The Bond Between Us (Anastasia and Herman)

Anastasia knew Herman was going to ask.

"She's my half-sister," she said, her voice wavering. Then she looked at him, uncertain. "So... these last few months, you've been with Sandy? Were you two...?"

She couldn't finish the sentence. She had her suspicions about Sandy's motives, but the thought of it made her heart ache.

"No," Herman said, his voice cool and clear. "Nothing happened between us. Nothing at all."

He left out the part about pretending to be a couple with Sandy these past months. He couldn't bring himself to tell Anastasia-he didn't want to hurt her more than she already was.

"Oh." Anastasia's eyes lost their light, but she let it go. "Have you been hanging around Blossom Lane Night Market lately? That cherry earring... you dropped it, didn't you?"

He nodded, his gaze deep and searching. "I don't remember much, but I just had this feeling that the earring mattered. That street, too—it felt like home. I didn't know what I was waiting for, or who, but after a while, I realized it was you."

Anastasia blinked back tears. "There's somewhere I want to take you. Maybe it'll help you remember."

He gave her a small, hopeful smile. "Alright."

An hour later, Anastasia led Herman to Harmony Meadows.

Their old apartment looked exactly the same as it had years ago, every little thing untouched, like time had stood still.

As she opened the door, a flood of memories rushed in. Sunlight poured through the windows, painting golden shapes on the floor. Dust danced in the warm light.

Anastasia glanced at Herman before stepping inside. She ran her fingertips along the dining table where they'd shared so many meals, then over the couch where they'd spent lazy evenings watching TV.

She pushed open a window, and a breeze swept in. Even the shriveled succulent on the balcony seemed to perk up, soaking in the sunshine like it remembered happier days.noveldrama

She started to tell their story, her voice soft and steady. "Three years was

ago, we met in a coffee shop. supposed to meet someone for blind date, but I mixed you up him your names sounded so alike. That same afternoon, we went and got married. When you got back from your first business trip, I moved in here with you..."

Herman listened quietly from the living room.

As she spoke Anastasia's voice grew steadier, her memories grounding her. "We learned about each other, little by little. You told me you were just an ordinary guy, working odd jobs, no parents no place to live. Later, I found out this apartment was yours all along. And then I discovered you were the one running Elysian Technologies. There was this huge gap between us..."

She hesitated, eyes downcast. "Then we had a baby. Our second one. But he never got the chance to see this world..."

It still hurt, even after all this time. If their baby had lived, he'd be almost two now -probably calling her Mom.

She spared him the worst of it, never mentioning what Grannie Anita had done.

She gently took his hand. "Pattie was our first child. Eight years ago, at Neon Dreams. You probably don't remember-I only put it all together recently myself."

His hand was warm in hers, but his face stayed blank, as though she was telling him someone else's story.

Anastasia looked at him, her eyes full of longing, searching for even a flicker of the love she used to see there. She wanted to believe he was really back. But right now, he just felt like a familiar stranger.

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"Honey, we both let Pattie down," she whispered. "She was the child we didn't even know we had, the little girl fate brought back to us. She's been hurt, and cried, and felt so alone. You used to worry about her so much. Don't you remember any of it?"

Herman pressed his lips together, silent. He knew anything he said would only hurt her more.

He turned and stepped out onto the balcony, his eyes falling on the dried-up succulent. Suddenly, flickers of memories began to flash in his mind. He looked back at her.

"Anastasia,” he said softly, "I think I'm starting to remember."