I bound my hair into a low ponytail that rippled down with sparkles. I was dressed in a black sports bra that popped out of my black hoodie. I was all ready to play tennis with Mihai and Laura, but Raiden and Reina were still getting ready in their rooms. So I packed them some water bottles and some snacks.

"Kids! Are you ready?" I called out. I looked over my shoulder towards the door, where those two came running in with their thundering footsteps.

"Ready!" Raiden exclaimed. His eyes shone under his blue cap, matching his hoodie and beige shorts. Meanwhile, Reina stood in the door frame, clutching her little bag, and staring at my feet like she was turned onto a statue.

"Reina are you alright?" I went over and brushed her hair away from her face. I lifted her chin into the light, but she jerked it away, and I saw the red cracks slithering around her eyelids.

"Have you been crying?"

"I'm alright," she said quietly. She clutched her bag in while staring at the ground.

"You sure?" I held her chin while waiting for an answer. The more she evaded eye contact, the more worried I got of what could possibly be bothering her. I didn't want her suffering in silence while I was her and we had a chance to talk.

"I'm sure," she whispered and started walking towards the front door. Her head dropped like a withering flower which made me more worried that she wasn't being completely honest.

We got inside the car, and I adjusted the mirror. I quickly put on some lipstick that colored my lips like rose petals, swept a hair behind my ear and turned the radio on.

I glanced at my children in the mirror chilling in the backseat. Raiden was playing on his Switch and Reina gazed out the window and fiddled with her loom bracelet. I was so happy we could be a proper family now, well at least trying to be.

We drove down the narrowed lane of trees that stood outside the houses, sharp as swords. The branches swayed with the wind as wires raced through the autumn leaves and ended wrapped around a pole. Over the bridge we drove, with the calming lake beside that laid still like the traffic we got joined. It followed us to the tennis court where we saw Laura and Mihai waiting for us.

I parked the car and held their hands while I breathed in the cold air that blew against my cheeks. Up ahead, I saw Laura and Mihai waving at us.

"Bună Mona, Raiden și Reina!" Laura cheerfully shouted hello to us. I braced myself as we met in the middle and exchanged cheek kisses. She suddenly squeezed me into a hug as her blonde hair flicked against my face.

"I was afraid you wouldn't be able to find the place," Laura said, pulling away and holding me with her pink-painted nails.

"Me too." I said, "but I had no problem driving here," I said as I saw Mihai walking towards us from behind.

"Hei idioată," he said, coming to my side and punched my arm.

"Hei!" I said as he hugged me. He then brushed past me and high-Fizeș my kids.

"Thanks for inviting me out here," I said and brushed my hair back while the wind blew my hoodie. It was nice getting out of my shell every once in a while. Especially when it felt lonely at home with just my kids.

"Nicio problemă! The day is really nice today so it's perfect!" She grinned widely as Mihai clasped her hand tightly.

"Should we get started then?" He looked between us with a grin and started walking toward the court with Laura beside him. I followed them with my bag smacking my side until Reina came and quickly tugged at my arm.

"Mamă, can I please sit out for the first game?" She asked with the sounds of desperation quickening her voice. She nibbled her fingers and a deep frown settled upon her down-castel face.

"Um sure," I said, "but what's wrong Reina? Why are you sad? You can tell me."

"Nothing, I'm fine," she said. She looked up at me with an awkward smile and went to the bench. She tucked in her knees and laid down.

I hope she's okay... I thought as we went on the court, with Raiden on my side and Mihai and Laura on the other. They served first and I sent it flying over the net. The ball got thrown over to us again. This time towards Raiden as he began racing towards it with his racket.

"Go on Raiden!" I cheered him on but he missed as the ball bounced between his legs and rolled away.

"Oops I missed," he said and ran to catch it.

"It's okay honey. You'll get it next time," I said as he gave me the ball. I threw it in the air and managed to hit it over the net. Mihai hit it back and we had a little rally with the sun's harsh glow brightly moving over our playing shadows.

A couple of birds suddenly burst out and soared over our heads, like my troubles being lifted away in this moment. I used to watch them fly over the bricked wall that caged me inside the prison yard, yearning to be free like them and reunited with my kids.

That hope kept me grounded amidst the chaos that surrounded me like a tornado. Like the eye of a storm, my friends and kids remained the eye of my life that kept me calm throughout.

When Raiden wanted a break, he switched with Reina who joined beside me. She possessed a tight-lipped smile and held the racket firmly while looking straight ahead.

"Are you feeling better now my dear?" I asked before the ball got served.

"Da..." she mumbled with her eyes quivering. She squeezed the racket with sweat trailing down her forehead.

"That's good." I smiled and faced ahead to where Laura was about to throw the ball.

We resumed playing, and Reina had flashes of smiles that came like lightning when she hit the ball. It was nice to see her enjoying herself instead of the sour mood she was in.

Mihai was about to hit the ball when he slipped and fell, causing the ball to bounce off his curls and roll away as Laura ran beside him.

"Are you okay my teddy bear?" Laura asked and helped him up. Hearing that nickname cracked a small smile on my lips as his face turned scarlet like a ripe tomato.

"I'm okay!" He nodded and stood up, sweeping up his hair, revealing some sweat droplets that dropped around his reddened cheeks.

"Don't worry Laura. Your teddy bear is okay," I said and he glared at me, causing a soft giggle to slip out the crack.

Laura then smacked the ball hard so that it went shooting up to the sky, spinning like the sun over the net.

"Ooh! That was cool!" Reina exclaimed as her eyes followed the ball up towards the glowing sky.

"Bravo prințesa mea!" Mihai exclaimed. He pulled her in and kissed her cheek.

We played more rounds till we were out of breath, so we went to get pizza. Then we sat at the damp edge of Lake Herăstrău, under the shadow of a tree whose decaying leaves grazed against our shoulders.

A few meters away there was a guy with a little girl feeding the ducklings. I watched as he held her tight while she bent over the water. While a heavy ache of longing sat on my chest like a thousand weights. As I wished to go back to the time when my dad and I used to be like that but I will never be able to look back at my childhood ever again.

"I think we had a good game out there," Mihai said as he shared a tomato and mozzarella pizza with her.

"Me too! We should do this again sometime," Laura agreed while scooting closer to him. She snuggled on his arm while munching on her slice.

"What do you think Mona? Would you like to do this again?" Mihai turned to look at me with a hopeful smile.

"Yeah, I'm also up for doing this again." I smiled as I untied my hair, letting it relax before eating my own slice.

"Alright perfect!" Laura said.

We continued eating as we faced the other side of the lake. The tops of trees seemingly hovered over the lake like bubbles with a multitude of colors. Their droopy leaves blurred through the waters, creating a smoky barrier.

I sighed while the wind tickled my neck. My memory rippled like the water, remembering when I ate with Mihai when our families went hiking for the first and last time. We went up to the rocky ledge of Piatra Bulzului and ate pizza there. Looking down at the small village slithering between the bumpy Carpathian Mountains, and the Firiza river that pooled at the end of the trail.

I begged my dad for that trip to happen. He didn't like it at all, though. He never liked me mixing with anyone and so I would always stayed by his side so he won't get too lonely.

At least now I can hangout with my friends anytime I want without my father or Xavier stopping me.

A/N: Hey guys sorry for the late update! But here's a happy one! Xx