Beneath the Surface

Chapter 15: A Shattered World

The days after Amelia's confrontation with Adrian passed in a haze. She had made her choice, leaving the man who had once been her everything behind. Adrian's world was too tangled in lies and deception for her to find peace. It was Daniel who had been the constant, the one who had given her stability, love, and everything she had ever dreamed of. But the peace she sought was slipping away faster than she could hold on.

One cold afternoon, Amelia found herself in the living room of their apartment, her mind racing with the uncertainty of the future. Her phone buzzed on the table, its screen lighting up with a message from Daniel.

"Hey love, got some errands to run today. I'll be back soon. Don't miss me too much. <3"

A soft smile crept onto Amelia's face. He always had a way of brightening her darkest days, even with the simplest of words. But today, something felt different. The world outside felt like it was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen, something she couldn't see coming.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden, loud knock at the door. Startled, Amelia rushed to answer, but before she could even reach the door, the phone rang. She grabbed it quickly, her heart pounding as she saw the number flash on the screen.

It was from the hospital.

"Hello?" she answered, her voice shaky.

"Is this Amelia?" The voice on the other end was calm but stern. "This is Detective Harris from the police department. Are you familiar with Daniel Martin?"

Amelia's breath caught in her throat. "Yes, I'm his girlfriend. What happened? Is he okay?"

There was a pause, and then the words that would change her life forever.

"I'm afraid we have some bad news. There was a robbery at the First National Bank downtown this morning. Daniel was caught in the crossfire during the robbery. He... he didn't survive."

Her world stopped.

The phone slipped from her hand, clattering to the floor. Her knees buckled beneath her, and she collapsed onto the couch, her vision blurring as the room spun around her. No. This couldn't be happening. Daniel couldn't be gone. He was supposed to be with her, always. They had a future together.

Tears streamed down her face, and her chest tightened with grief. The love of her life, the one person who had never left her side, was taken from her in the blink of an eye.

Amelia couldn't breathe. The weight of the news crushed her. She was alone. Alone, once again.

It felt like hours passed before Amelia could find the strength to move. She stood shakily, her body numb as she moved to the bedroom they had shared. Everything about the apartment felt foreign now. The soft touch of the blankets, the faint scent of his cologne lingering in the air—it was all too much.

Her hands trembled as she picked up a picture frame from the dresser, a photo of her and Daniel on their first vacation together. They were so happy then. But now, everything felt broken.

She collapsed onto the bed, clutching the picture to her chest, as the grief consumed her.

Hours passed, and as night fell, Amelia lay in a restless sleep. But it wasn't peaceful. Her dreams were filled with flashing lights, sirens, and Daniel's face—his smile, his warmth. She reached for him in her sleep, but each time, he seemed farther and farther away.

It was in that half-waking, half-sleeping state that she felt it. A strange, unfamiliar sensation in her stomach. She frowned, rubbing her belly. It was as if something was... different.

She stood up slowly, her heart still heavy with the weight of Daniel's loss. The thought barely registered, but it gnawed at her. She hadn't been feeling like herself lately—more tired than usual, a little off, a little sick.

She turned toward the bathroom, her thoughts jumbled and disoriented. She couldn't help but wonder—what if?

Minutes later, she was staring at the small pink line on the pregnancy test.

Amelia's heart stopped. Her eyes widened as she processed what the test had shown. Pregnant. She was pregnant. She couldn't breathe, couldn't think. Her body swayed, and for a moment, she thought she might collapse again. Her hands gripped the sink as she tried to steady herself, but it was no use. The world spun.

Daniel. The love of her life. Gone. And now, she was carrying his child.

She sank to her knees on the cold bathroom floor, her head spinning. The joy she should have felt was overshadowed by the overwhelming sadness that gripped her heart. She was carrying a piece of him inside her, but the man who had given her that gift was never coming back.

How could she go on without him? How could she bring their child into this world without him by her side?

Tears fell freely, the weight of everything pressing down on her. She wanted Daniel. She wanted him more than anything. She wanted him here, to hold her, to tell her everything would be okay.

But he wasn't here. And it was just her now.

Days passed, and Amelia barely left the apartment. The grief still clung to her like a dark cloud, refusing to lift. She went through the motions—eating, sleeping, but always feeling like she was moving through the world in a fog.

One afternoon, as she walked out to get some fresh air, a familiar face caught her eye. It was the last person she expected to see.

Adrian.

He was standing across the street, looking at her with that same intensity she remembered so well. He looked different now—more serious, but his eyes were still filled with pain.

Amelia's heart fluttered, her emotions a tangled mess. She had spent so much time running from him, from everything that reminded her of the past, but now, seeing him again, she couldn't deny the stirrings in her chest.

He stepped forward, his eyes softening. "Amelia, I... I heard about Daniel. I'm so sorry."

Her voice caught in her throat. "He's gone, Adrian. He's gone, and it's all my fault."

"No," Adrian said softly, stepping closer. "You didn't do anything wrong. But you need to know something." He paused, taking a deep breath. "I'm here for you. I'm not going anywhere this time. Whatever you need, I'll be there."

Amelia's heart was still raw, her thoughts a whirlwind of emotions. She had just lost Daniel, and now, Adrian was standing in front of her, offering his support.

But in that moment, she wasn't sure if she was ready to let anyone in again.