The Seminar
The morning of the seminar arrived with an unsettling swiftness. It felt like the clock had conspired against me, fast-forwarding through the days of preparation until there was no more time left to perfect, to rehearse, to breathe. Alex had been my usual whirlwind that morning, but somehow, I managed to get him to daycare without much of a meltdown—his or mine.
Now, as I stood in front of the mirror, my hands trembled slightly while I adjusted my blazer. My reflection stared back at me, wide-eyed and pale. The nerves coiled tighter in my chest with every breath. I tried to shake it off. This is your moment, Emily. You've worked too hard to let it slip away.
The venue was grander than I'd imagined. Rows of chairs stretched endlessly across the room, filled with the buzz of conversation and the low hum of anticipation. Experts from all over the country were gathered, their faces alight with curiosity and intellect. I took a shaky sip of coffee, the bitterness doing little to calm the storm within me.
I reviewed my notes one last time at the back of the room, muttering under my breath, when a shift in the air made me glance up. And that was when I saw him.
Ethan.
My heart clenched, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe. He stood by the registration desk, his confident stance and sharp suit commanding attention. He looked just as I remembered—perhaps even better. Tall, assured, with those piercing eyes that once held me captive. And now, they locked onto mine across the room.
The years melted away in an instant, and a wave of emotions crashed over me—confusion, shock, longing. I turned sharply, clutching my notes as though they could shield me from the memories surging back. Why is he here? How is he here? Does he recognize me?
I forced myself to focus. This wasn't the time for ghosts of the past. I was here to present my research on the rhesus factor and its effects on pregnant women—something I had poured my heart and soul into. But when I stepped up to the podium, my confidence faltered the moment I spotted him again, seated in the front row, his gaze unwavering.
My voice wavered as I began, "Th-the rhesus factor…" The words stuck in my throat, and I felt the heat rise to my cheeks. My carefully rehearsed lines unraveled like loose threads under the weight of his stare.
The audience shifted uncomfortably, the silence stretching unbearably. I could feel my panic rising, my palms clammy and my chest tight. Then, like a lifeline, I took a deep breath, forced my trembling hands to steady, and pushed through the fog in my mind. Slowly, the words began to flow, each sentence grounding me a little more.
When I finally finished, the polite applause sounded distant, drowned out by the pounding in my ears. I left the stage with my composure intact—barely—but my heart was in shambles.
The rest of the day passed in a haze. I avoided Ethan like a coward, darting away any time he came near. The memories of his mother's cruelty and the sacrifices I had made for Alex echoed in my mind, reminding me of the stakes.
When I got home that evening, the weight of it all finally broke me. I found Sarah in her room, her comforting presence the anchor I desperately needed. I collapsed onto her bed, burying my face in my hands.
"Sarah," I began shakily, "you won't believe who I saw today."
She glanced up, her brow furrowing. "Who?"
"Ethan," I whispered, my voice cracking. The tears I had held back all day spilled over, hot and unstoppable. "He was there, at the seminar. I saw him, and I—I froze. I couldn't even get through my presentation properly. And now… I don't know what to do. Why is he here? Does he remember me? Does he know about Alex?"
The words tumbled out in a frantic rush, each one heavier than the last. My chest heaved with the weight of my sobs. "Why now? Why bring him back into my life when he doesn't even belong to me anymore? He doesn't even know he has a son!"
Sarah was quiet for a moment, letting me release the storm inside me. Then, in her usual calm, steady voice, she said, "Emily, I'm so sorry you're going through this. But for now, maybe it's best to pretend you don't know him. Keep your distance until we figure out why he's here. You remember what his mother did. We have to protect Alex first."
Her words grounded me, a reminder of what truly mattered. I nodded through my tears, her arms wrapping around me in a hug that felt like home.
"You've always been a crybaby," she teased softly, wiping my tears away.
I laughed weakly, the sound shaky but real. "Thanks, Sarah. I don't know what I'd do without you."
"You'll be okay," she assured me. "We'll figure this out. Just keep your head up and your focus on Alex. Whatever Ethan's reasons for being here, we'll handle it. Together."
As I leaned into her embrace, I clung to her words like a lifeline, whispering a silent prayer for strength. Ethan's return had shaken my world, but I wouldn't let it crumble. For Alex's sake—and for my own—I had to stay strong.