Serena
The morning sunlight streamed through the forest, casting a subdued warmth over the breakfast table. The four of us—Ashford, Alexei, Damon, and I—sat in heavy silence, each lost in our own thoughts. The clinking of utensils against plates was the only sound, creating an uncomfortable atmosphere that seemed to stretch the limits of our hidden emotions.
I glanced at Damon, his eyes distant as he mechanically moved food around his plate. A knot tightened in my stomach as I gathered the courage to break the hovering silence.
"Damon, can we go to see our baby's grave today? I... I want to see it," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. Since the death of our baby, I hadn’t been able to see its grave. Admittedly, I lacked the necessary courage to do so, yet today, I mustered enough to ask my husband about it.
Damon's gaze met mine, but there was a distance in his eyes. His detachment sent a shiver down my spine, a constant reminder of the growing rift between us. Since the attack, Damon became increasingly quiet and melancholic. I understood that he was grieving the loss of Roman and our child at the same time, yet his method of coping means detaching himself from me and the others, which worries me.
Ashford and Alexei exchanged glances, their concern mirrored in their eyes. And yet, they chose to say nothing.
Damon hesitated before finally responding, "I have some training to do, Serena. Maybe another time."
His words struck me like a blow. Once again, I was reminded of the growing distance between us. The breakfast table felt like a battlefield of unspoken sorrow. I lowered my gaze, fighting back tears, and resumed my futile attempts at eating. As the weight of disappointment settled over me, Damon stood up.
“I need to go. Ryan and the rest are probably waiting.”
The tears I fought hard not to stream down my face finally gave in. My heart ached seeing Damon and me like this, but what could I do? With that, I settled with going to the grave myself. I realized I couldn't bear to postpone this any longer. I needed to have that closure if I wanted to get past this grief.
Ashford then spoke up, saying, "Serena, Alexei and I are free today. If you want, we'll take you to your child’s grave."
Their words brought a mix of relief and gratitude, earning a nod of approval from me. We left the silent breakfast table and went straight to the thing I had been avoiding for the past month.
I felt a lump in my throat as I looked at the grave marker, a quiet reminder of the short time our child was with us. The gravestone, decorated with gentle flowers, seemed to capture the fragile essence of the moment.
“My baby…I whispered as I approached the grave.
Moving closer, my tears started to fall uncontrollably. The pain I had kept inside for a while finally let go, releasing its hold on my heart. With this stinging pain lingering inside, Damon’s coldness didn’t matter much.
Life was truly unjust. If not, then at least destiny should have given me a chance to say goodbye to my child before he was buried. He was taken away from me that easily and was deprived of the choice of whether to save him or not. Where was the justice in that? It was really unfair.
I slowly descended to the ground, feeling that all of my strength had been taken away from me. I continued to sob until all my tears were gone.
Alexei and Ashford scooched down and hugged me, and I allowed them. How could I ever continue after this tragedy? I was certain I would never get over the death of my child.
Just then, I remembered Damon. He should have been beside me as I swam in the sea of grief, yet he chose to continue training instead of standing beside me to weather this storm. Resentment flooded my senses. How long should Damon continue to ignore me like this?
After the visit, I sought solace and went to Alicia’s cabin. She had been a source of strength as I battled the loss of my child with my absentee husband. Her motherly affection was something I appreciated during these difficult times.
“Serena! What brings you here, darling?” Alicia exclaimed as she widened her creaky front door.
I tried my best to give her my sweetest smile in return. “I came here to have a sip of your magical tea,” I replied with a mischievous wink.
“Just in time. Come on in.”
I stepped inside the cabin and sat on the only chair she had other than the one she was using. I whispered a soft but grateful ‘thank you’ upon her handing a cup of her delicious tea.
I sipped the hot contents of my cup and let the comfort linger on me for a moment as I savored it. Just then, Alicia spoke.
“Tell me, darling. Is something bothering you?” I forgot that Alicia was a clairvoyant, so lying would not help my situation. I took a deep breath before stating my concern. “It’s about my husband. As the days go by, I feel he is drifting farther and farther away from me.”
“Maybe you both need some time apart, darling,” she stated as she put her cup down. “Separation sometimes brings personal growth. It allows you to appreciate each other more when you reunite, adding strength to your connection."
“You think so?” I hesitated. Although there was no denying that Alicia’s words held some wisdom, I still couldn’t comprehend that she would suggest us to be apart to bring us closer together.
“You know, darling, I am planning to go back to my pack after so many years.” She held my hand and smiled. “Why don’t you come with me? I’m sure you will love Asteria.”
I was caught off guard with Alicia’s suggestion. Admittedly, a part of me wanted to believe her words, that whatever Damon and I were going through would be resolved by some time apart. Yet another part couldn’t bear the thought of being separated from him.
So, what would I do?
Alicia, ever perceptive, provided an escape to my dilemma. “I would be leaving tomorrow night, around 6 PM. I guess it would be enough time for you to think about my offer. In case you accept my invitation, you know where to find me.”
With that, I went back to the camp, still contemplating what to do next.