Chapter 2

Two weeks later, Sara resumes back to her freelance job. Even though tired and fatigue seemed to flow along with the blood on every part of her body, she still needs to work. It was already approaching twelve midnight, and Sara still outside distributed agencies brochures until she totally forgotten about the time. That explained the lesser trains and the number of people passing by and left her sitting alone weakly on the bench, looking at the reflection on the glass of the opposite side of the train.

Hanie was recovering well from her pneumonia, her body temperature has also dropped back to the normal levels, and she was no longer having violent coughing fits. Doctors had also received the results of Dylan compatibility tests, either matched or not, Sara has to wait the arrival of them but for now, Hanie was getting much better and she could not ask for more. Sara smiled to herself relief flooding her chest.

"I've not seen you smile like this for once ever since we met." A soothing deep voice interrupted her thoughts, and she looked up from the bench to see Stefan in front of her. How is he suddenly shows up here? She thought.

Sara just smiled up at him. "I am happy. It's just wonderful that Hanie is recovering well. I cannot be more thankful for this.. For now, it's one down but there are more to go." Stefan took a deep breath and he grab hold both Sara's palm. "We'll survive this, Sara. We'll fight our way through together. I'll make sure of that."

At that point, Sara just realized the sense of security which Stefan simply had provided for both him and Hanie but she can't help but think of their painful memories. "Survive? Fight, huh? Things do not work just because you think they will, Stefan. We don't always succeed." Sara was quick to point out in a bitter tone, before the realization of saying too much once again hit her as she saw Stefan's face was expressionless, and she thought the male must have been offended by her outspoken blunt words.

Sara mentally cursed herself for being such an idiot as Stefan were already being a big help to her at least he did not deserve those words. The silence was making her nervous, and she started thinking of how she should offer apologies. "Stefan, I didn't mean what I said. I wasn't thinking properly. You know how I tend to talk without thinking sometimes, so it just blurted out like that-"

"No. You're right, I don't always succeed." Stefan said, his face went stoic. "It is because you blurted it out that I knew you meant the truth." He continued, "If only you gave it a thought well before you spoke. I know very well what you are referring to, Sara. Our failed marriage. Correct?"

Sara inhaled and exhaled softly. It was useless to fight over it when it was the truth. She just nodded. "I have failed my first marriage and I don't wish to failed as a mother to my only daughter." She could feel the tears coming again.

This had to be the greatest dilemma she had ever faced ever since the separation incident. "I don't want her to die, but." Sara started crying again and suddenly, being around Stefan was becoming incredibly suffocating. She needed to run from everything. "Sorry, I have to go, I need some time alone." Everything was so messy; life was playing such a cruel joke with her and she did not know if she could take it any longer.

Sara always told herself, she would do anything on earth to save Hanie. If she could die in exchanged for Hanie's life, she would. She fastened her footsteps in weakened state and all of a sudden, the world around her moving in circles. Her knees felt heavy with the emotional burden on her shoulders. Sara collapsed. However, before she could hit the ground, she felt someone secure her waist in a strong grip and then. darkness took over.

#

Stefan staring towards Sara, she fall asleep the moment she was brought to the passenger seat next to him. Earlier on, when she passed out, Stefan quickly rushes her to the nearby twenty-four hours clinic for a check. Her reports mentioned that she was fine only that she was overcome by stress and also suggested for some necessary test in which Sara rejected.

Now he does not know where Sara lives, so he drives back to his apartment. Opening the front door, he unbuckled Sara's safety belt before cautiously scooping her up in his arms, cradling her protectively against his chest. Walking into the apartment with Sara still sleeping soundly in his arms, he took the stairs up to the second level and made his way into one of the two guest's rooms and gently laid Sara down on the queen size bed.

He then reached out the huggable pillow from the closet and placed it gently in Sara's arms, watching how she instinctively wrapped themselves around it. He watched her sleep peacefully. She looks so beautiful even in her sleep. So sweet, she looks like a doll. Watching her, Stefan could not help it but lean over to lay a kiss on his former wife soft cheeks.

He could not help it but to leaned down closer to lay a kiss on Sara's forehead. 'Oh, why do my heart beating so fast?' Stefan leaned closer again but this time round, he placed a kiss on Sara's soft cherry lips directly.

(Flashback)

"You want a divorce just because I hang around with my ex-girlfriend? Or because I'm not ready to be a father yet? I know you can't wait to have your own child, Sara. But this is ridiculous seriously." Stefan snapped his anger.

"Yes, Stefan, yes. Let me go. We are both just wasting our lives together, because we will never want the same things. We are married couple but you shamelessly hanging out with Tiffany. I thought we were together because we loved each other, but obviously, I was mistaken." Sara said with uncontrollable tears flowing. She drew in a deep breath, eyes closed, and when they opened again, her eyes looked terribly puffy.

"I love you so much, Stefan, and I want to be a mother to your children, but I can't have that because you've made it very clear that you do not want to be a father yet and that means I have to sacrifice something. I won't abort this innocent child but I will let go our marriage."

"I'm going to the courthouse tomorrow. It's best that we cut our losses before we hurt each other further. You can have fun with Tiffany after this. No one is stopping you."

#

"Now things have got out of control. I hope this is the last time of blaming game we'll speak of in this room." Dylan firmly said towards his younger brother. "Blaming each other is the easiest thing to do when problems arise in a marriage, and while I admire your willingness to take responsibility, that's never the solution.

A relationship takes two people to make or break it, either by trying to make it work or by giving up. So, my next question is, are you both willing to move on and work towards the solution? It won't be easy or painless."

"Stefan, you will take the responsibilities of Sara's hospital appointments and when your child is born, keep on supporting with monthly monetary and so on. The child will stay and remained with Sara all the time. You can't separate them. Can you both agree to that?"

(End of Flashback)

I woke up feeling disoriented because I had that bad dream again. Honestly, I dislike it so much. Although my headache has subsided with sleep, it's still pounding right now. Here I am in his place, I know because his scent is everywhere. Oh how much I missed this. Sara, stop. Before irrational panic surges through me, I should get out from here fast.

I rise and make my way downstairs, finding the only soft fluorescent lamp from the living room. I saw the clock ticking almost five am. I have to get back to work so I grabbed my backpack from the couch and leave quietly. Before I could step out, my heart suddenly aches when I saw three photo frames hanging on the wall.

On the left it's him, Stefan. The center frame is our child Hanie when's she's still a baby and on the right, a photo of myself. "I hate you, Stefan." Finally I walk away to the doorway and leaves the apartment.

"But I still want you, Sara. You've no idea how regret I am for letting you go five years ago." Stefan expresses his regrets to an unknown. When Sara leaves, he was in the kitchen but he decided to let her go. Not stopping her from leaving. Perhaps next time he will.