Aᴍᴇʟɪᴀ's ᴘᴏᴠ
As I turned slowly, the soft ticking of the clock echoed in the quiet room, momentarily interrupting my thoughts. A smile spread across my lips as gentle chuckles escaped my mouth. Today felt different—it was a day filled with unexpected warmth. Just last night, I had a vivid dream of Dad, his reassuring presence granting me permission to embrace happiness again. I sighed deeply, feeling a sense of relief wash over me as I pushed myself upright, heading toward the bathroom. It felt as if I had finally begun to make peace with the turmoil inside me; the nagging guilt that had haunted me since Dad's passing was still present, but today marked a shift. For the first time, I realized I didn't need to dwell on the darker moments of grief. Instead, my thoughts turned to the countless beautiful memories I cherished. Yes, I nodded affirmatively to myself; that was what I needed to hold onto.
I couldn't bear the thought of letting Mom drift away in her sorrow; Dad would never have wanted that for us. I love you, Dad—I whispered the words as a quiet prayer, hoping he was in a good place, free from pain. As I finished my thoughts, I turned off the running shower and stepped out of the steam-filled bathroom, feeling renewed.
A clean, neatly ironed outfit lay waiting for me on the bed. "Oh, Mom," I whispered, my heart swelling with gratitude. How lucky I felt to have two of the most wonderful people in my life as my parents. Applying my lotion, I took a moment to appreciate the scent enveloping my skin before I dressed quickly. Glancing at the clock again, I tossed my phone into my bag and made my way to the living room.
The tantalizing aroma of freshly baked bacon welcomed me as I stepped inside. "Mom!" I exclaimed, my grin widening.
"And who's up so early and in such a good mood?" she replied, her eyes sparkling with warmth.
"It's me, Mom!" I responded, matching her joy as I braided my lips into a wider smile.
"Come here, baby," she beckoned, opening her arms wide. I rushed into her embrace, feeling the familiar comfort of her warmth. "This moment is what Dad would have wanted for us. He would have wanted us to embrace the beautiful moments together."
"Yes, sweetie and that's exactly what we'll do," she replied, placing her hands gently on my cheeks, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "I'm so glad you're back, baby."
"Me too, Mom," I replied softly. I suddenly realized how much I had been caught up in my own grief, often overlooking her pain.
As we shared a simple breakfast together, I took a moment to simply be present. I never knew how much she had been suffering, and I felt selfish for wallowing in my own sorrow.
We shared laughter over breakfast, a burst of laughter marked with relief, and as I took the last bite, I leaned over to plant soft kisses on her cheeks. "Don't miss me too much, okay?" I joked lightly, and we both erupted into hearty laughter.
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As I settled into a comfortable rhythm, I crossed one leg over the other and hummed a light tune, making my way to the bus station. "Good morning!" I chimed, greeting everyone I encountered along the way. Today felt perfect in every way.
Who would have imagined that the leader of our organization would be absent for two weeks? What could possibly be so important? I pondered, but it wasn't my place to speculate as I focused on my own schedule. Just then, the bus pulled up in front of me, snapping me from my thoughts.
I swiped my card and made my way to an empty seat, sinking into the cushioned fabric as I closed my eyes. I wanted to savor every moment of this day, knowing I would be sitting here for the next thirty minutes.
Suddenly, a sharp cry pierced the air beside me, jolting me awake. I glanced at my watch and saw that we still had fifteen minutes left. "Sorry," the woman next to me mouthed apologetically, her face flushed.
"It's okay," I replied with a smile as I watched the baby quiet down after being fed from a bottle. "Oh, how beautiful," I thought, enchanted by the sight of the little one. Babies—they were simply lovely. I allowed myself to fully soak in the view outside the window, taking in the scenery as we cruised through town.
I arrived at the office building just as the clock struck 7:00 AM, surprisingly early. The halls were eerily empty, and even though I knew the official start time was set for 8:00 AM, I didn't mind being there ahead of schedule. The manager had done a commendable job stepping in as the acting CEO during our boss's absence, and I wanted to support him as best I could.
As the elevator doors opened on the first floor, I felt a sudden chill wash over me. Craving warmth, I decided to grab a coffee. Rubbing my palms together for warmth, I poured the instant powder and waited patiently for the hot liquid to fill my small cup. I intended to take it into the CEO's office to tidy up, even if I had too many questions swirling in my mind.
With my cup and bag in hand, I opened the door to my desk and set them down. The chillness of this town brushed against my skin, making me nostalgic. After pacing around for a few moments to warm up, I made my way to the CEO's office.
As I slid my official access card through the reader, the door emitted a soft click, indicating it had unlocked. A rush of anxiety surged through me, evident in my quickened heartbeat. "Urg!" I exclaimed in surprise, my grip faltering on the steaming cup of coffee in my hand. It clattered to the floor, the sound echoing sharply in the quiet office and instantly breaking the silence.
Both eyes turned toward me, and I felt a wave of embarrassment wash over my cheeks as I took in the unexpected scene before me. That couldn't possibly be the CEO standing there, I thought, my mind racing with confusion. Panic began to set in as I realized I was interrupting something important. Without a moment's hesitation, I spun on my heel and made a hasty retreat back towards the door, my heart still pounding in my chest.