Dawn packed up breakfast for Amy while the twins rushed out like they always do, barely even waiting for her "bye." She walked Amy outside and then just… kept going. She didn't want to go straight home, her head was too full. So she took a walk through the New York streets, watching life do its thing like it didn't care she was falling apart inside.
Couples walking hand in hand, some workers literally running like they're about to lose their jobs, others trying to catch the bus with coffee spilling everywhere. Kids getting all grumpy because—school. Dawn smiled small, but then her smile just kinda… dropped. Tears slid down before she even realized it.
She had kids, yeah, but they already grown. She wished—deep inside—that she had her own child too. A baby she'd raise from the start, teach her things, walk her to school, play that silly horseback riding game with Adam again. She wanted her family back to normal, like before everything broke. But wishing didn't fix anything, so what was the point?
* * * * * *
Meanwhile, Adam left the house for a stroll too, his brain literally doing marathon inside his skull. He kept thinking what he did to Ava to make her act distant like that, like she didn't even want to look at him, not to talk of talk to him. He tried remembering the good old days when they use to walk in the park and sit to watch children run around, how they planned to have one too. Ava always reading her books like a nerd and he disturbing her every chance. He smiled at the memory but the smile couldn't stay, it just died. Because all of that felt like past-tense now.
Ava didn't want park walks again, didn't want children talks again… and then suddenly there was this new face in his mind anytime he thought about kids. He didn't understand why. His head started booming like a speaker about to blow. He grabbed it tight, eyes squeezing shut.
"Stop, stop, please just stop," he muttered, not even sure who he was talking to.
Someone tapped him and he jumped a bit, blinking fast.
"You okay?" the person asked.
He turned. "Oh it's you. Dawn? What are you doing here?" he asked, surprised.
"Are you okay?" Dawn asked, worry all over her face.
"I don't know, it's like… my head was about to explode or something. I had some terrible thoughts," Adam said, rubbing his temples.
"You should go see a doctor," Dawn said, real concern showing.
"There's no need, I'm fine now," he said, brushing it off like it was nothing.
Dawn sighed. "I just wanted to clear my head."
"Same. Ava's been ignoring me and I don't even know why," he said, mood dropping again.
"I'm sorry," Dawn replied softly, but deep down she was also wondering why Ava was doing this to her own husband.
"I assume you're still thinking about your ex-husband?" Adam asked, dragging her back from her thoughts.
"Yeah… but I don't want to be a third wheel or the reason his condition gets worse," Dawn said.
"I want to surprise her," Adam said out of nowhere. "I'm thinking of getting her a rose and a bunch of books."
Dawn's heart literally cracked a little. She remembered how he used to bring her flowers and chocolates, just to tease her and make her smile. She tried to hide her emotions but of course she failed; tears slipped down.
"Why are you crying?" Adam asked, confused.
"I'm fine," she said quickly, wiping her eyes. "Just remembering how my husband use to bring me flowers too."
"Everything will be fine," Adam assured her, and she forced a small "thank you" before going home. Adam headed off to buy Ava her gift.
* * * * * *
Back at the Manchester house, the whole place smelled like tomato puree and cheese pudding. Ava was cooking and thinking about Adam. She felt guilty for yelling at him and also angry at herself. She wanted him to apologize and say he would never distrust her again but how could he apologize for something he didn't even remember?
Her phone rang. She wiped her hands on a towel and picked it.
"Hello," she answered.
"Hi, Ava. It's Dawn. I met Adam today," Dawn said.
"Oh. Okay."
"He said you're ignoring him. Why are you hurting him, Ava?" Dawn asked.
"That's between me and Adam. It has nothing to do with you," Ava shot back.
"I think it has everything to do with me. Adam is my husband and I'm rooting for his well-being," Dawn said.
"Well you're doing a great job at that but also doing a terrible job minding your business. Get off my back, Dawn."
"What's wrong with you, Ava? Why this anger?" Dawn asked, confused.
But Ava couldn't talk anymore. Tears were already filling her eyes as she remembered being accused, yelled at, the look Adam had in his eyes that day… she even left but he didn't even come after her. She felt sad. And angry. And hurt. Everything mixing.
"Hello?" Dawn called again, but Ava couldn't answer. She ended the call and slumped on the couch, crying.
Just then Adam walked in, flowers in one hand, books in the other. He froze when he saw her.
"What happened? Ava why are you crying?" he asked, rushing to her side.
"You hurt me, Adam. And then you pretend nothing is wrong," Ava said through tears.
"I don't know what I did, Ava, but I'm sorry. I never wanted to hurt you," he said softly.
"No, you're just saying that. You don't love me," she whispered.
"How can you say that?" Adam said, his voice steady. "That's not true. I don't know where you got that from but I promise you that it's not true."
Ava looked at him. He meant it; at least, the version of him standing here did. But she was scared. If he remembered the truth someday… he'd leave her again. This moment would be gone.
She hugged him anyway, apologizing, and he hugged her tightly back. He gave her the flowers and the novels. She smiled through her tears.
"Aww, you're so sweet," she whispered. She served him lunch, and they ate in peace.
* * * * * *
Dawn sat on her couch, holding her phone. Confusion and sadness mixing in her chest.
Alex sat beside her and rubbed her shoulder. "Everything will be okay," she said gently.
"I keep hearing that, Alex. But nothing is ever okay. Nothing," Dawn said, voice breaking.
"That's not true," Alex whispered, hugging her as Dawn finally let the tears fall freely.
Her phone buzzed again; a text message.
From Tara.
Dawn's heart skipped. Fear grabbed her chest.
Should she open it?
Or ignore it before it ruins everything?
She just stared at it, hands shaking.