Chapter 67 – Time to play

KIRA.

I never thought it would come to this. Losing custody of Maddie to Gabriel was the last thing I expected. I thought I was doing everything right, but the judge saw things differently. Now, my life had taken a turn for the worse, and I couldn’t seem to get back on track.

The depression had been deepening since I lost Maddie. I felt like a part of me was missing, and no matter what I did, I couldn’t fill that void. The emptiness in my heart was suffocating, like I was drowning in my own despair. I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t eat, and I could barely function.

It was so damn hard to imagine a life without Maddie. She was the reason I woke up in the morning and the last thing I thought about before I went to bed. Losing her like that was like losing a piece of my soul, and I didn’t know how to move on. Every day felt like an eternity, and the pain was unbearable.

But I knew I had to do something with my time or I was definitely going to lose my mind. So, I filled my days with distractions. I volunteered at the local animal shelter now that I quit the job at Wave. I took up painting, and I started going to therapy. But nothing seemed to make a difference. I still missed Maddie, and nothing could replace the love and joy she brought into my life.

I tried not to think about what life would be like if I had custody of Maddie. I tried not to imagine the moments we were missing out on, the memories we were not creating, and the love we were not sharing. It was too painful to even consider.

But I knew I had to keep going. I had to keep living, even if it felt like I was just going through the motions. I had to believe that there was a reason for all of this, even if I couldn’t see it yet. And most importantly, I had to hold on to the hope that one day, it would reunite me with Maddie, and we would pick up right where we left off.

I never thought I would be the type of person who needed someone to take them out for coffee. But when Alana asked me, I realized how much I needed it. The walls of my house were closing in on me, suffocating me, and pressing hard on my heart. The loneliness was unbearable, and I felt like I was drowning in it. I thought I could handle it on my own, but I was wrong.

Alana knew that something was wrong, and she reached out to me. She didn’t push me, and she didn’t judge me. She just offered to take me out for coffee. And when we sat down together, I finally felt like I could breathe again. I could talk about everything that was weighing me down, and she listened. She gave me advice, and she made me feel like I wasn’t alone.

I realized it was okay to need someone sometimes. It was okay to ask for help, and it was okay to let people in. I was grateful for Alana, and I knew I wouldn’t have been able to get through this without her.

“How are you holding up, dear?” she asked, sipping a mouthful of coffee.

“I’m okay, I guess. It’s just hard, you know? Losing custody of Maddie is the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through.” I answered with tears and sobs almost choking me.

“I know. But you’re strong, and you’ll get through this. And most importantly, you are not alone, Kira,” she reassured me.

“I don’t know if I can. I miss her so much, and I feel like a failure as a mother.”

“You’re not a failure, Kira. You did everything you could for Maddie, and you love her more than anything in the world. Losing custody doesn’t change that.”

“I just don’t know how to move on from this.”

“It’s going to take time, but you will. And in the meantime, I’m here for you.” she said with a wide smile.

“Thank you, Alana. And as always, I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Of course, Kira. Now, let’s talk about something else. How’s the job search going?” she asked, and changed the topic.

“It’s been tough. I don’t want to work at Gabriel’s company anymore, but it feels like all the good jobs are taken.” I said lowering my gaze at my hands.

“Have you thought about looking in a different field?”

“I have, but I’m not sure what I want to do.” I said disappointedly.

“Well, you have plenty of skills that could transfer to other industries. Have you considered marketing or public relations?”

“I haven’t, but that’s a good idea.” I said and a slight smile appeared at the corner of my mouth.

“And don’t forget to network. You know many people, and they might know of job openings that aren’t advertised.”

“That’s true. I’ll start reaching out to people.” I said, and I felt like my confidence was growing. That was what I needed.

“You’ve got this, Kira. You’re strong, talented, and resilient. You’ll find a new job, and you’ll move on from this. I have faith in you.”

“Thank you, Alana. I really appreciate your support.”

When I got home, I sorted out my thoughts and after a hearty lunch, because I needed all my energy, I decided to do something with my life.

As I sat there in front of my laptop in the kitchen, staring at its screen, feeling lost and defeated, thousands of ideas came to mind.

The past few weeks had been tough, and I had been struggling to keep up with my work. Alana had been trying to get me to start my second own business, but I had always brushed her off, thinking it was too risky. But maybe she was right. Maybe it was time to take the plunge and start from scratch.

I had an entire portfolio of clients that I had gained in all the years I had worked at Gabriel’s company. Plus, I had my clients from the firm I owned. I was good at public relations, and I knew I could make it work. I just had to stop feeling sorry for myself and start taking action.

As I scrolled through my emails, I saw a message from one of my former clients, asking if I was available to work with them again, but this time different. She was going through a tough divorce and she faced the danger of losing custody of her two boys. Maybe what I was doing sounded like payback, but I didn’t care. I wanted to help women like me who didn’t have the mental disposition to fight to win or regain full custody of their children after painful divorces. It was a sign. I knew I had to take the opportunity and run with it.

I stood up from my desk, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. The new business I was launching would be a success, and I would make it a great one. I couldn’t keep relying on Gabriel’s company to provide for me, especially now when I couldn’t stand his presence. It was time to take control of my own destiny.

I grabbed a notebook and started jotting down ideas. I knew I needed to come up with a plan and a strategy if I was going to make this work. And I was determined to do just that.

As I worked, I felt a sense of excitement and anticipation building within me. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I was in control of my own life. And it was all thanks to Alana’s words of encouragement and her belief in me.

So, as I sat there, surrounded by my ideas and my plans, I knew I was ready to take on the world. It was time to start this business, and I was going to make it a success. And I knew Alana would be right there beside me every step of the way.

Maybe even work for me when things go well for me again.

My phone rang twice. It was Mrs. Murray.

“Hello, Mrs Murray, this is Kira speaking. How can I help you?” I asked her.

“Hello Miss Reed, I am sorry to bother you. I just wanted to call and thank you for agreeing to take my case and help me win custody of my children. I really appreciate it.” She said, and the emotion was taking hold of her.

“Of course, Ms. Murray. It’s my pleasure to help. I’ll do everything I can to make sure you get the outcome you want.”

“Thank you so much, Miss Reed. I really can’t express how grateful I am. I’d like to schedule a meeting with you today to discuss the details of the case, if that’s possible.” she asked.

“Absolutely. I’m available this afternoon. Would 2 PM work for you?”

“Yes, that works perfectly. Can we meet at the Melting Pot downtown?”

“Sure, I know that place. Let’s make it 2 PM at the Melting Pot. I’ll see you there.”

“Great. Thanks again, Miss. See you soon.” She ended the conversation.

“No problem, Ms. Murray. I’ll see you at 2. Have a good day.” I said and hung up.

It was time to play. If Gabriel got me in a position to fight for women who were in the same situation I was in a few months ago, then I would have no mercy on any man. The children would stay with their mother, as they should.