Gabriel's Obsession

Survivor's Tale

Amelia's mother stood frozen in the doorway, her wide eyes reflecting a kaleidoscope of disbelief, overwhelming joy, and something deeper—pure, unfiltered relief. Her lips parted, but only a whisper of breath escaped, as if she couldn't quite trust what she was seeing.

"Oh my God," she finally managed, the words fragile, like glass on the verge of shattering.

Tears pricked Amelia's eyes at the raw emotion in her mother's voice. A lump formed in her throat, threatening to choke her as she clutched Rose and Luna tighter. This was the moment she had dreamt of for so long, the moment she had feared might never come.

Her mother's hand trembled as she turned, her voice suddenly urgent. "Richard! Richard, come here!" she called, summoning Amelia's father with a desperation that spoke of two years of unanswered prayers.

Heavy footsteps echoed from within the house, and in a matter of seconds, Amelia's father appeared at the doorway. His normally composed demeanor crumbled the moment his eyes landed on her. Disbelief flashed across his face, followed swiftly by something else—hope, hesitant but unmistakable.

For a long, agonizing moment, no one moved.

Then, as if a dam had broken, Amelia's father surged forward, gathering her into his arms before she could utter another word. The embrace was tight, crushing, yet Amelia melted into it, her knees nearly giving out.

"Amelia..." His voice cracked, his grip tightening as though he feared she might disappear again. "My baby girl... you're really here."

Tears spilled down Amelia's cheeks as she buried her face into his shoulder. "Dad..." she whispered, her voice breaking. "I missed you so much."

Her mother, unable to hold back any longer, reached for her too, wrapping them both in a protective embrace. "My little pumpkin," she sobbed, stroking Amelia's hair. "You're home. You're safe now."

The warmth, the familiarity—it was almost too much. After years of isolation, of pain, of believing she might never see them again, Amelia was finally in the arms of the people who had always loved her.

But then, her mother stiffened.

Her gaze had fallen upon the babies in Amelia's arms.

"Amelia..." she whispered, her expression shifting from joy to confusion. "Who are...?"

Understanding dawned in an instant, her breath hitching.

"These are... my daughters." Amelia's voice wavered with emotion.

Her mother's hand flew to her mouth, fresh tears pooling in her eyes. "Twins," she choked out, stepping back slightly, as if needing to take them in fully. "Oh, sweetheart..."

Realizing they were still outside, Amelia's mother wiped at her tears and quickly ushered them inside. "Come in, come in! You must be exhausted."

Amelia followed, the warmth of the house wrapping around her like a forgotten memory. Everything was just as she had left it—her mother's scented candles on the shelves, framed family pictures hanging on the walls, the soft hum of the ceiling fan in the living room.

It was surreal.

As they entered Amelia's childhood bedroom, she felt like she had stepped back in time. Everything remained untouched, frozen in the moment she had left. The bed, the desk, the books lining the shelves—it was all the same, waiting for her return.

Carefully, she laid Rose and Luna down on the bed, pressing a soft kiss to each of their tiny foreheads. Watching them sleep so peacefully, she felt the overwhelming urge to weep again.