Chapter 35

Day after day, life went on as usual. Celestia shuttled between home and the office. At work, Amelia's bright, bubbly energy kept her company. At home, her father's quiet presence grounded her. It was the kind of ordinary peace that almost made her forget - forget all that used to hurt, and especially, forget that man who made her life a nightmare. Then came that day. Late October. The air was getting chillier, sun swapping its scorching heat for a soft autumn warmth. Downtown - Oracle Hospital. "Are you really sure you want to go through with this?" Outside the OB-GYN surgery room, two stunning women sat next to each other, the gloomy expressions on their faces mirroring the heavy atmosphere around them. Sophia gently reached over to hold Celestia's hand. The moment her fingers touched, she flinched - her hand was freezing cold. Looking up, she met a face completely drained of color, already thin now looking ghostly pale. Celestia's usually clear eyes had lost all focus, staring blank