I was on the balcony of a resort when I heard someone open the door, it was Felix together with Lily. "Mom!" lily exclaimed and sat beside me. "Are you okay?" Felix asks me. I nodded and gave him a small smile. I still can't believe that Isla is not with us anymore.
He held my hands this time then whispered, "I'll be here. Me and Lily," and then he smiled.
"Thank you, Felix,"
I said, feeling grateful for his support. Lily hugged me tightly, and I hugged her back. Even though she was just a child, her presence was comforting.
"I miss Isla," Lily said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I miss her too, sweetie," I replied, giving her a gentle squeeze.
Felix and I sat there with Lily, just being present with each other. We didn't need to say anything; our presence was enough. It was a small moment of solace amidst the pain and grief.
As we sat there, I couldn't help but think about Isla and how much she meant to us. She was always so full of life and energy, and her absence was felt deeply.
But I also felt a sense of gratitude for the people around me, like Felix and Lily, who were there to support me during this difficult.
"Why don't we relax?" Felix looked at me, "You want to swim, Lily?" he ask our daughter.
"At the beach? Yes!" Lily exclaimed. Felix grinned, "Alright then, let's go to the beach. It might help us clear our minds a bit," he said, looking at me.
I nodded, grateful for the distraction. The thought of being near the ocean, feeling the sand between my toes and the sun on my skin, gave me a glimmer of hope amidst the pain.
We quickly changed into our swimsuits and headed to the beach. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore was soothing, and the salty air was refreshing.
Lily ran towards the water, and Felix followed her, while I sat on the sand, watching them play. It was a beautiful moment, and I couldn't help but feel grateful for the simple pleasures in life.
As I watched them, I realized that even though Isla was gone, her memory would always be with us. And even though the pain of losing her would never truly go away, the love we had for her would always remain.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, feeling the warmth of the sun on my face and the sand between my toes. At that moment, I felt a sense of peace wash over me, and I knew that everything would eventually be okay.
"Mom! Come here!" Lily shouted. I smiled and then went to them in the water. Lily has been pushing me toward her dad, and I felt shy with Felix. I was smiling at her, then she pushed me hard enough to fall into Felix's arms.
Felix caught me easily, and we both laughed as Lily cheered in delight. I couldn't help but feel grateful for moments like these, moments of joy and laughter that broke through the sadness.
"Looks like you're in trouble, Felix," I teased as I looked up at him.
"I don't mind being in trouble if it means catching you," he replied with a grin.
I felt my cheeks heat up, and I quickly looked away, feeling embarrassed. Despite everything that had happened, I couldn't help but feel a flicker of something for Felix. It was confusing and complicated, and I didn't know what to do with those feelings.
But for now, I was content to just enjoy the moment with my family. We swam and played in the water, building sandcastles and collecting seashells. It was a simple yet perfect day, a day that I would cherish in the midst of the pain and grief.
As the sun began to set, we packed up our things and headed back to the house. Lily fell asleep in the car, and Felix carried her inside, tucking her into bed with a kiss on the forehead.
"Thank you for today," I said to Felix as we stood in the hallway.
"Anytime, Iris. I'm here for you and Lily," he replied, his gaze steady and sincere.
I felt a rush of emotions overwhelm me, and I didn't know how to respond. So I simply nodded, giving him a small smile before retreating to my room. As I lay in bed, I couldn't help but think about Felix and what his words meant. But for now, I pushed those thoughts aside, allowing myself to drift off to sleep with the memory of the perfect day at the beach.
I was sleeping in the bed with Lily while Felix slept on the couch. He said he was too tired to drive home, so I let him sleep in my room.
I was awakened in the middle of the night, then I saw Felix who couldn't sleep well.
"Felix," I whispered.
He looked at me and smiled, "I'm okay," he said.
"No, sleep here in the bed beside Lily," I told him, and he quickly stood up and lay down beside our daughter.
I watched them for a moment, feeling a sense of warmth and comfort at the sight of them together. It was moments like these that made me grateful for the people in my life.
I closed my eyes and tried to fall back asleep.
MAX'S POINT OF VIEW
I arrived early at Iris's house to comfort her. I know that she's still sad and in pain after all that happened. I went inside her house and went directly to her room to check on her, but I was astounded because of what I saw.
They look like a real family. I mean they are - but it looks so much cuter when Felix and Iris got back together. They were peacefully sleeping in Iris's room, so I quietly close the door and stayed in the living room, waiting for them to wake up. It seems like they got so tired when they went swimming yesterday.
As I waited for them to wake up, I couldn't help but feel happy for them. Seeing them together like that, it was clear that they still cared for each other deeply. It was like they had found a way to put aside their differences and come together for the sake of their daughter.
I wondered if they had talked about getting back together, or if they were just taking things one day at a time. Either way, it was clear that their love for each other had not completely faded away.
After a few hours, I heard movement coming from Iris's room. I got up from the couch and walked towards her room, ready to greet them when they came out.
"Good morning," I said as Felix and Iris emerged from the room, rubbing their eyes.
"Hey, thanks for coming early," Iris said with a smile.
"Of course, I'm always here for you," I replied.
Felix nodded in agreement, and we all sat down in the living room. We talked about Isla and how much we all missed her. It was still hard to believe that she was gone.
"Did Nathan leave already?" Iris asked.
"Yes, he left already. When I saw Nathan cried I felt like crying too," I said.
"They were best friends too, they shared a lot of childhood memory, so I'd understand Nathan," Iris said and I nodded.
"It must have been hard for him too," I added.
Iris sighed and leaned back on the couch. "I just can't believe she's gone," she said softly.
"I know. It's hard to accept," I replied.
"It's really hard to lose someone you're close to," I said, feeling a pang of sadness.
"I just wish Isla was still here," Iris said, her voice breaking.
"I know, it's tough," I replied, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"I keep thinking about all the things I wish I had said or done differently," Iris said, tears streaming down her face.
"Isla knew how much you loved her, Iris. And she wouldn't want you to blame yourself for anything," I said, trying to offer some comfort.
"I just feel so lost without her," Iris said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"We're all here for you, Iris. And we'll get through this together," I said, giving her a hug.
I knew that no words could ease her pain, but I hoped that my presence and support could bring her some comfort during this difficult time.
"How's your book?" Felix ask me.
"It's doing well. Lance was the one who design the book cover, and it was amazing," I said, smiling.
"That's great to hear! Lance has always been talented," Felix said with a smile. "I'm really proud of you for publishing your book."
"Thank you, Felix," I replied, feeling grateful for his support.
We continued to chat about my book and other topics, and it felt like old times when we were just friends hanging out. I couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and comfort being around Felix again.
After a while, Lily woke up from her nap and joined us in the living room. We spent the rest of the day playing games and watching movies together.
Even though we had been through a lot of ups and downs, it felt good to be together again, to have each other's support and love.
"Are you two back together?" Felix asks, smirking at me.
"No, we're not. We're back at being friends, and I'm happy being friends with him," I smiled.
Being friends with Lance made things a lot better for me. We already talked about our past, and fix things between us. We decided to stay friends, it's the best for us.
"That's good to hear," Felix replied with a nod.
I felt relieved that Felix wasn't pushing the idea of getting back together with Lance. I knew he just wanted what was best for me, but it was a decision that I needed to make on my own.
"How about you and Iris? Are you guys giving it another try?" I asked, curious.
Felix smiled at me, "We're taking it slow, but I'm hopeful," he replied while Iris just gave me a small smile.
I was happy for them. It was clear that they still had feelings for each other, and it seemed like they were both willing to work things out. It was a testament to their love and commitment to each other.
"Well, I'm here to support you both, whatever happens," I said with a smile.
"Thanks, Max," Felix said, and Iris nodded in agreement.
"That means a lot to us," Iris added.
We sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, enjoying each other's company. It was nice to see them both looking happier and more at ease with each other.