REMEMBER TO BREATHE

REMEMBER TO BREATHE

LENA'S POV

The bus jerked to a stop at the city terminal; its brakes shrieked while I whitened my knuckles holding onto the edge of my seat. The sun was high in the sky, casting harsh light over the pavement, and I felt my chest tighten at the thought of being back within the city limits. I forced a deep breath, trying to settle myself, telling myself I could handle everything that awaited me: Noah, Damien, and the chaos that had unfolded while I was away.

I stepped off the bus onto asphalt that seemed to burn a hole through the thin soles of my shoes. Every sense was on fire-the noise, the smell, the bustle. My heart thundered in my chest, a complicated mix of relief and anxiety. I had survived, but now I had to confront what came next.

Mia's shop was just a few blocks away. Every step I took made my stomach twist tighter. I pushed the door open, and the familiar bell jingled.

“MIA!” I hollered, my voice quivering.

From behind me, there came the sound of a gasp. Mia filled the doorway, her eyes wide, and then… she ran to me. She flung her arms around me, and I stumbled under the force of her embrace, the weight of everything I'd carried over the past two weeks pressing down on me.

My God. Lena! You're. you're finally here!" Her voice burst, and tears surfaced in her eyes. She gripped me tighter, as if she was scared I would disappear again.

I hugged her back, letting a few tears slip, though trying to compose myself. "I… I'm back, Mia," I whispered. "I'm… I'm really back."

She leaned back an inch or two, just enough to look at my face. Her hands framed my cheeks, and she stared into me like she couldn't fathom I was actually real. "Lena… what… what happened? Where have you been? Oh I'm so glad your okay ?" The concern, the relief, and frantic curiosity mingled in her voice.

I gave a small nod before I threw myself on her letting out a shaky breathe and she welcomed me her body shaking with what I assumed were tears of joy.

I don't know how we stay like that, but her voice broke the silence

“What's your plan now?”

I shook my head, tears threatening again. “I don’t know. I… I just need to see Noah. I need to… I need to know he’s okay. I need… I need Damien…” My words tumbled over each other, my voice cracking. The fear and exhaustion I’d carried hit me all at once.

Mia nodded, pulling me into a chair behind the counter and fussing over me. "Shh. it's okay. Just breathe. You're here now. That's what matters. We'll figure everything else out. You're safe now."

I swallowed hard, clenching the edge of the counter. "I saw the video. Damien. he looks. he's worried. I don't even know how bad it's been while I was gone. And. Noah. He. he's just a little boy. I can't. I can't imagine how scared he's been."

Mia leaned over, placing a hand over mine. “Lena… he’s been terrified. He’s been so worried about you. Damien… he hasn’t been himself. He’s been walking around the center, looking for you, asking everyone questions, not sleeping, not eating properly. I think… I think Vivian’s actions really pushed him to the edge.

With that, my chest tightened. I hadn't realized just how much Damien must have suffered while I was gone. And even now, I didn't know where he was, if he was safe, or if he'd even eaten.

Mia lowered her voice and leaned in. “You need to know… Vivian’s in prison now. At least she can’t harm anyone anymore. You don’t have to worry about her; she’s being taken care of.”

I exhaled slowly, a small measure of relief easing through me. But the thought of Damien and Noah-both waiting for me, both affected by everything that happened-made my stomach do flips. "I want to go to Noah's school… I want to see him now, but… I just can't. I'll cause a scene. I don't know what the press is saying. I don't know if… if they're even letting him out, or if anyone will recognize me."

Mia squeezed my hand. "I know. I know you want to see him. But you need to be careful. You need a plan. You'll see him soon enough. Trust me. Right now… just breathe. Just be here. Stay safe. You've been through hell, and you need to take a moment for yourself too."

I leaned back, staring at the ceiling, trying to calm the storm inside me. Waiting till around two o'clock before even making my way towards Noah's school sounded impossible, but I knew Mia was right. I couldn't afford making things worse. Not for him, not for Damien, not for me.

Mia studied me with a motherly intensity, her eyes shining. "You've been through so much, Lena. I can see it in your eyes. The exhaustion, the fear… but also the strength. You made it here. You survived. You've got this."

I swallowed hard, and a shiver ran down my body. "It feels like everything is crashing all at once. Five years ago… I lost everything dear to me, but Noah… he brought me back. He's my anchor. And now, the past two weeks… I've been so scared for him, for Damien, for us. I don't even know how to begin to fix it all. I just… I just want my family back."

Mia nodded, her head going up and down in slow motion. “And you will. Step by step. First, you get yourself settled. Then, you see your boy. Then… Damien. You’ll get them both back in your arms. You gotta take it one step at a time, Lena. Don’t let the panic and fear rule you. You’re stronger than this. And you’re not alone anymore.”

I looked at her, the prick of tears beginning again. "Thank you… for everything. For having let me stay, for believing in me, for… just being here."

Mia smiled and gently brushed the loose strand of hair away from my face. "Of course, darling; you're family. And family doesn't get left behind. Now. you need to eat something. You can't face your family and everything else on an empty stomach."

I laughed softly through my tears. "I… I don't even know if I can eat right now. I'm too anxious."

“Then we'll just sit here together, and breathe. You don't have to decide anything yet. You've got time. You'll see Noah soon and Damien… he's out there, probably losing his mind trying to find you. But he'll be calm when he sees you. You'll see.”

I nodded, finally letting a small, shaky smile appear on my lips. “I hope… I hope he's okay. I need to see him… and Noah. I need to… I need to know they're both safe. That Damien is… okay, that he hasn't… that Vivian hasn't…” My voice broke, but Mia squeezed my hand and shook her head.

“She hasn’t. And she can’t anymore. You’re back now. Everything else can wait.”

I let my breath out, and my shoulders relaxed just a tad “ infact I'm going to call him right now “

I looked out the window at the city bustling around me, and the stirrings of determination rose inside me as mia called Damien.

I would see my son. I would see Damien. I would fix the chaos that had swallowed my life for two weeks. And I would do it carefully, wisely, because my family deserved that much.

Mia smiled at me, just a little mischievous.

“He's not answering, he must be caught up at work or something important. I've practically called him a zillion times.”

I felt my heart thug a bit, with endless possibilities

“It's only 10 am anyway, We've got a few hours before you can safely go to the school. But don't worry-you'll see him. And Damien… he'll be waiting, I'm sure. Probably pacing around like a mad man."

Mia said obviously trying to cheer me up

I laughed this time, a little more freely, though that worry still seemed to knot in my chest. "Probably. Vivian's going to get what she deserves But I… I can't think about that now. I just… I need to see my son. I need to see him, hold him, and tell him everything is going to be okay."

Mia reached out and took my hand again. “And you will. Just… hold onto that. Take these hours, breathe, get your bearings. Then… go get your family back. You got this, Lena. You really do.”

I nodded, feeling the weight in my chest ease slightly, replaced by the flickering flame of hope. I wasn't alone. I had Mia, and soon… soon I would have Noah. Soon I would have Damien. And then… we would rebuild.

For the moment, however, I sat and let the city move around me, let the sun warm my face, let myself believe that finally, I could take the first step back toward the life I had almost lost.