Every time Stella had that nightmare, a faceless child would appear before her, trembling. She would try to get closer, but thick, white fog would surround them. As she reached out to touch the child, the entire scene would vanish in a puff of smoke.
When the fog finally cleared, the last thing Stella wanted to see would come into view— the heart-shattering scene that would break her all over again.
“You have one choice between the two. Who do you choose?”
“I choose Gwen… She’s afraid of heights.”
Each word cut through her heart, a cruel reminder that tormented her, even though it was just a dream. Then, the scene shifted. Suddenly, she found herself lying in the street, blood staining her lower body as her child slowly slipped away from her. Nearby, two shadowy figures embraced each other, oblivious to the misery they had caused, mocking the tragic loss of her baby.
Stella sat up abruptly, drenched in sweat, her nightshirt clinging to her back, soaked through. Her breath came in short, panicked gasps.
Outside her door, Roger still stood, not willing to leave. The last thing she wanted was for him to see her in this state.
“I really am fine, Roger,” Stella mumbled groggily, running her fingers through her damp hair. “Go back to bed! I need to be up early for work.”
Her voice was weak, hoarse from the emotional strain, but Roger hesitated.
“Fine…” he muttered, sounding both worried and resigned. “Get some rest, okay, sis?”
“Okay.” Stella let out a quiet sigh of relief when she heard his retreating footsteps. She collapsed back onto the bed, burying her face in the pillow, desperate to forget the nightmare.
The next morning, Roger was out by seven o’clock. As a college student, he had been accepted into the prestigious Ahn City University, the country’s top university. However, due to his medical condition, he had to take a semester off.
Fern City, while not as affluent as Ahn City, was still considered one of the country’s major cities, known for its rich history and cultural heritage. Fern City University was regarded as an elite institution, and Weston had made arrangements to transfer Roger there when he helped create new identities for the siblings.
Since their parents were dead and they had no other relatives, the process of assuming new identities was relatively simple. Stella Sealy was now Ella Steele, and Roger Sealey had become Robb Steele.
Roger’s health had improved significantly, allowing him to attend classes regularly. This was a huge step forward. Stella, on the other hand, found a new job as a dance teacher at a local training institution. Though they were financially secure from Weston’s support, Stella believed it was important to focus on her career. It gave her something to distract her from the painful memories that still haunted her.
Occasionally, she would come across a mother holding her child’s hand or pass by a store for mothers and babies. These moments would freeze her in place, as the pang of longing struck deep within her.
She really loved children, yet, due to her medical condition, she could likely never have another. The child she lost was the only one she would ever be able to have.
While absentmindedly filling her cup with water, the dispenser suddenly overflowed, spilling onto the floor.
“Look out!” a voice shouted. “That’s hot water! You’ll scald your hand!”
Startled, Stella snapped back to the present, feeling the sharp sting of pain on the back of her hand.
“Sorry…” she mumbled quickly, retracting her hand.
Yvonne, her co-worker, was quick to act. She grabbed a tissue and wiped Stella’s hand, her eyes wide with concern.
“You’re lucky it wasn’t boiling!” Yvonne said, clearly relieved. “Otherwise, you’d have a serious burn!”
Yvonne was originally from Fern City, where her father was a renowned doctor. Her family had lived there for generations, but she had moved to Ahn City when her husband took a job there. Now, she was starting a training institution in Ahn City, and she had become quite close to Stella over time.
Skip to content