Old memories / happy fifth anniversary

Sophia stood frozen, her vulnerability exposed like an open wound, the scars of her past laid bare. For years, she had fought, sacrificed, and endured, believing that her devotion to Lisa's happiness and well-being would finally earn her a place in someone's heart. But no, the world was cruel.

The fight with her mother had left a bitter taste, but it was the rejection from the one person she cherished most that truly shattered her. Abigail. Her sister.

"It's over now, sister Abi, so can you be my full sister now?" Sophia took a careful step forward, a hopeful smile trembling on her lips.

But Abigail's expression remained unchanged, cold, and unreadable. Then came the words. Sharp. Ruthless. Unforgiving.

"No, I can't, Sophia. We can't be the sisters you always wished for."

Sophia stopped mid-step, her breath hitching. Confusion swirled in her eyes, quickly eclipsed by something darker, something like a storm forming in the pit of her soul.

"Please...stay away from me, Sophia. I hate everything about you, including your existence. You're a curse. Since the day you came into my life, you've taken everything that once belonged to me."

The words hit harder than a slap, burning deep, searing her heart with wounds that would never heal. She stood there, motionless, unable to comprehend the hatred spilling from the lips of the one she once adored.

Sophia's knees buckled. She clutched her chest, struggling to breathe. What about the memories? The laughter, the shared secrets, the nights they spent whispering under the covers were they all lies?

"All of that was just a charade," Abigail sneered, her voice like ice. "Or should I say the worst moments of my life? Think about it, how could I ever become one with a curse like you?"

With one final, dismissive glance, Abigail turned and walked away, disappearing into the shadows of the hallway.

Silence.

A deafening, suffocating silence.

Sophia's vision blurred with unshed tears. She wanted to scream, to chase after her sister, to demand answers. But what was left to say?

The house she had once called home was now nothing but a graveyard of broken promises.

She turned on her heel and walked out.

She didn't look back.

She couldn't.

Because looking back would only break her further.

★★★

The cold night air bit into her skin as she wandered aimlessly, her feet dragging against the pavement. The streets were empty, save for the occasional flickering streetlight, casting long, eerie shadows that seemed to follow her.

She was homeless now.

Unwanted.

A burden.

The rain began to fall. Light at first. Then heavy. Then relentless.

Lightning slashed across the sky, illuminating her figure as she dropped to her knees in the middle of the road. Her hair clung to her skin, her clothes soaked through, but she didn't care.

She wanted the rain to wash everything away.

The pain. The betrayal. The memories.

She tilted her head back, letting the downpour cascade over her face. Then, with a voice hoarse from suppressed agony, she screamed.

A raw, soul-crushing scream that tore through the silence of the night.

But no one came.

No one cared.

No one wanted her.

★★★

Warmth.

Sophia didn't realize she was shaking until she felt strong arms wrap around her, pulling her close.

Jeremy.

His embrace was steady, grounding. He held her without words, without judgment. Just an unwavering presence.

Her sobs quieted into shallow breaths, her body trembling in his hold.

Lisa stood nearby, her eyes wide with worry. "Mom…"

Jeremy stroked Sophia's back, whispering soft reassurances. "You're not alone, Sophia. You never were."

Sophia buried her face in his chest, the weight of her sorrow pressing into him. She felt a smaller pair of arms wrap around her Lisa.

"I know this might not be enough," Lisa whispered, her voice filled with emotion, "but Mom, I really love you. Please stop crying, or you'll make me cry too. And if I cry, Dad will cry. Then Yatami, and before long, everyone in this house will be drowning in tears."

Sophia let out a soft, broken laugh. She cupped Lisa's cheeks, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

Jeremy smiled at his daughter's attempt to lighten the moment. "That's why you're our diamond," he murmured.

Lisa grinned, though concern still lingered in her eyes. Yatami, standing stiffly in the doorway, hesitated. Jeremy gestured for him to join them.

Yatami hesitated. He wasn't used to warmth. To my family.

But when Jeremy called him again, he stepped forward.

He had no choice but to join the embrace.

For the first time, he felt like he belonged.

★★★

Somewhere far away, in a dimly lit room, a man stood before a massive aquarium, his gaze locked on the creature within. A mermaid, gliding through the water, her iridescent scales shimmering beneath the soft glow.

His finger traced the glass in slow, contemplative motions.

Behind him, a hooded figure cleared their throat.

"Boss," they murmured. "Jeremy has brought the android, Yatami, into his home. The one we've been monitoring."

The man's finger stilled.

"Go on."

The hooded figure hesitated. "Shall we intervene?"

The superior's lips curled into a malicious grin. "Not yet," he mused, his voice dripping with amusement. "Let them think they're safe. Let them grow comfortable."

His gaze darkened, his sinister grin widening.

"The game is afoot."

★★★

The silence that followed was no longer heavy with sorrow, but a moment of quiet understanding, a collective pause to absorb the weight of emotions in the room. Lisa's hands trembled slightly as she clasped her mother's, her fingers warm against Sophia's cool skin. Yet, her voice was unwavering, brimming with conviction.

"Happy fifth anniversary, Mom and Dad."

The words, simple yet profound, sliced through the lingering tension. They were a reminder, a tether pulling them back to the love that had always existed beneath the pain.

Sophia's eyes, once clouded with grief, shimmered with unshed tears not of sadness, but of something deeper, something long buried now rising to the surface. Love. Acceptance. The realization that despite everything, she was not alone.

Jeremy, standing a few feet away, exhaled softly, his expression softening. His usually stoic face eased into a warm smile, his gaze locked onto Sophia's. At that moment, no words were needed. The breakthrough had come.

Sophia's composure shattered.

A sob tore from her throat as she pulled Lisa into a tight embrace, clutching her daughter as if afraid to let go. Her fingers dug into the fabric of Lisa's shirt, grounding herself in the warmth, the reality of the moment. The past, once a relentless storm, had finally begun to settle.

Jeremy stepped closer, his arm a steady presence around Sophia. His touch spoke of quiet reassurance, of unspoken promises. Then, with a nod, he gestured for Lisa to step back, silently asking for a moment alone with his wife.

Lisa obeyed, retreating as her father helped Sophia to her feet, guiding her toward the doorway. She needed air, a breath of something fresh, something that didn't carry the weight of old wounds.

Lisa watched them disappear down the dimly lit hallway, the glow of the evening sun casting long shadows in their wake. A weight pressed against her side. Yatami. His presence was solid, grounding. His synthetic eyes flickered, scanning her face as if trying to decode the emotions swirling within her.

Then without a word Lisa bolted.

Yatami didn't hesitate. He followed, his movements fluid, his mind calculating every possible outcome with machine-like precision.

They reached the garage in seconds. But they weren't alone.

Jeremy and Sophia were already there, waiting.

The reinforced doors hummed softly before sliding open, revealing what lay beyond a cathedral of steel and chrome. Rows of high-performance vehicles stretched into the distance, their polished surfaces gleaming beneath artificial light. The air thrummed with latent power, engines waiting in silent anticipation.

Jeremy turned to Sophia, a silent question in his eyes.

Sophia met his gaze and nodded. No hesitation. No second-guessing. The past had already stolen too much.

She stepped toward a jet-black BMW M4, its sleek curves a reflection of her own newfound resolve. With practiced ease, she slid into the front passenger seat, her posture tense but determined.

Jeremy exhaled sharply before taking the driver's seat. His fingers skimmed over the controls, each movement precise, each action part of a ritual long ingrained.

Yatami moved without instruction, opening the door for Lisa. She climbed into the back, heart pounding, the weight of the moment pressing down on her. He followed, silent yet ever watchful.

A soft click. Seatbelts secured.

Jeremy's hands danced over the digital interface. A sequence activated. Hidden systems came to life, scanning, encrypting, preparing. The deep, guttural growl of the engine rumbled through the enclosed space like a beast awakening from its slumber.

And then—

The floor beneath them shifted.

Lisa's breath hitched as the car lifted, a concealed platform raising them above the garage floor. Below, the other cars gleamed like silent sentinels, waiting for their turn.

At the far end of the room, a hidden passage slid open, revealing a sleek, sloping exit ramp that led into the city beyond. A secret escape route. Fast. Discreet. Untouchable.

Jeremy barely glanced at it.

He gripped the wheel.

And with a single press of the accelerator—

They were gone.

The car shot forward, seamlessly merging onto the express lane. The world outside blurred into a cascade of light and shadow—towering skyscrapers, their glass exteriors shimmering like fractured mirrors under the golden hues of the setting sun. The city pulsed with life, a symphony of motion and energy, but inside the car, silence reigned.

Not an empty silence.

A charged silence.

Tension clung to the air, thick and electric, humming between them like an unspoken promise.

Lisa clutched the edge of her seat, her heart hammering against her ribs. Yatami sat rigid beside her, his synthetic gaze flickering as he processed and calculated every possible scenario ahead.

Jeremy's grip on the wheel was steady, but his mind was racing ahead, strategizing, anticipating the unknown.

And Sophia—

She stared out the window, her reflection fractured against the moving cityscape. Her fingers pressed lightly against her temple, her thoughts a labyrinth of memories and newfound resolve.

What had they just uncovered?

What awaited them at the end of this road?

None of them had the answer.

But one thing was certain.

This was only the beginning.