Bella reached the school gate earlier than usual, her steps quick, her chest tight in the way it had been all week.
These past few days, picking Timothy up has now become the highlight of her day, his smile always melted the heaviness she carried but for unknown reason, today, she felt strange, restless and on edge.
It's just the stress, she told herself. Just everything piling up.
But her heart knew better. Her heart had been unsettled ever since she found Jake's note. Ever since she felt the ghost of everything they used to be pressing against everything they might never be.
She adjusted the strap of her bag and scanned the school premises for her son.
And then she froze when her eyes landed on him. Timothy was standing beside a car, laughing and talking to someone who was leaning down to his level.
She took a good look and realized it was Jake.
Immediately, her breath collapsed in her chest.
