Ripped Away

Chapter One

It's been five years since the night Hannah lost her baby. She was now a young adult in her early twenties living on her own. Her once short strawberry red hair now ran halfway down her back like a waterfall, her soft pink cheeks now pale, her blue eyes which once were full of life and happiness now glass and cold. Losing her child had changed her life, she still believes he was stolen but she never uttered a word of it in fear of being committed again. She just went with the flow to keep her parents and relatives off her back. She never lost hope in find Lincoln but her patience and light were slowly fading until an unexpected surprise. It was an early October morning, the cool breeze blowing Hannah's hair all in her face. She quickly pulled her hair back into a messy bun. She buttoned up her white winter jacket to keep from chilling from the wind. She was headed toward her mother's for brunch, her big sister and her family was in town for the week and she doesn't see them often. Heading down the walkway toward the house, she felt eyes upon her. She quickly turned and scanned her surroundings but brushed it off as paranoia. Walking up the steps of the porch, they creaked under her weight from years of being used. She knocked on the door to be greeted by her mother. Not much had changed about her mother except for some streaks that mixed in well with her pale blonde hair and a few wrinkles here and there. The same blue eyes as her daughter's looked her up and down, her bright red lips curving into a smile.
"Hello, mama." Hannah would say while being pulled into a hug.
"Oh, Hannah, I know I just saw you a few days ago but I still worry. How are you?"
"I'm well, trying to push past everything." She put on an obvious fake smile.
"That's good, I just know his birthday is coming up..."
"Sooooo where is Ella? I been looking forward to her visit. I miss her and my nieces." Hannah was trying to change the subject, she rather not mention her son any after what all her mother put her through.
"Her and the girls are in the dining room eating." Her mother moved aside to allow Hannah inside. Walking inside brought memories back from her childhood to the day she moved out. Same wallpaper, same portraits of herself and her family, same furniture, nothing had changed. Entering the dining room she saw an older woman with the same strawberry red lockes, slightly rounder face, and emerald green eyes. She wore a white night shirt that read "I woke up like this,". Beside her were twin girls, one had white blonde hair with big icy blue eyes and heart shaped face, the other had strawberry red hair with emerald green eyes and the same heart shaped face. They both wore the same footy pajama's except one was pink, the other blue. They all three glanced up only to smile from ear to ear to see Hannah.
"Hannah! Come sit!" Ella offered her the chair beside her.
"Hannie!" Both the twins cheered.
Hannah happily sat in the offered seat.
"Ella, Alice, and Rosie! I have missed you guy." She smiled cheerfully.
"As have we. How you been?" Ella asked while making her plate of pancakes.
"Much better, focusing on my art career, can't dwell on the past." She would say as her mother walked in.
"That's really good, I been worried just thinking about you."
"No need. So how are you guys doing?"
"Good, the divorce wasn't exactly clean but everything is worked out. We keep the house and the girls only go to their dad's on the weekends." Ella patted both girls as they ate their pancakes.
"We don't like daddy..." Alice grimly said.
"...when he has a lady friend.."
"I'm sorry to hear that, girls. But it's okay, it's only the weekend." Hannah tried to cheer them up.
"How's the food? I made sure they were extra chocolatey knowing my two beautiful grandkids were coming up!" She hugged them both.
They girls giggled as their grandmother kissed them. Hannah bit her lip at the mention of grandkids, trying to push down feelings of resent.
"I think we should celebrate this year since it's only a few days away." Ella smiled.
The room went silent, Hannah pushing her plate away.
"What? His birthday shouldn't be treated like the day that shouldn't be mentioned or the day of sadness. Yes it's also the day of his passing but we shouldn't be sad every year on that day, let's actually celebrate like an actual birthday!"
"He didn't die...and I won't celebrate until he's back home..." Hannah whispered while standing.
"Hannah...don't do this.."
"Do what? Actually believe in my son being alive? Having hope he's out there somewhere? Some grandmother you are!" Hannah shot up as she gathered her things.
"Hannah stop! I didn't intend on a fight, I just wanted to create happy memories so it wouldn't be so grim every year..."
"Yeah well, until he's home, forget it..." With that she walked out only to be caught by the hand by her mother.
"Hannah! We been over this! You seen your son for yourself, he's gone and we can't bring him back...let him go and do as your sister suggested.. Let's create happy memories..." Tears ran down her cheeks.
"Not until he's home..." With that she walked out the door slamming it shut. Walking down the walkway she pulled up her hood from the wind. But stopped suddenly before exciting the yard. A hooded figure stood on the other side holding the shoulder of a pale and grim looking child. She couldn't make out the features of the child, just that he had shaggy hair as dark as midnight. But her heart and gut told her that the child was hers, he was her long lost son.
"Lincoln!" She started running toward them only to be hit by a moving car that tried slowing down. She was on her stomach as she looked up to see that the figure and child were gone. She tasted blood running from her nose as she blacked out.