Missing Pieces

* ALTERNATIVE ENDING *

Seeing you after a long time lovelies! Hope you all enjoyed Missing Pieces. Most of you loved the ending. But on people's demand I considered a different thing.

This is an alternative ending just after the completion of Chapter 24. The story continues from where Silvestra fainted in the accident.

I woke up in Sedrick's home. I couldn't understand. Everyone was around me. Sedrick was checking me. But I just got a scratch or two. Not much. I was fine. Just got some muscle fatigue. But that wasn't a big deal. Tilda was so stressed out. My Sebastian was crying. I grabbed his hand.
"Mom!" He exclaimed.
He got closer to me. I kissed his forehead. He started crying.
"Hey... Nothing happened. Look? Your mom's in front of you! Normally talking to you." I looked into his wide eyes.
I tried to sit and Tilda helped me out.
"Are you fine, now?" Sedrick asked in a low voice.
"I'm totally fine, enthusiastic as before, Sed!"
Tilda was also better now in two days. We got back to our home. Sedrick dropped us home. Everything got back to normal just as before. It was usual now. Sedrick used to take his both kids for outing everyday in the evening.
I often thought like may be it was better for me, whatever had happened, but if it was so, then why am I still in love with him? Why can't I move on? My inner conscience often replied me with, "Because you don't want to move on." And I agreed with this. Nothing is impossible. And falling in love again is not a big deal. I don't mean the fake love and flirt. I mean the real love. Real love can cross your way anytime in life. When you really do care for someone, and someone does the same to you, there develops a connection. Often, you don't realise. But it gets stronger with time. Everything happens with your decisions. You get choices in life, and each choice leads to a different path, a different destiny. Choose your path wisely. Life changing events occur due to these decisions.
I was writing all this in my diary when the bell rang.
"Oh, Sebastian must have returned." I said to myself.
And I was right.
I took Sebastian in and I was closing the door when Sedrick held the door.
"Wait..."
"Yes?"
"I wanna see your art gallery, I read your interview in yesterday's newspaper."
"Oh!"
But I didn't say anything about my art gallery in that interview. :/
I looked at Sebastian and he put his eyes down. And then ran towards his room.
Uhhh! Sebastiaaaaann!
I screamed within myself.
"Oh, I... I lost the key."
"Give me a hairpin, I'll open it. I can unlock your heart, what do you think, I can't open a door lock?" He winked.
"I don't have a hairpin." My tongue slipped.
He took the hairpin from my head, winked again, smiled, got me aside pushing me from my shoulder and got in.
"Hey! It's my home, you can't just..."
He ignored me as if he was deaf and took his way to stairs.
"Sedrick, no! I'm gonna kill you Sebastian."
Putting his hand on his mouth, his eyes wide open in fear, Sebastian was standing on his door watching all this drama.
I followed Sedrick and he saw the door wasn't locked. Because Sebastian knew about it, so there was nothing to hide, from that day, I had stopped locking it and now I regret.
"Silvestra?"
I was quietly looking at the floor.
"Are you crazy, girl?"
"You didn't know before?"
"No, I mean, Yes, but to this extent? You're nuts!"
I shrugged.
"Can I take some with me?"
"Oh, yeah, for sure. All for you..."
He got closer to me.
"Silvestra... Listen to me. Stop being emotional and listen to me carefully. Stop using your heart, girl. Use your mind. This world is a dangerous place. Monsters on every step. And you have a son to raise. You are a mother now Silvestra, stop behaving like a kid now. I know, you grew up, and took the responsibilities too, but you're still a kid from your heart. You still take decisions from your heart. We're not meant to be. Accept the fact darling. You've already wasted too much time. Don't do yourself wrong anymore. I'm really sorry for what I did. I really am. And I'm ready for any punishment you want to give. But don't ruin yourself Silvestra. I started falling for you, honestly, but I wanted to stay loyal with Tilda. So I had to do so. I hope you understand..."
"Hmm.." I nodded.
He continued, "I would love to love a girl like you, but I can't. You're amazing. You're beautiful. You have a beautiful heart. But I can't be with you Silvestra. Think about it. And I know you love me with all your heart. This art gallery witnesses it. I believe you."
I had tears, but didn't let them out. I smiled at him, and he went down.
He kissed Sebastian's cheeks and went out.
"And yes, I'll take those three portraits tomorrow!" He smiled.
I closed the door and turned around. Sebastian was standing in front of me and then suddenly ran to his room screaming his throat out.
I laughed. I didn't say a word to him. I knew he wanted to fix the things. But Sedrick was right. I know he was right. But what's the point. I can't do that. I can't stop loving him.
I don't want to.
But the thing is, who told you to forget him? No no. Ok. I'm not supposed to forget him. I just have to move on. I have to stop crying for me. God plans the best. I have to go with His plans without any regrets.
Anyway, I don't have time to think about all this. I have to sleep right now. I'll take all this some other day. Seriously dude? It's stressing.
On the next day, I went on my job. Lily was my friend at work. She was a good lady. And specially, she wasn't a snake. She always had nice ideas popping up in her head.
"You know what, there's going to be an Art Exhibition and Creativity Contest in Boston."
"Really? You talking about that which we missed last year in Las Vegas?"
"Yes, that one."
"So, we're going this year?"
"Yeah, and I even have a better idea this time."
"What's that?"
"Participate in the Exhibition as an ambassador of Light and Hope."
"Are you crazy? Light and Hope would hire me? That's world's most popular art gallery!"
"Come on, Silvestra! Do you doubt your skills?"
"No..."
"Then it's worth giving a try. I saw their advertisment yesterday. I'll send you the details."
"Alright."
And in the next week, I was appointed as an ambassador at Light and Hope for the Exhibition at Boston.
"I'll be back soon baby, stay at your dad's home or with Uncle Austin, or at Grandma, whatever you want. I'm dropping you at your Grandma's home. Alright?"
"Alright, mom. I love you."
"I love you too baby!"
I dropped Sebastian and got to the airport. I was almost late. I would have literally cried if I had missed the flight. Lily was with me. We talked the whole journey.
Boston wasn't that bad. It was a beautiful city. Not like that of New York. But a beauty within itself. Light and Hope provided me a hotel room, so I could keep Lily with me too. We had one day for rest. The next day was the big day. I didn't know that the exhibition would change my life. I never thought of such change. Anyway, the next day in the morning, I woke up at 8 am.
"Wake up, Lily! We'd get late. And that grumpy GM of Light and Hope will kill us!"
We got ready and got there in time.
It was like a huge expo. The big hall, lighted up with beautiful paintings and art accessories. A lot of people. People from different parts of the United States. Not just US citizens, but foreigners came too. It was the biggest Art Exhibition of the year.
I was volunteering the paintings sponsored by Light and Hope. I also participated. I offered my art too. Light and Hope sponsored me too. I noticed a guy, looking at my portrait. The painting I gave, was my best painting ever. It was creative and conceptual.
"Hey, Linda! Look at this one."
He called a girl who was looking at a different painting just beside mine.
"I don't like it."
"Are you crazy? It's amazing. Try to understand it."
"Nah, I like colourful."
"Uhh"
They were arguing. I was watching them.
"Excuse me?"
He walked towards me.
"Yes?"
"Would you mind giving me the details of this art work?"
"Sir, this one's for sale from the best collection of Light and Hope. You can see the price tag below it. Not much. Reasonable and also discounted due to this exhibition."
"Hmm. Light and Hope? That's a big name. But I know all the ambassadors of Light and Hope. I don't recognise the signature for this painting."
"That's mine. I'm a new ambassador of Light and Hope, and today's volunteer too, sir."
"Really? Is that yours?"
"Indeed."
He smiled.
"Your good name?"
"Silvestra."
"I'm Henry. I'll definitely purchase this one. Kindly, keep it for me."
"For sure, Sir."
"You can call me Henry."
I smiled. And he went off, roaming around in the hall.
Lily looked at me with an evil smile.
"What..?" I laughed.
"He was cute though."
"Yes, he was."
"Ehm ehm. Why didn't you ask for his number?"
"Are you crazy? He was a customer. I don't wanna get fired from my new job. And I'm not interested."
"He was cute, wasn't he?"
"Uhh, back to work, Lily."
"But he was cute..." She murmured.
I gave her a serious stare. Then smiled to myself.
Exhibition was amazing. I came back to New York City.
Sebastian and mom were there to pick me up at airport.
"Mom!" He hugged me.
"I missed you, love."
"I missed you too, mom."
I fell on my bed and checked my phone. There were some texts from D, I replied to them then checked Instagram. There was a follow request. Henry Anderson?
I accepted it. I didn't take it personal. It was normal.
Next day, in the morning, when Sebastian left for school, I finished all my home chores and opened Instagram. There was a direct message in my inbox. It was a random 'Hi' from Henry.
I didn't mind replying it. He was online. We randomly chatted for hours.
"Who's that kid in your pics? I saw on your account."
"He's my son."
"Really? You don't look like you're married."
"I'm not married. I broke up with Sebastian's dad, years ago."
"Oh.. You look so young and no one can believe that you're a mother."
"Haha. Thank you."
"Can we meet?"
"I'm in New York."
"Woah! Me too."
"Tell me where do we meet?"
"Swan Lake City Park? 'cause I'm not a foodie."
"Ahan, it's calm."
We decided the day and time. I told Sebastian about him. I took Sebastian with me. It was a nice meeting. He gave Sebastian chocolates.
Well, time passed. We developed a good friendship, may be because we had same hobbies and interests. I made a new friend after a long time.
Everything was smooth in life. After three years of a best friendship, on Valentine's Day, Henry showed up at my door. He had a big bouquet of red fresh roses and a bag full of different chocolates. I had tears in my eyes. I closed my door on his face. I felt like my brain stopped working. I ran to my room, locked my room and started crying. I don't exactly know why was I crying. But I was feeling bad about this proposal.
"Silvestra? I'm sorry. I didn't feel like it'd make you so worse." He texted me.
I didn't reply. I cried. I heard the door closed. I checked out. Sebastian was coming from the main door.
I looked at him questioningly.
"What?"
"Where did you go?"
"Uncle Henry left."
"I looked at him with one eye brow arched.
"Yes, you said that we must care about our guests. So I let him in and offered him a coffee."
I crossed my arms on my chest staring Sebastian. And he walked away ignoring me, chilling like he did nothing.
"Hey! I'm your mom!" I shouted with a blank face.
Grown up kid. Hunh. I murmured.
I told D about all this. She asked me to meet her. And once again, the squad met. D called everyone. We discussed about this. And everyone suggested that whatever I did was wrong and now I should accept his proposal. Everyone left. When I was going. D interrupted at the gate.
"Listen..."
"Yes?"
"Silvestra, I know, you've gone through a lot. You loved Sedrick with all your heart. But he left you for Tilda. You know how it feels. But did you just realise, Henry will feel the same? Silvestra, you're trying to chase a person who's not made for you. And now it's enough, you've spent so much years for him. Stop giving yourself this pain. You deserve love. Love the person who loves you. And you know it, Henry always takes care of you, he was always there. Just think with a cool mind. Drop your frustrations for a moment and feel the love Henry has for you."
I nodded and smiled.
When I came back, I thought about it whole night. I didn't sleep for a second. I couldn't say that they were wrong. Everyone was right. I always took decisions with my heart. But now it was the time to be mature and take right decisions with my mind.
Next day, I called Henry. I accepted his proposal. He asked me for a date. We met and it was a good day. I was happy that Sebastian was happy with my decision. I didn't restrict Sedrick from meeting Sebastian. With time, I got over everything. Henry did his best efforts to keep me happy. He got me new books every month. Our dates were mostly to art exhibitions and book fairs. We had the same minds. Loving someone doesn't mean that you have to kiss and spend nights together. That's not how it works. Loving someone truly, means understanding them, caring for them, and most importantly, being there, standing still with them, when everyone's against them. Picking up the lost pieces that are missing from the soul and fixing them gently explains love. A beautiful phenomenon. And I already loved Henry, because I cared for him and I was always there for him. But we were good friends and never were romantic. Then he proposed me and everything happened. We got married within 4 months of relationship. Sedrick was also happy for me.
By the way, Lily was right. Henry is cute. He has a baby face. Innocent eyes and pure smile. He's simply amazing. He has a soft heart and a shy nature. And I took the responsibility to take care of his innocence forever.
There was just one thing, Sebastian didn't accept to call Henry his dad. And Henry was ok with it. He called Sedrick his dad and we never restricted him.
And today, my life is in peace, finally. Life taught me a lot of things. I stated all this in my diary, because I want you people to learn from my lessons. Life doesn't end with one person leaving. People come and go. Hold on to those who really care. You're not asked to stop loving someone, but you're requested to stop punishing yourself for other person's mistakes. Life is a gift, spend it chasing your dreams and believe in yourself. If it's meant to be, it will be. You don't have to find love. Love will find a way itself. You don't have to make place for someone in your heart. The right person will get his place. Nature will do so. Leave some things for God. God is good. Life will be good too.

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