Every time Stella had that nightmare, it was the same haunting vision. A faceless child stood in front of her, trembling. She would reach out to get a better look at the child, but thick, white fog would immediately envelop them. The moment she touched the child, the entire scene vanished in a puff of smoke.
When the fog cleared, the last thing she wanted to see would appear—the devastating scene that always shattered her heart into a million pieces.
“You have one choice between the two. Who do you choose?”
“I choose Gwen… She’s afraid of heights.”
Each word hit her like a dagger, tormenting her with excruciating pain, even though it was just a dream. The scene would shift again, and suddenly, Stella found herself lying in the street, her body covered in blood. Her child was slipping away from her. Nearby, two shadowy figures stood in an intimate embrace, oblivious to her misery and the tragedy unfolding before her.
Stella jolted upright in bed, drenched in sweat. Her nightshirt clung to her body, soaked through. She gasped for air, feeling the weight of the nightmare pressing down on her.
Outside her door, Roger still stood, unwilling to leave. The last thing Stella wanted was for him to see her like this.
“I’m fine, Roger,” she said groggily, trying to sound reassuring. She ran her fingers through her damp hair. “Go back to bed! I have work early.”
Her voice was weak and hoarse from the lingering effects of the nightmare.
Roger gripped the door handle tightly, standing still for a long while. Finally, he sighed in defeat. “Fine,” he muttered. “Get some rest, okay, sis?”
“Okay,” Stella whispered in relief, hearing his footsteps fade as he walked away. She sank back into the bed, her head falling onto the pillow once more, longing for some peace.
The next morning, Roger left early for his class. A college student, he had initially been accepted into Ahn City University, the country’s top school. However, due to his medical condition, he had to take a semester off.
Fern City wasn’t as affluent as Ahn City, but it was still considered a major city in the country, rich in history and culture. Fern City University was also an elite institution, and Weston had arranged for Roger to be transferred there when he helped the siblings assume new identities.
Since their parents were deceased and they had no other relatives, changing their identities was a simple matter. Stella Sealy had become Ella Steele, and Roger Sealey had become Robb Steele.
Roger’s health had improved significantly. Although he still required occasional checkups, he was now able to attend classes regularly, a major milestone. Stella, on the other hand, found a new job as a dance teacher at a local training institution. While they could both live comfortably off Weston’s financial support, Stella felt it was important to work. It provided her with a distraction, something to focus on other than the painful memories.
Every so often, she would pass by a store for mothers and babies, or see a mother holding her child’s hand on the street. The sight would stop her dead in her tracks, a sharp pang of longing twisting in her chest.
She had always loved children, but due to her medical condition, she knew that she could likely only have one child in her lifetime.
As she absentmindedly filled her cup with water, it overflowed, spilling onto the floor.
“Look out!” a concerned voice shouted.
“That’s hot water! You’ll scald your hand!” It was Yvonne, her voice snapping Stella back to reality.
Only then did Stella feel the sharp sting on the back of her hand.
“Sorry…” she mumbled quickly, pulling her hand away.
Yvonne immediately grabbed a tissue and wiped Stella’s hand, her face filled with concern.
“You’re lucky it’s not boiling!” Yvonne exclaimed. “Otherwise, you’d have a serious burn!”
Yvonne, originally from Fern City, came from a family of doctors. Her father was a renowned doctor in the area. She had only started a training institution in Ahn City because her husband worked there. Despite the challenges, she had quickly become a close and reliable friend to Stella.
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