cared. His help with my expenses was nothing more than something he could dangle over my head. Even when I was beyond exhausted from night feeds, he would be sitting up in bed, with an inflated ego at 44, like a damn king on his throne, waiting for me to satisfy his needs.

I choked on saliva as I broke down, then started sobbing hard. My face overflowed with searing tears, and my voice cracked with bitterness, and small screams erupted. The more my eyes were emptying, the lighter I was starting to feel, with my anger being purged.

I rolled over, my cheek fully cushioned by the soft rumbles of my pillow. My tears were still leaking out when I closed my eyes, and allowed myself to be encased by the warmth.

When it was the next day and I'd washed the previous night off in a refreshing shower, I went into Raiden's room and switched on the air purifier. I watched as it whirred to life and smiled that when he came home, the air would be free of any potential allergens that may irritate his airways, but my chest stung with guilt that he was paying the price for my actions.

I left the door open and went to the living room, dusting the portraits and vacuuming afterward. I felt much better as I always do after having a nice shower after every night.

I moved to my father's urn, brushing dust away from the glass and plucking up the chrysanthemums. The music I was playing was quiet as I gently hummed to the tune.

Sometimes I think back to when he became sick. I was around 11 when he was diagnosed with heart disease. Although it was progressively getting worse, with his dry coughs becoming more rough and hoarse, and his legs swelling up, making it more painful and difficult to walk.

But when I reached 16, we stopped coming to Romania for the summer as his heart started failing, and the following year, he ended up having a heart attack and I watched him take his last breath at 17.

I sniffed a little, quickly wiped my nose as I lowered my head to fight back the straying tears that watered my eyes. I hope I made his last few months worthwhile. Those days are when he especially missed having my mother and her touch, so I spent more days at home than with my friends. But it became a bit too much at times when he wanted me to sleep with him everyday.

More tears trickled down as I struggled thinking about the times he was almost as demanding as Xavier. At times he would become more aggressive and pushy, but his tightening chest pain would make him stop. If I ever delayed wanting to do something, he would just start groaning that I was the only one he had left, that is not his fault my mother is no longer alive to take care of him. Leading me to wallow in my own guilt for a few hours in my bedroom.

But I'm glad he let me go to my junior prom as a reward for taking such good care of him. All Xavier did was keep me from attending my senior prom and high school graduation afterparty, under the guise of spending time with him is better than my toxic friends.

I slowly grumbled to myself as I dusted the shelves underneath. At that time, I didn't mind it as much, and the party one I'm less upset about since the day after I found out I was pregnant, but since knowing he was just as toxic, I wished I could've gone to the senior one, if it wasn't for him and his possessiveness.

I didn't want to think about it any longer so I quickly finished up my cleaning, and headed out. I strolled across to the other apartment block, hoping Andreea was in so we could have a nice chat.

I rang her number and luckily she buzzed me in. I hurried up the stairs to the first floor and I saw her small frame peeking out from her door, holding a dish towel. Lalea also came barking out and circled her legs.

"Bună ziua Doamnă Andreea!" I greeted her.

"Bună Mona!" She said cheerfully. She gently cupped my face after we exchanged cheek kisses and gave them a little pat. "Ce faci?" She asked how I was as she led me inside. Lalea also followed, wagging her little tail

"I'm fine, what about you?" I said, with a warm smile reaching my lips. I eagerly put on the house slippers that she handed me as we went into the living room.

"I'm alright, I just finished making some Turkish coffee to watch my show with." She smiled as she went past the table with cups and the ibric pot, with biscuits laid out. The small TV was rumbling low with volume, as a doily was thrown on top.

"O that's nice, I hope I'm not disturbing you."

"O not at all, you're free to stay as long as you like," Andreea said, ushering me to sit down on her couch. "At least until I'm leaving myself to go see my friend." she chuckled.

She then got settled into a large, brown, chair. She looked really cozy in her sleeveless red jumper, and a long creamy one stretching out underneath. She pushed up her bun out of the way as she took a cup. Lalea suddenly jumped into her lap as she held him tight.

"How has your week been? Anything new that's happened?" I said, leaning down on the couch as I brushed my hair back. My legs leisurely slid down across the flower patterns of the soft reddish rug.

"I've had a good week so far." She smiled as she pressed the cup to her lips, sipping it gently. "The only thing that's new is I think yesterday, I was just on the phone to one of my church friends about this couple that we haven't seen for years since they disappeared."

"O?" I said, shuffling closer with eyes widening in anticipation. "What happened?" I asked a bit too quickly, and gulped down some of the drink. My lips squeezed with the bitterness, but I just pushed through it so I could hear this.

"So they used to be married to other people before but then the husband started having an affair with one of his wife's friends," she said, taking a sip of her coffee while grimacing.

"O Serios?" I drank more with my eyes widening. "That's just awful!"

"Mhm I know. It's really disgusting. But they got caught, and ended up running away together like two criminals," she continued which made me giggle out loud. She chuckled after me, taking another sip of her coffee.

"Anyway, that's that," Andreea said, bending down to refill her cup. She sighed happily before taking more sips. "Now I'm just looking forward to tomorrow, as my daughter-in-law is coming to take me shopping for a bit with my little granddaughter." She smiled warmly, her little dimples rising like moons.

"Aw that's really nice! I hope the weather will be nice enough for that."

"Do you have anything planned for this weekend?" she asked, bending forward a little.

"Nu really, I'm just going to chill. The person I'm seeing wanted to meet up this weekend but I already saw him this week."

"O that's nice." Andreea's smile widened, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she beamed. "I hope it goes well with you."

"Multumesc. Me too," I said, slowly sipping more of the coffee and relaxing back.