After an hour, Stella returned home, already in her night clothes. Her mind was a whirlwind, a haze of thoughts that she couldn't quiet. The confusion, the doubt—it all pressed heavily on her chest. She needed answers, even if they would break her.
She picked up her laptop from the bedside table, her hands trembling as she sat on the bed and opened the browser. Her fingers hovered for a moment before she typed the words "Simon Winchester," heart pounding in anticipation and fear. Immediately, thousands of pictures flooded her screen. Her eyes scanned them, a gnawing curiosity driving her forward. And then, she clicked one.
Her breath caught in her throat. The image that appeared was of him—Simon. But something was wrong.
It was a photo of him, shirtless, standing in a dimly lit room. His chiseled body was on full display, but as Stella looked closer, a sickening realization struck her. It was him, but it couldn't be him. His tattoos—the ones that had covered both of his arms, the ones she had traced with her fingers a thousand times—were gone.
Unconsciously, her hand moved to her neck, her fingers grazing over the tattoo there—his name, permanently etched into her skin. Simon. Her heart sank as the question ran through her mind like a constant, painful beat: Why does this man not have the tattoos?
The answer didn't come. Instead, confusion swept over her like a tidal wave. She stared at the photo, willing herself to find a mistake, something that would explain the disparity. But the man in the photo was too similar to Simon. His face, his body, even his eyes—it all screamed Simon. But where were the tattoos? Where was the man she had married?
Tears began to burn in the corners of her eyes, but she blinked them away. She couldn't afford to break, not yet. She picked up a photo from her bedside table—a picture of Simon that she had taken on their wedding day. It was a photo she cherished, one she kept close to her heart. She stared at it, then back at the laptop screen. The same face, the same man, but something fundamental was missing.
Her gaze fell to the death certificate on the bed, the one she had never truly been able to look at without a sharp pain in her chest. She picked it up, her fingers shaking as she held it next to the photo on her screen. This man is supposed to be dead, she thought. But this isn't him. This isn't Simon.
Her heart twisted painfully in her chest. What is happening?
She closed her eyes, her thoughts spiraling. This was a cruel joke. It had to be. But everything in her screamed that it was real. This wasn't Simon. This was someone else.
Stella's mind raced, searching for answers she didn't have. She felt her body tremble as she turned off the laptop and closed her eyes. Her heart felt as though it was shattering in her chest. She had spent so many years mourning, convinced that Simon was lost to her forever, but now she was left with more questions than she could ever have imagined.
And at the center of it all, one single, gut-wrenching question echoed in her mind: Who was the man she had loved?
PAST
Stella was now 21 years old, in the midst of an exciting chapter of her life. She was completing her internship at Polotogo Industries, a company she had always admired. Not only was she handling the company's accounts, but she was also assisting her colleagues in various tasks—no job was too big or small. Her dedication had not gone unnoticed.
One afternoon, her team manager, Earlene, called her into her office. Stella's heart raced a little, wondering what was going on. Earlene smiled warmly as Stella entered.
"Ms. Adams, you work so hard, and it's noticed. That's why I'm recommending you for a special opportunity," Earlene said, handing Stella a folder with a letter inside. "You've shown incredible dedication, and we'd love to send you on the company trip to Bali next month as a reward for your excellent work. You've been an invaluable intern, and we hope to see you here as a full-time employee once you've submitted your college project."
Stella's eyes widened with surprise and excitement. This was beyond anything she had expected. Bali. The trip was an incredible opportunity and something she would never have thought possible just a few months ago.
"Thank you, Earlene. I'm honored. I won't let you down," Stella replied, smiling brightly. Her heart felt light, filled with joy. She had worked so hard for this, and now it was all starting to fall into place.
Earlene gave her a nod of approval. "We look forward to seeing your project and having you as a part of the team. You've earned this."
After leaving the office, Stella couldn't wipe the smile off her face. She resumed her work, but her mind wandered to the upcoming trip, her graduation in December, and the future that was beginning to look so bright. Her 22nd birthday was also next month, and it seemed like everything was aligning perfectly.
As Stella stepped out of her office, her mood immediately soured when she saw him.
"Don't you understand, Rocco?" she snapped, already walking away, hoping he would get the message. But of course, he didn't. He followed her, his presence like a shadow she couldn't shake.
"Not possible, Stels," he said, lighting a cigarette, his voice steady but insistent. "I promised Simon. I've told you this a thousand times."
She halted abruptly, turning to face him, her eyes flashing with frustration. "I've told you a thousand times, too," she shot back. "If he wants to protect me, then he should come. He's disappeared. Nobody knows where he is, and frankly, I'm done searching for him. I won't waste any more time on him. So, Rocco, if you want to help him, tell your best friend to show up in front of me, instead of leaving behind stupid notes like a coward!"
With that, she spun on her heel and stormed off toward her house.
Her house—gifted to her by Gigi on her nineteenth birthday—was her sanctuary. A place that had seen both her brightest and darkest days. Mallory had her own place now, a grand manor hidden deep in a forest, far away from the noise of the world. But for Stella, the house Gigi had gifted her was where she went to heal.
Once home, she dialed Gigi's number, her heart still pounding with the adrenaline from the confrontation.
"Gigi!" Stella shouted excitedly when her grandmother picked up. "So many good things are happening today! I'm going to Bali next month!"
On the other end, Gigi's voice was warm and full of pride. "Oh, sweetheart, I'm so happy for you!"
The conversation flowed easily from there, a reprieve from everything that had happened. But in the back of Stella's mind, Rocco's words and Simon's absence still lingered, haunting her.