Chapter 8 : Truce or Lust ? He still sleeps with the blanket you gave him . He misses you every day . I still want you ... Zach's words tangled in my head like threads I couldn't pull free . The air outside felt colder than I remembered . Maybe because I was breathing for two now - myself and the promise I'd just made to Liam . I walked down the front steps , slowly , like every movement could shatter the fragile peace that lunch had built . When I got back to Sherry's condo , I collapsed onto the couch , arms still aching from holding Liam , heart aching from letting go . Again . I stared at the ceiling , blinking back the sting in my eyes . I didn't cry that night yet I barely slept too . I just lay there hollow , listening to the distant sound of someone else's TV through the wall . At midnight , Sherry brought me tea , said nothing , and sat at my feet , her presence quiet but steady . And yes , something changed after that visit . The grief no longer numbed me . It burned and fire came with clarity . I spent the next week debating everything . Every choice. Every sentence . Every smile Liam gave me during my visit . I looked at flights back to Aspen . I looked at apartments near Zach's neighborhood . I even looked at school options - just in case . I began sending Liam a short video message every day . Silly ones . Stories . Knock - knock jokes . Even lullabies . Zach never replied , but the read receipts told me they were watching . I thought maybe ... that was enough . Until Tuesday afternoon came - six days since the visit - I opened the door expecting a delivery from the pharmacy and found Zach standing there . I couldn't grasp the feeling crumbling inside my chest as I scanned his face . He looked like he hadn't slept in a week . His shirt wrinkled , stubble grown in jagged patches . But it wasn't his disheveled appearance that threw me . It was the fear and panic I saw in his bloodshot eyes . " Arianne ..." he began , shaking his head vehemently . " What are you doing here , Zach ? " " He ran away ," he said , breathlessly , haplessly . My voice octaved as I pressed on , " Who is- ? " " Liam . He's gone . I was driving like crazy for an hour but I couldn't find him . " My legs buckled before I realized I'd moved . " Wait ... You lost him ? " I whispered . 19:38 Tue , Sep 30 " I didn't ... I mean , we were at the park . He was playing near the climbing gym . I turned to answer a call , and when I looked up - he wasn't there anymore . " I stared at him , numb with a mother's worst fear crawling up my spine . " I've looked everywhere . I called the police . I called my sister . He's not at any of his usual places . " Zach's voice cracked . " And Celine - she's blaming me . " I didn't care about blame . I only cared about my son . Instinctively , I shoved on my shoes , grabbing my phone , heart pounding like it would explode . " He knows where I live . " Zach's face flickered . " What ? " " If he's looking for me - he knows Sherry's address . I told him once . In a drawing . When I visited him last time . " We flew down the stairwell . I barely remembered taking the steps . Just that Zach was behind me , calling Liam's name like a prayer . We burst out onto the street , scanning every shadow , every corner . And then - a small figure sat at the edge of the sidewalk across from the computer shop , his knees drawn to his chest , a backpack too big for his frame sagging at his side . Liam . I pelted along the road , calling his name like the air that I breathe . He looked up , his face crumpling the second he saw me . " Mommy ! " he cried . He leapt into my arms , sobbing , shaking , terrified . I held him so tight I could feel his heartbeat drumming against mine . " I thought ... if I came to you ," he hiccupped , " you'd have to stay . " I closed my eyes , tears falling freely now . " Baby , don't ever scare us like that again . " Zach crouched beside us , touching Liam's back gently , guilt written all over him . " I just wanted it to be like the other day , " Liam sobbed even more , his voice so small it shattered me . " When we ate spaghetti and laughed . Like we were a family again . " We were silent . None of us could say it wasn't real - because it was . Just a broken kind of reality . A borrowed hour from a life we no longer lived . Later that night , after we brought Liam in Sherry's condo , bathed and safely tucked into his bed , Zach walked me to the door again . But this time , he didn't let it end there . " I know this is long overdue ... But I want to fix things between us , " he said softly but the certainty was in his voice . " Are you out of your mind ? " I said , arms folded . " You have Celine . She's already part of 2/3 28.4 % Liam's life now . " He didn't deny it . " She's not you . " I shook my head , tired of comparisons . " This conversation is going nowhere . Let's just continue building a harmonious relationship for our son ." " But Arianne , " he said , stepping forward . " Liam needs all of us - whether we like it or not . " I looked at him , surprised . " Even me ? " Zach held my gaze . " Especially you . " That made me snap my eyes back to him . " So ... you want to juggle us because you're too weak to swallow the bitter truth . " It was clearly a statement . Tears blurred my vision , yet I had to bite back the bitter taste of this sickening situation at the back of my throat . I looked away but he cupped my face and leaned in . Our faces hairbreadth as he spoke . " I know we're not ... us anymore . But if you still want to be part of his world , the door's open . It always will be . " Gently , I pulled his hand away and said , " Fine . But you have to understand that I'm not coming back for you , Zach . " He stayed silent but the familiar glint of lust in his eyes was enough for me to tremble inside . 19:39 Tue , Sep 30 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!