104 | the man who loves me-1

Seeing Aiden coming to this house again fills my heart with a lot of emotions. I feel happy. Grateful. Nervous. Scared. Angry at my dad. All of these feelings are mixed up and create chaos in my mind, but I would never choose any other way. I want to be with Aiden, and I'm glad that he's here again even though he has to face Dad's wrath. I want to hug Aiden, kiss him, and tell him how much I love him, but I don't want to ruin another day. I have to take things slow. Yesterday, I was overwhelmed with my emotions that I didn't think clearly. I was panicking. I was scared that Aiden would disappear from my life again just after we got back together, which still felt like a dream. I didn't want to think about how my parents would feel and how Dad would react. I was just…rebelling. I've learned my lesson. Not again. No more panicking. I have to be patient. Mom is willing to try to get to know Aiden, and hopefully, Dad will be too. I know that it seems impossible now, but sooner or later, if Dad can just open his heart and see that Aiden and I love each other, he'll realize that we belong together. While I'm preparing the table for the barbeque party and talking with my family, I notice that Aiden is watching me. I know from his expression that he misses me too, so I give him a warm smile. The way he stares at me never fails to create butterflies in my tummy. Mom asks me to share the food with the neighbors who live across the street -- an elderly woman and her little grandson. Mrs. Richards has always been kind to our family too, so I'm more than happy to visit her house to give them the food. After taking the box from Mom, I approach Aiden. "I'll be back shortly. I'm just going to give this food to my neighbors. They live across the street." Aiden smiles. "Okay." I start walking toward the gate, and when I glance back at him, he's still watching me. I smile softly at him and return my attention to the gate, which is then opened by the guard. The sight of Aiden I saw just now fills my heart with gratitude because he'd never looked that happy before. Even though he still has to face another challenge of winning my family, Aiden looks happy. It's glinting in his eyes. Aiden Klein is no longer a broken man who's haunted by his past. The future we hold together will be filled with more happiness. I'll make sure that he'll never have to feel such pain again. I'm in the middle of crossing the street when I suddenly stumble and drop the box in my hand. Shit. When I look down, I notice that one of my flip-flop straps has been detached from the sole. No wonder. These flip-flops are old, yet I keep wearing them because they're my favorites. I bend down on one knee, picking the box and trying to fix the strap of my flip-flop. There's an alarming noise coming from somewhere in the distance, but I don't really pay attention because I'm too focused on what I'm doing. I can't walk in these flip-flops with one of the straps broken. I may just opt to walk bare feet if I can't fix it now. The next thing I know, it all happens so fast. I hear someone scream. Mom. I never heard her scream like that, as though she's about to die. She's calling my name. Pure terror consumes me. I'm suddenly on alert. But it's too late. The next thing I hear is the sound of tires screeching. When I turn my head to see what's coming, it's already too close. I can't move. Not even an inch. It's like I'm in a nightmare, and I don't have control of my body. I never thought that I would die like this. So suddenly. From something so stupid and ridiculous. Is it okay if I die now? What about my family? They will be heartbroken. What about him? Yet, ready or not, I have to face the pain. Of dying. Leaving. Losing everything. The impact comes. I'm thrown away. But then, I'm not alone. I'm wrapped in a pair of arms. A body. I hit the ground harshly. If it were not because of the body covering me, my bones would break. Together, we roll against the harsh asphalt until, somehow, we stop. I'm lying with my back on the ground while the other person is on top of me, still wrapping me like a cocoon. I can't hear the sound around me anymore. My vision blurs. My head is spinning. My ears are ringing. My breath hitches. All the air in my lungs is being sucked. I close my eyes, letting the darkness consume me. I feel like I can sleep forever, but before it happens, my eyes snap open and my breath comes back in a sharp intake. Frantic movements are coming in my direction -- I can sense them. I hear the sounds again, from afar but approaching closer. Mom cries. Dad, also cries, shouting my name. Their voices are mixed with the others'. I can't make out what they're saying, but they sound like chaos. The body lying on top of me is unmoving, rigid, with its weight completely pressed on me and trapping me. With difficulty, I try to move my head, and the sight I'm seeing plays before my eyes in slow motion. My family is running to me, and all of them have fear and panic skating all over their faces. Then there's Luna. She wails, looking hysterical, as if her world is crumbling. It's painful to watch. A scream tears from her chest, and the agony echoing through it is heart-shattering. She's calling a name. A name I wish I would never hear someone scream like that, because it can only mean one thing. I can finally move my finger against the asphalt, and it's shaking helplessly. This embrace feels too familiar. I know this warmth. How could I not? It's the warmth of the man I love that has always made me feel secure, cherished, and protected countless times.