“Like Alison, she’s also very talkative, but there will be times when she will become secretive. She wouldn’t tell you what’s bothering her. She would hide it in her smiles or in her stories but you would know there’s something going on when she fails to look at you in the eye.”
I breathed sharply upon remembering my daughter’s face.
One of the things I saw in Alison’s future was about Demi. For my daughter to do what she did meant that something big happened. I was gone and I don’t know how it happened. The kid knew something that I didn’t. And it was frightening the hell out of me.
Just thinking that I would one day be separated from Alison and our daughter already makes it hard for me to breathe.
I remembered the sadness and longing in Demi’s eyes, how she encouraged me to live, and how she told me stories about her father which turned out to be me. The little girl used her magic to travel back to the past just to see me.
I didn’t know how it became possible or what kind of spell she used to do it because no one in Arameth has the capability to time travel but why did Demi travel in the past and not in the future?
What the heck will happen to me and how bad was it for me to be able to lose my family? I have so many questions. And it frustrates me knowing that I could see other’s future, but not mine. I don’t even know when I’d leave, where I’d go, or when I’d return to them. Those were the questions that keeps me awake at night.
“During those times, please cuddle her, or take her to the beach. She loves the beach as much as I do,” I added. “Listen to her stories and show her you care. I believe she would confess eventually. I love that kid, Rem. I love her as much as I love her mother. I’m worried that she’d never know how much I love her. What I want you to promise me is that should something happen, you will stay by Alison and Demi’s side. Please don’t leave them.”
“I don’t understand, Alexandros. What you just said, it’s crazy. How could you possibly know something that hasn’t happened yet? Besides, why were you telling me all those things? You are the one who is going to be Alison’s husband and Demi’s father.”
I laughed although it sounded empty even in my own ears. “Right. It’s not like I’m leaving, anyway. Because I won’t. God knows I won’t. I don’t want to. But still, I need you to promise me that.”
“You’re really crazy, but yeah, I promise,” Jeremiah answered while shaking his head.
“Great. Thank-“ Before I could finish what I wanted to say, my chest constricted. I quickly covered my mouth with my hand when I started coughing. But I was stunned when I saw blood on my hand.
“What’s wrong? I just saw you coughed blood! Are you sick or something?”
“O-of course not.” I tried to keep my voice steady even if it feels like something was piercing my skin over and over again. “Excuse me. I’ll just go to the rest room.”
I forced my feet to walk. When I finally reached the bathroom, I closed the door immediately and sat on the tiled floor. I was sweating when I took the phone out of my pocket and dialed Nathan’s number but he was not answering.
“Damn it, Nathan. What the hell are you doing right now? Are you trying to kill us both?” I muttered between jagged breaths. My body was linked with Nathan’s. If he was experiencing pain in wherever he is, I will also experience the same thing.
I grabbed the towel from the rack and bit it hard to stop myself from screaming when my neck, arms, and legs suddenly started bleeding. I felt like somebody was burning my body.
When I couldn’t take it anymore, I teleported to Nathan’s room. He wasn’t there. I found a piece of paper on his bed. My jaw clenched after reading it.
I ripped the paper before I came downstairs and faced Jeremiah who was still waiting in the living room. This time, I didn’t try to hide the blood on my clothes.
“What’s going on, Alexandros? I’m sure Alison will go crazy if she finds out about this. As your friend, I’m taking you to the doctor today,” he said as soon as he approached me.
Instead of responding, I sent him home through a compulsion. When he left, I teleported and went to the portal where Nathan was. I have to stop Nathan from his suicide mission.
“Damn it, Nate,” I uttered. “I won’t let myself die today just because of you. Whether you like it or not, both of us still have to live. I’m still going to get married, and I’m still going to find the answers to my questions!”

(Alison)
Manila, Present Time
“LET’S all give a round of applause to Demi Alexandria Sormont, the winner in essay writing contest!”
When I saw my daughter walked up the stage, I walked towards Marcia and Jasper and sat beside them.
“What took you so long, sis? Nanny Marcia said that you left the house earlier than her. Demi was so worried. She thought you wouldn’t be able to watch her performance,” Jasper said.
I turned to my brother. How could I tell him that I stood for hours in the middle of the bridge and contemplated whether to jump or not? How could I tell him that I deliberately left earlier than usual because I knew our landlady would come and would scream at me again for failing to pay the rent?
Every time she would scream at me, I’d feel so worthless and so incapable as the head of the family. Yet, I couldn’t do anything. She had every right to nag since we’d been failing to pay for months now.