"Echoes of Love"

Part 8

𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟖

As the days, weeks, and months pass by, When Lily was busy on her office. She found a post that was tagged on Richard in social media.  It was a tribute to Amelia on her 5th death anniversary.

The post was heartfelt, filled with beautiful words about Amelia and the love they had shared. It included a few pictures of Amelia, her smile as radiant same as Richard.

Seeing the post gave Lily mixed feelings. She felt a pang of sadness for Richard, knowing that this day must be incredibly hard for him. But she also felt a sense of unease. She couldn't help but wonder how Richard was dealing with this anniversary, especially now that he had her in his life.

Lily decided to go in Richard's house. To let him know she was there for him. She wanted to offer her support and understanding. After all, love wasn't just about sharing the happy moments, but also about being there for each other during the tough ones.

Lily drove to Richard's house after work, her mind filled with worry and concern. She had not heard from him since she saw the post on social media, and she wanted to check on him.

As she neared his house, she noticed several cars parked outside. As she entered the house, she found it filled with people, soft music playing in the background, and a sense of solemnity in the air. It was a memorial service for Amelia.

Lily felt a wave of emotion wash over her. She hadn't expected this, but it made sense. Richard was commemorating Amelia's death anniversary in his own way, surrounded by friends and family who had also loved Amelia.

As she moved through the crowd, offering her condolences and sharing in their memories of Amelia, she noticed a picture on the mantelpiece. It was a picture of Richard and Amelia, their faces glowing with happiness. But what shocked Lily was the striking resemblance she bore to Amelia. They had the same smile, the same color of hair, even their eyes were similar.

A feeling of unease settled in Lily's stomach. She couldn't help but wonder if Richard was with her because she reminded him of Amelia. The thought made her feel like a replacement, a stand-in for his deceased wife.

As Lily continued to look at the pictures, she noticed something that made her heart sink. There were pictures of the same places she had been to with Richard - the park where they had their leaf fight, the grocery store where they had shopped for their pasta dinner, even the yacht where they had spent a beautiful day together.

What hurt Lily the most was the realization that these were the same places Richard had shared with Amelia. The same food they had cooked together, the same laughter they had shared - it all mirrored the moments she had shared with Richard.

Tears welled up in Lily's eyes as the reality hit her. She felt like she was living in Amelia's shadow, repeating her moments with Richard. She wondered if Richard saw Amelia in her when they visited these places, if he was reliving his moments with Amelia through her.

The room started to spin as Lily excused herself, stepping outside for some fresh air. She leaned against the wall, her tears flowing freely. She felt a deep sense of pain and confusion. She loved Richard, but she didn't want to be a replacement for Amelia. She needed to be loved for who she was, not for how much she reminded Richard of his deceased wife.

Richard's daughter, Emily, had been watching Lily from a distance. She was struck by the uncanny resemblance between Lily and her late mother, Amelia. It was almost as if she was looking at a younger version of her mother.

When she saw Lily step outside, her face streaked with tears, Emily felt a pang of concern. She excused herself from the crowd and followed Lily outside. "Lily?" she called out, her voice filled with worry.