Anya woke up the next day feeling empty. Last night, she remembered scrubbing herself in the bath so hard, trying to erase the touch and smell of those disgusting men that laid her.
She remembered crying herself to sleep, and even in her dreams, she was haunted by nightmares.
So now that she woke up, she felt awful. She already felt very tired.
In the past, no matter how hard it is, she always felt hope. That if she worked hard, her life would turn for the better.
But now, she was staring to question life.
She already did her best, she already gave her all. What is it not enough? Why was it always like this? When she feels she’s starting to go back up, suddenly she would be crushed in the ground again.
She didn’t want to get up, she didn’t want face life. She had done everything, but it was still futile.
Maybe it was true that she was cursed. Life and destiny hated her. Her life was nothing but a joke.
Her phone suddenly rang. It was right beside her. She wasn’t planning to pick it up, but then she saw it was her grandmother.
She sighed, and tried her best to answer the phone.
“Anya, dear? You didn’t call last night,” Grandma greeted the moment it was answered. Anya pursed her lips as she heard these words.
Ever since she arrived here, she had been in contact with her Grandma that was still on France. Which was one of her major problems right now.
When she left the capital, she was concerned on how to handle her Grandma’s matters. Damon was the one who arrange her to be in France, and right now, Anya doesn’t know how she could shoulder the transfer and fees for her Grandma.
But she was worried so she contacted her immediately after she left the capital. And surprisingly, her Grandma was still safe and tucked inside the hospital in France. She also called the hospital about her grandmother’s state and that everything was normal and doing good.
That means Damon didn’t withdrew his support for her Grandma yet.
Anya sighed. She still doesn’t know what to do about it, so she could only dread the day Damon would throw her grandmother out. She hoped not. It was enough if he just transferred her back here.
She then shook these thoughts and cleared her throat to talk to her grandma. “I’m sorry, grandma. I was a little tired yesterday.” She explained lightly.
“Oh is that so?” Her grandmother responded normally. She then started to tell her about her day and ask for Anya’s well being.
Anya tried to act normal and answer that she was fine. After a few more words, the two dropped the call.
Anya sighed once again.
It was these reasons that even if wants to give up, her circumstances didn’t let her to. She buried herself in the sheets again and just wanted to disappear.
When suddenly, she heard a knock from the door. Her apartment was just a single roomed unit, with a bed, a kitchen and a bath. So if someone knocks, she’ll immediately hear it.
She doesn’t want to give up, but the knocks were persistent. It was not rushed, but it was steady. It looked like it will not be going away soon. So she groaned and got up to open it. She wore a robe and went to the door. She was hit by fear from last night’s trauma, but she remembered she was in her apartment and there were guards here. They wouldn’t let suspicious people enter here.
She took a deep breath and opened the door.
And at that moment, she froze. Because she saw the person she least expected it to be. “Anya,” Damon called out longingly.
He looked carefully at Anya and saw she thinned a bit. Her face was also pale, and this caused heartache to Damon.
Hearing his voice, Anya woke up from being stunned. She pursed her lips and tightened her expression. “What are you doing here?” Anya asked in a stiff voice.
Damon heard this and his heart sank. He already expected she could be angry at him, but seeing it now, he still felt awful.
“Are you alright?” These were what came out first from his mouth.
Because it was his major concern. If she was alright. Was she hurt? Is she okay? Anya looked away and answered in a low voice.
“I’m fine.”
She clenched her hands. She wasn’t ready to face him now. She knew she needed to negotiate with him with a lot of things, but right now, she was very tired.
“If that’s all, please, can we have this another time. I’m not ready to talk to you yet.” She admitted as she tried to close the door.
Damon immediately stopped her actions by his hand.
“Please, Anya, let me explain.” He pleaded, as he saw she was not willing to speak to him. Looking at her not meeting his eyes and just looking down, he bit his lips and said with a sincere voice.
“I’m sorry.”
Anya stiffened when she heard this.
“I’m sorry, I left without saying anything. I shouldn’t have left you. Love, I’m sorry.” He added with a pleading voice.
Anya felt her breath hitched. She shut her eyes, as she was very drained, she had no capacity to take this all in.
“Please, I’m very tired right now. I, I don’t know.” Anya also couldn’t understand herself, so she could only say such words. She closed the door again, and this time Damon didn’t stop her.
She turned around and leaned her back weakly by the door. She sighed weakly, as she was in a lost.
Damon on the other hand, was also weak. He leaned his forehead by the door, the two was against each other, but was separated with a wall between them.
Damon felt very awful inside. He doesn’t know what to do to make things right.
He couldn’t even imagine what Anya was feeling right now, so he couldn’t blame her if she wasn’t willing to face him.
But her spirit was lost, and the life on her eyes dimmed. Seeing this made Damon felt like dying. He wanted to help her. He wanted to heal her.
What does she need right now? What could he offer?
He thought of the connection between them from the start, and realized, maybe it’s time.
She needs now is a family, people she could call her home. And she has that. They were there for her. They will be her family.
.
.
Damon went back to his house. He walked inside and went directly to his son’s room. Allen, who was playing in his mat, saw his father and rushed towards him.
“Daddy! Aunt Anya? Allen want to see!” He exclaimed as he pouted.
When his daddy went home, he thought he would be bringing back with him Aunt Anya. He needs to save Aunt Anya. Hasn’t he save her yet?
Damon looked at his son, and to his bright blue eyes. The very same eyes like his mother. Looking at the eyes he just saw earlier, his heart became even more determined.
“Want to pick her up?” He asked his son as he caressed his hair. Allen’s eyes brightened as he cheered.
“Want!”
.
.
Anya woke up again from her nap that was not like a nap. She tried to sleep, but her whole being was very bothered.
Seeing Damon earlier, and remembering their talk, this did not give Anya peace of mind. Her heart and mind was in chaos, and she didn’t understand herself as well.
She thought of Damon. His presence still had an effect on her. She wondered why he did what he did?
And why was he here? If he needed to kick her out or her grand mother out of his life, he could just send someone to tell her, as she was not important. Why would he personally go here?
Anya was very conflicted right now, that even she wanted to hit herself awake. Suddenly, she heard a knock on her door again.
She jolted awake from her bead and turned towards the door. Was it Damon? Did he come back?
She hurriedly wore her robe and ran to the door.
She didn’t why she was doing this. But maybe what she truly didn’t know was her true desire to see him.
When she opened the door, she truly saw the face she was expecting. Her heart was thumping, and she was afraid if all of this was a dream.
And then, she felt a tug on her dress. She looked down, and she felt her heart came back to life. Her sweet, cute son was there, right in front of her.
Her tears welled as she looked up at Damon. She saw him nod, and smiled lovingly at her. “Love, we’re here for you.” His words came to her, and it was something she didn’t know she needed.
She felt a tug again and looked down at her child.
“Aunt Anya, are you my mommy?” The child said innocently, but there was an expectant and longing look in his eyes.
Anya felt her heart clench, as it was overflowing with feelings.
Looking at them now, she now realized what she truly wanted, and what she truly needed. It was a home. A family.
And this is where her heart belongs. To this big and small pair of men.
She kneeled in front of Allen, and hugged him on her arms. Her tears fell from her eyes, and she sobbed.
“Yes, baby. I’m your mommy..”