Crises in Love (Zora and Jaylan)

With a shriek that turned heads, Hannah gaped at me, her expression a mix of shock and awe. Slowly, she raised her phone towards me. The screen faced my way, displaying a wallpaper of an adorable baby.

I was glued to the image of the child, with those big, soulful eyes, glossy as onyx, peering out at me from the screen. Those eyes...

My mind buzzed as if struck by lightning.

Yet, I couldn't tear my gaze away from that screen.

In a sudden burst of energy, I leaped to my hand, reaching out for the phone, but the coffee table was too wide, the distance too great, and I couldn't touch it.

Without missing a beat, Hannah yanked the charger from the wall and rushed to my side, phone in hand.

I snatched it eagerly, clutching it tightly, "This is my son. This has to be my youngest son. Look at those eyes..."

My fingers caressed the screen where the eyes were, "These are the eyes my children should have."

Hannah scooted closer, peering at the screen intently, "Yeah, he's got Monique's eyes, but he's even more beautiful. And look at this, just like Probert..." Tears started to fall, splashing down like rain.

"Check the gallery, and there might be more." Ronan's voice snapped me back to the moment.

I fumbled for the photo album, but the phone went dead.

Panicked, I looked to Hannah, "Quick, charge it!"

She snatched the phone back and plugged it in again, and I couldn't wait, I rushed over and crouched beside her, watching the screen with the charging battery.

"You were right all along, Allie," Hannah said, a hint of relief in her eyes, "Hazel really did have a change of heart at the end. She was on her last breath and suddenly became good. She should have just told us, and I nearly tossed this damn phone."

Looking at me, her eyes were filled with fear, "That was too close. Good thing you stopped me from throwing it out."

"It's destiny," Ronan said, looking at me, "There's definitely a story between Hazel and this child. I bet she didn't tell you everything at the hospital because she knew something about this kid's whereabouts tha only she was privy to. Especially with Zora around, she must have been afraid to speak up. She probably never expected to pass away that very night."

I sat there numbly, pondering over Ronan's analysis, and murmured, "She was staring at me so intensely, and her eyes were screaming a message, full of urgency, tension, and a touch of sorrow and desolation as if she was terrified I wouldn't take it."

"No wonder there's such a big secret hidden in here," Hannah said, turning to Logan, "You were right, Allie. That house must be involved. Our little boy could be living there."

Her words jolted me to action. I stood up so fast that the room spun, and I stumbled forward, but Ronan was there to catch me with his long arms.

Hannah looked at me with concern, "Allie, you're exhausted. You've been non-stop all day, just take a moment to..."

"No, Logan, we're going there now, right this minute." I couldn't wait any longer, fearing more delays would bring more complications.

I could almost see my son smiling at me, reaching out his little hands and saying, "Mommy, come quick."

"Hold on a moment." Ronan pressed me back onto the couch and went to fetch a glass of milk, "Drink this, and then we'll go."

Without a word of protest, I gulped down the milk and looked at him determinedly, "Let's go now."

Ronan gave me a helpless look, examining my face, and asked softly, "Are you sure you're up for this?"

"I'm fine. I've been fine, and I'm not that frail." I assured him, my heart racing with urgency.

"Get someone who knows the area well," Ronan instructed Logan.

"Got it," Logan replied, and after making a call, we all headed out.

Larkin was our driver this time.

As we left the neighborhood, the car sprinted through the night streets like a cheetah on the hunt, but to me, it felt agonizingly slow. Every second was torture. Instinctively, I gripped Ronan's hand, clinging to it tightly, as if it were the anchor of my soul.

"My dear son, mommy's coming. I'll see you soon."

Upon reaching the neighborhood, someone was already there waiting, and without any effort, we were ushered straight into the community.

As we all got out of the car, my heart was hammering in my chest, and my legs felt weak, but I was the first to dash inside.

I could almost feel that my son was getting closer by the moment.