and neither is more valuable than the other. I’ll always be with you, to look over you and our family, but it’s time for you to say goodbye to me. I want you to live life again. I need you to do it… for me, for you, for her, and our babies.”
“I struggle with the way I feel for her every day. I made vows to you, Bay, and it feels like I’m betraying you.”
“Till death do us part, Aiden Pierce. Do you understand me?”
I nodded, unable to form words again.
“She makes you very happy. She brought the light back into our home. She loves our babies, and Journey already thinks she’s her mother. It doesn’t hurt me, Aiden. It sets me free.”
“It’s always been me and you against the world, Beauty.”
“We beat the odds. The world isn’t against us anymore. You made sure of it.”
“I didn’t save you.”
“You couldn’t. Life works in mysterious ways. It’s ugly and beautiful at the same time. We’ve seen both sides and now our babies will have to. I’m so sorry for doing that to you and them, but I don’t want them to stop living because of it.”
“It’s not your fault, Bay.”
“You deserve to love again.”
With my voice breaking, I muttered, “I’ll always love you, Bailey Button, not to be confused with belly button.”
She laughed, and it lit up her entire face. “That’s still corny as ever.”
I couldn’t help myself, holding her face in between my hands I kissed her forehead, her cheeks, the tip of her nose. Bringing her closer to me.
“I’ll always love you, Aiden Pierce. I need you to tell my babies that I love them too. That I will always live in their hearts.”
“You’ll always live in my heart, no matter what. You will always be a part of me. I love you, Bailey Pierce. I just don’t know how to say goodbye to you, Bay.”
She smiled with tears streaming down her cheeks. “It’s simple…” Taking my face in her hands, she peered deep into my gaze.
Whispering, “You just need to open your eyes and wake up.”
<>Camila<>
I stirred awake only because Aiden was moving around so much, mumbling as if he was having a really intense dream.
I guess he was a light sleeper.
Yawning, I stretched. Feeling right at home with him beside me. It was the scariest sensation, handing your heart over to someone else. Praying they wouldn’t hurt you.
I told myself I was just being paranoid, but panic was creeping on in. I couldn't shake this awful feeling. Maybe I was reading too much into it, but then he groaned, “You will always be a part of me. I love you, Bailey Pierce,” in his sleep.
All my insecurities.
My concerns.
My doubts.
They were all blatantly staring me in the face, coming out of the mouth of the man I knew would hurt me in the end.
Camila, how could you be so stupid?
My heart dropped.
All the air left my lungs.
And it wasn’t just my heart I fucked up. I loved his kids, and now my job would be on the line after this.
Hearing those words gutted me. I went from feeling so special, to so unwanted in a matter of seconds. The pain of his words drowning me in a sea of pain.
How could I face him? His kids? His family?
They weren’t yours. They never were. This man still loves his wife.
You’ll never be good enough.
You’ll always live in her shadow.
You’re. Not. Bailey.
Run…
I didn’t think twice about it. I softly slipped out of the bed, careful not to wake him. Sneaking into the dark closet to grab my clothes and shoes, I tiptoed out of my room.
Once I was in the hallway and he couldn’t hear me, I darted toward the stairs. My feet rushing so fast down the steps, I almost tripped and ate shit. At the last second, I caught myself on the railing, but it didn’t stop my foot from rolling sideways.
“Fuck!” I exclaimed in pain, holding onto my ankle. “Shit!”
Slowly, I limped out the front door, trying not to put any weight on my left foot. The pain radiated up my leg, causing tears to well up in my eyes. Making it hard to see two feet in front of me, but I needed to get out of there quick.
“Ow!” I hobbled past his SUV, not wanting to take it knowing he could track it. The last thing I wanted to do was talk to him right now.
At least not yet.
Not with how I was feeling.
So I