MISSING LINK

Chapter 10

I spent countless quiet nights grappling with the decision of why I hadn't allowed him to stay. Perhaps, deep down, I held onto the hope that he would temporarily fly away, only to return home to me. Yet, after four weeks had passed without a word from him, I had to confront the harsh reality that he was destined to be a part of my life for only a season.

Four weeks following Link's return to Paris, my life took an unexpected turn. It was then that I discovered I was six weeks pregnant. The news brought a whirlwind of emotions, from sheer excitement to paralyzing fear. A new life was taking shape inside of me, entirely dependent on my care. It stood as a living testament to the love Link and I had once shared. However, I couldn't ignore the challenges that came with bringing a child into this world under our circumstances.

Whispering to myself, I confessed, "Link, I'm carrying a part of you, a part of us..." The weight of my secret pressed upon my conscience, and for months, I grappled with the agonizing decision of whether or not to reveal the truth. My desire to respect his dreams and newfound life in Paris clashed with the guilt that consumed me.

It wasn't until our son was six months old that I found the courage to reach out to Link. Our child, a beautiful one-year-old boy with his father's eyes, served as a constant reminder of the love we had once shared. I dialed his number, my heart pounding in my chest.

"Is that you?" Link's surprised voice greeted me on the other end.

"Link, it's me. I... I needed to talk to you," I replied, my voice tinged with nervousness.

"Is something wrong?" Link asked, concern evident in his tone.

I took a deep breath and said, my voice trembling, "I have something to tell you. Something I should've said a long time ago."

Link's voice, filled with warmth and surprise, greeted me on the other end. We spoke about our lives, our dreams, and our memories together.

"I've missed you tellement," Link said, his voice filled with reflection. The love we had for each other was still palpable through the phone lines.

"I've missed you more," I whispered.

"Hesitant," Link began to speak, "Misty, there's something I need to tell you too."

"You go first," I insisted.

"I'm engaged."

"Engaged? Link, I..." My voice trembled as I struggled to find the words.

Just then, the nanny entered the living room with our baby in her arms, and Link Jr. let out a cry the moment he saw me.

I disconnected the call abruptly, the silence in the air echoing our unspoken words. I knew then I couldn't tell Link about our son. He had moved on, and found happiness in a new chapter of his life, and I couldn't disrupt that. As the tears streamed down my face, I quickly blocked his number. The news hit me like a sledgehammer. I felt the weight of the world crashing down around me. The child I had been keeping a secret suddenly felt like a burden too heavy to bear.

I held Link Jr. in my arms and sobbed recklessly. I was eternally grateful for the piece of him I had given birth to, but he would forever be the missing link in the story of our love.

A part of me died that day, and our love, once so intense, had to remain a bittersweet memory, a chapter in our lives that was now just a passing petal in the wind.