𝓐𝓵𝓪𝓻𝓲𝓬

🩺

𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵... 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦.

I woke up gasping and looked around frantically. I gripped the sheets tightly, squeezing my eyes shut to erase every remnant of that... nightmare. My throat felt parched, voice scratchy.

I probably screamed a lot last night.

I groaned, hiding my face in my palms.

Not again.

It's been years. Why can't I just get over it? This is so stupid. Alaric Reed, you're doomed. I wanted to throw a few more curses at myself, but then I realised I didn't have the luxury to do so.

After taking a much needed shower, I stared at myself in the mirror and immediately hated what I saw. I hate how I have soft features. Pale skin like a ghost, dirty blonde locks, and lifeless gray eyes.

Why can't I look more... muscular and intimidating?

Instead, I look sweet and kind, which is a plus point in a way, considering my lane of work since I was a pediatrician. Children loved me. I was their 𝘧𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦. I took pride in that.

Sighing, I got ready in a navy polo t-shirt and cream work pants. I clasped the watch around my wrist, made my hair, and sprayed my favorite perfume-lemon and vanilla. Weird combination, I know.

But who cares as long I smell nice?

I got out of the room and walked towards the open kitchen of my apartment that connected to the living room. I poured myself some cereal and prepared another bowl for my love.

Keeping the bowls on the dining table, I called out.

"Love, get your cute little ass here and have your food!"

Within a few minutes, a small white feline figure jumped over the furniture and landed straight on the dining table, almost spilling both of our bowls.

"Naughty kitty." I chided, narrowing my eyes, warning myself a lazy purr.

"You're lucky I love you, you gremlin." I said gruffly, passing the bowl of milk to Salem, my only companion in the whole wide world.

I found her one day, four years ago, when I was returning back from work. She was just a tiny kitten back then, sitting under my car, seeking shelter from the rain. Her blue eyes immediately captivated me for the striking familiarity they shared with...

And so, it's us against the world since.

She meowed softly, enjoying her breakfast. Shaking my head, I finished my breakfast. Don't get me wrong, I was an excellent cook, but at times, I was also really lazy. Besides, cereal was a lifesaver.

I took my work bag, grabbed my keys, held Salem, and made my way out of my apartment.

"Be a good girl for Mrs. Glenn, okay?" I murmured softly, pecking my feline's head.

She purred, nuzzling against my neck, making me chuckle.

Mrs. Glenn was the old lady who lived next door, alone. Her husband died of brain tumor last year, and her children live in their own houses. So, Salem and I work hard not to let that sweet lady feel lonely.

After exchanging pleasantries and dropping Salem at Mrs. Glenn's. I made my way towards the hospital. I parked my car and walked inside my workplace-a private multispeciality hospital-Lifeline Medical.

"Morning, Lily." I greeted the receptionist sitting on the front desk with a polite smile.

"Dr. Alaric!" Lily greeted me cheerfully. She was a sweet girl in her early twenties. "Phew, have mercy, will you?" She fanned herself dramatically.

I chuckled at her cheeky flirt. "Always a charmer, Lily." I spoke dryly, used to her antics.

"Always." She winked, grinning.

Shaking my head with a small smile, I made my way towards my cabin.

⋆ ───⊱☽❁☾⊰─── ⋆

"Al! She stole my toy!"

"No, it's mine!"

"You theif!"

"I'm not a thief! Al, he's calling me a thief!"

"Ezra," I sighed, shaking my head. "Don't call her a thief. Bad manners."

"She stole my toy!"

"Elsie, did you steal Ezra's toy?"

"No, it's mine. Momma got it for me."

"No, for me!"

"For me!"

I rubbed my temple, watching the eight year olds bicker over that ugly toy-no offense. It was a crocodile plushie for God's sake. Those creatures aren't worth the fight.

Ignoring them, I went towards the last one of the triplets. Ethan.

The boy had asthma and his monthly visits were common. Moreover, their parents always brought the triplets to me whenever they had a health issue. The triplets and I bonded quickly.

Apparently, the triplets were enamored by me, Ms. Judy's-their mother-words, not mine.

"How you feeling, champ?" I asked, ruffling his hair.

"Not good." He replied bluntly. Still sulking?

He had an asthma attack that was triggered by dust. They were playing treasure hunt and the old attic seemed like the best place to hide it. It would indeed have been the best spot only if it wasn't untouched for six months.

After I checked up on him, his parents gave the triplets, especially him, a good reprimand. Ethan was sulky because their parents were being biased as they scolded him a little more than his siblings.

"Meh, you'll get over it." I shrugged.

"Al! You're supposed to be nice!"

"Am I?"

"Yes." He whined.

"Why should I be nice when you weren't?" I raised a brow.

"I 𝘸𝘢𝘴 nice." He sounded scandalized.

I suppressed a smile and kept my face neutral. "Were you? How many times have your parents and I told you to be cautious of dust, cats, and other stuff?"

A small pout formed on his face. "But why don't Ez and Esy have the same rules? They get to do whatever they want." He mumbled, fiddling with his fingers.

My heart softened as I sat on the stool near the bed and took his little hands in my mine, prompting him to look at me. He resisted, but gave in when I insisted.

"You know you're special, right?" I spoke rubbing circles over his knuckles, my voice gentler now.

He paused before nodding slowly.

I smiled. "Special kids need special care. God wants his special children to be cared for just a tad bit more. Your parents only make these rules because they care for you. A lot."

"I know. But... but it's annoying sometimes."

"I know. I get it. But that's why he sent these musketeers for you." I nodded towards the still bickering twins.

Ethan's lips curled into a small mischievous smile. "They're annoying, too."

I grinned. "Are they?" I whispered conspiratorially like we were sharing a huge secret.

"Uh-huh." He whispered back. "But don't tell them or they'll feel bad."

"Promise," I forwarded my pinky.

He giggled, eyes crinkling in joy. "Don't break the promise or I get to kill your pinky."

"Okay, but I need a promise, too."

"Promise?"

"Yep. Promise me you'll be careful next time and won't scare your parents like that."

He blinked, thought, then nodded. "Promise. I love my pinkies."

We glanced at the twins and shared a look.

"Alright, you two."

⋆ ───⊱☽❁☾⊰─── ⋆

Driving back home, I stopped by the grocery store to buy cat food for Salem and grocery for myself. Waiting for the traffic to clear, I turned on the radio and 'Heat Waves' by Glass Animals started playing.

I leaned my head against the against the headrest and sighed, feeling the music. My eyes closed involuntarily as I opened the window to feel the fresh, soothing breeze play with my hair.

𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘢 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦

𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘰

𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘴𝘰 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯

𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘳𝘺

𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘣𝘺𝘦

Hearing an annoying honk amidst my serenity, I opened my eyes. Big mistake. Just as I opened my eyes, they fell on a man sitting in the backseat of a black Mercedes. He was wearing sunglasses at this hour.

𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬

𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶

𝘓𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦

𝘮𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘑𝘶𝘯𝘦

My jaw tightened as I gulped and glanced back towards the road, pulling the window back up. I didn't waste a second before driving off as the traffic light turned green.

𝘙𝘰𝘢𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘯'

𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯

𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘵, 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴,

𝘐'𝘮 𝘴𝘸𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘯' 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘮𝘪𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳