+++

Home wasn't that far from where I lived, it took me almost half an hour to get there; and taking the bus made me realise how much I missed it all honestly. Luckily I found the right bus and hopped on.

The bus wasn't that packed. The front of the bus was filled with elderly people sitting down as busy business men stood with either phones in the palm of their hand or placed again their ear. I shuffle down in the bus, sitting in an empty seat that was next to a boy.

I take a seat, my eyes zoning on the outside as houses and trees pasted by slowly. My thoughts break for a second or so as I look down seeing the young boy- no older than 4- mutter words at his game console. Without realising a sigh leaves my mouth.

I comb my hand through my hair, as vivid words ring in my mind making fresh tears resurface. I bite my lower lip as I tried to push the words back into the corner of my mind but it was hard. It only made my vision blurry because I tried too hard,

"Are you okay?"

A little voice broke out. I look down beside me seeing vibrant blue eyes look up giving me the cutest puppy look which made my heart swell a little, I smile as I nod once,

"I'm okay, what's your name"

He smiled wide showing me his little dimple on his left cheek,

"Jake"

I smile mirroring him as I speak,

"That's a perfect name for a handsome man Jake"

I said. His eyes sparkled as I commented him. He spun around on his seat as I followed his actions,

"Mummy did you hear that, she called me handsome!"

He spoke almost as a whisper covering his lips with his hand, like a secret. He only made me chuckle as he clearing failed to whisper since it came out more as a statement. I fully turn, seeing the woman sat behind as she bounced a baby in her arms.

The mother was no older than her late 20s, Jake clearly getting his blue eyes from his mother. She faced me as she gave a warm smile, me returning one back. Suddenly the baby started crying as she quickly tore her gaze from me to the baby singing a soft lullaby.

I give the mother some space as I look back down at Jake who was already looking up at me with awe. I bop his nose as I question; my mind slowly drifting away from Noah,

"Where you heading to handsome?"

"Mummy can I speak to her? You told me to speak with strangers unless they're nice"

I laugh lightly throwing my head back a little at his words, mum also following,

"Of course you can baby"

Jake clapped his hands as he gave the game console to his mum through the gap between his seat and mine. He sat back down, his eyes back on me, giving me his full attention,

"I'm going home, you have pretty eyes and a pretty smile, what's your name?"

"Woah slow down there handsome! Thank you, are you sure my eyes are pretty and not puffy? And lastly my name is Lily"

"Lily that's a flower name! Lilies are my favourite flower from now on. What's your favourite flower Lily?"

He spoke happily as he held onto my hand. He entwined his fingers with mine making me look down as a broken image replaces. In front of me, there was a large hand overtaking my small one. I blink a few times as the image scattered away; now finding a small hand in mine instead,

"Mine are red roses,"

I spoke as I whispered in his ear. He crawled on his seat, sitting with his legs folded, coming close to my ear. He tucked a loose strand of hair as he whispered,

"I'll get you loads of roses. I promise"

I giggled as my heart swelled a little, he moves towards my lap making himself comfortable, my hands instantly cradling him close as the roads ahead now became little bumpy,

"He's such a sweetheart"

I say, my words directed at the mum. I move up a seat since Jake was on my lap. She took a seat beside me as she gave a warm smile speaking,

"Normally he doesn't open up, I guess you have an aura for it. Even I could sense it and I barely know you"

I look down seeing Jake flutter his eyes, trying to keep them open. I pat his hair down as his body relaxes into mine. His breaths becoming a little slower, at a steady pace,

"You can sleep Jake, I'll wake you up when it's your stop"

He nodded a couple of times, snuggling in closer. There was a peaceful silence around us for about 20 minutes before the mother spoke up,

"Oh this is our stop, Jake hon-"

"It's okay, I'll help you drop him off. Besides it's my stop also"

I say as I look around seeing the familiar neighbourhood come up,

"No no it's fine really"

"Please, let me help besides, I don't have the heart to wake him up, he's too peaceful in my arms"

She shook her head giving in as she gave a grateful smile,

"Thank you Lily, your such a sweetheart"

I moved Jake so that he had his arms wrapped around my neck, his legs around my waist, head buried in my neck that left small tingles. Both Claire- the mother, and I leave the bus we walk down a familiar road. We turn round a corner and quickly enough my house pops up.

Scrunching my eyes, my steps slowly becomes slower, making Claire take the lead. I find myself coming to a complete stop as I call out,

"Er Claire where do you exactly live?"

"Just over there"

She said as the pointed towards the house next to mine,

"Claire..."

She stopped as she looked around facing me,

"What's wrong Lily? Do you want me to take Jake?"

I smile wide as I face the mother of 2 who had a worried look plastered on her face. I shake my head as the words that leave my mouth is said in a somewhat happy tone,

"No no, I just wanted to point out that I literally live next to you. That's my place"

Her face drops as she almost screams,

"No way! Your Lily!! How could I not know?! Sarah always talked about her daughter. No wonder your name sounded familiar when you said it"

"You know my mother?"

I asked curiously. She gives me a grin as she replies happily,

"Of course hun. We were best mates back in our days. Oh them good days we had"

I nod as bits start to fall in place, remembering my mother talk about back in the day,

"Ah yeah, mum always spoke about you. Sometimes I thought she loved you more than she did with her own daughter"

I said as a chuckle left my lips at the end of the sentence. Claire also chuckled as she shook her head. She pushed her buggy down the pathway until she stopped at her front door as we both held a light conversation,

"Would you like to come in before you go?"

"Sure, a few minutes can't hurt"

+++

"Babe I'm home!"

A voice shouted its way into scene. I was sat on the sofa as I flicked through random channels. I heard footsteps approach the living room. I tear my eyes from the TV screen that was mounted up on the wall and faced the opening of the door that led to the hallway.

I already had a smile plastered on my face before it fell as I came face to face with a very familiar face. I feel the remote control slip from my fingers as I slowly stand, my eyes widening at the person in front of me. They held a phone in their hand before that too collided with the floor.

"Lily?!"

They stutter,

"Luke wh- what are you doing here?"

He walks into the living room, coming to stand a distant away from me,

"I live here Lily. \The question is, what are you doing here?"

I blink multiple times before it hit me. I didn't know what to do or say. My mind filled with so many negative possibilities of how this would end. It consumed my mind to the point it drove me crazy. The event that happened hours ago resurfacing. My anxiety grew, I blurted out,

"You can't tell him! Swear that you won't tell him! Say it dammit! Swear that you won't say a word!"

"Woah woah woah, slow down. I won't. I think I know that as soon as I saw you here in my house, in my living room"

I fall to the floor, this time as I muttered to myself with my hands grabbing fistfuls of my hair,

"You can't... don't... I won't... no... no"

I spoke, the event which happened hours ago resurfacing clear in my mind. I pull my knees to my chest as I cover my ears, random words leaving my mouth,

"Hey hey it's okay"

Luke says as he tries to soothe me. He crouches down also as he places both hands on my shoulders, rubbing them softly,

"Sugarplum look at me"

It takes me a second to register his voice over the multiple voices that were already in my mind. Somehow, I managed to break down his words and look up. My eyes roam his as he look back, concerned as hell before a new voice broke outside the living room,

"WHERE IS SHE?! CLAIRE!! YOU SAID SHE WAS HERE!!"