gone

EPILOGUE

“daddy!! Daddy!!!” Lola screamed, running towards Eric with a large smile i thought was going to rip off her face. “look what i found.” she said, holding what i was sure was an insect.

She had somehow developed an unhealthy obsession with frogs and it was becoming alarming.

Even with the distance, i could see Eric’s large smile as he lowered himself to catch Lola. Throwing her into the air just to catch her.

I smiled, something warm spreading through my chest as i watched them play out in the field. “are you sure? Let’s ask mum” she said, looking mhy way before dragging Eric towards me.

“mum…” i zoned out, just looking at the child that had become the spitting image of Andrew that made my heart squeeze “so can i?” she said, bringing me back to reality. I looked at Eric, watching nod so i nodded. There was nothing more these two could do that could would give me a heart attack.

‘'thank you” she squealed, running away.

“are you good?” Eric asked, rubbing my arm, causing me to lean into his arm.

“yeah… i was just wondering…” i said, adjusting to look him in the eyes. “she is almost six now, i would not mind if…”

“Sam? We’ve talked about this.” he said, looking at me sternly. “i think things are perfect just the way they are” i blinked. I know i had heard it countless times over how he did not want any more kids and how he thought one child was enough but it did not cancel the fact that it was not his child biologicaly so that meant he wass giving up his own ability to have a child of his own, just so that he could raise Lola. The thought made my heart squeeze

“but what if you regret it later down the line?” i said, looking him in the eyes.

“i don’t think i have it in me to regret something as precious as this” he said, pulling me in for a hug. On days like this. I realise how lucky i am that things got to work out. “by the way, your parents want to take her for the afternoon” he said, causing an uncomfortable feeling settle at the pits of my stomach.

I never did forgive my parents, my mum especially, but somehow, we got along or at least that was what i thought till i realised that Eric had a hand in calling my parents to order.

It was not something i thought he would ever get involved in. A smile found it’s way to my lips when i remembered how he knelt down one night, begging me to forgive him for ignoring the abuse for so long, even though i tried to tell him that it was not his fault..

“what got you smiling?” he said, pulling me out of my thoughts,

“oh nothing, just a little trip down memory lane.” he winced causing a giggle to come out of my mouth. “everything is perfect Eric” i said, hugging him tightly while i took in a sniff of him.

“yeah, it -” our little bubble of happiness was burst as Lola screamed from a distance. I felt my heart dropped, Eric running before i could get my mind together to even act.

“mummy!!’ her voice came again, more desperate and scared that my feet started to move before i could even think.

“what the fuck are you doing!!” Eric’s voice called, sounding panicked too.

“stay out of this lover boy you are not the one i’ve come for” i felt my blood drain as i made it to the clearing, looking at Lucia hold my child.

“hello bestie” she greeted me like she was genuinely happy to see me.

“please” i said, ready to crawl to her if it meant she would let go of my already frightened child. “let go of her.”

“i am afraid i can’t” she said, holding her hair rather tightly, yanking her back.

“don’t hurt her!!” Eric and i yelled at the same time.

“do you know, in the world you created for me, i had a child, few years younger and then…” she looked up to look at me. I could see the pain in her eyes. “one day i woke up and she was gone” she said, a sick smile spreading on her face. “i told you i was going to be back”

“please” i said, trying to get closer to her but i could not because it felt as though a force shield was around them “have you not done enough!!” i said, looking from Eric to Lucia and then my child.

“you have already taken Andrew. You and Helios. I have paid the price… you can’t take this one too.. i am beggin you” i whispered the last part.

“you don’t get a say in whether or not you have paid the price for the horrible thing you did to me.

“i am sorry!!” i yelled as she pulled Lola to herself. “i was jealous of how happy your relaionship was but please, you have to admit that sooner or later that ship would have crashed.” i said, desperately trying to get her to forgive me.

“that… means.. nothing” she said, giving Lola one last tug that caused her to fall. “i am done here” she said, looking from me to Eric, a void appearing at the other side.

She was taking my child away, the last piece of Andrew i had left.

“no!!” i yelled, ignoring the yell of Eric and forcing my way through the shield.

It felt as though my body was on fire, and in reality, it was.

The smell of burning flesh reached my nose but i did not care. I needed to get to her

A sigh of relief reached me as soon as i broke through the barrier but it did not last for long.

One minute i was almost grabbing my child back and the next minute, they were gone, nowhere to be seen anymore.

I gasped, looking at the blank space that once held Lucia and my child.

“l..lola?” i called with shaking hands with no response.

For the first time, since Andrew’s death i felt my wolf stir.

It was horrible. It felt as though air could no longer get into my lungs as well. It hurt. I could hardly see clearly anymore.

And just like that, my world crumbled and everything went bleak…