-Lets go back to the present time, shall we?-

Olivia sits with her head in her hands, dozing off for a few seconds, then startling herself.

Sweetheart, are you okay? Olivias father, who was also sitting on the same couch, asked. Are you cold?

She pushes the hair away from her drowsy, tired, half-asleep face.

Olivia, go and get some sleep. Haydens father spoke.

Olivia shook her head. I cant sleep.

Sweetie, please come on, try and get some rest. Her father spoke again. she sighed and got up and slowly made her way to her bedroom.

She stopped dead in her tracks at the doorframe, where she could see Hayden sitting on the floor, next to Olivias sleeping body.

He would always be there, sitting right next to her, waiting for her to wake up.

A few tears trickled down her cheeks as she hallucinated.

Hayden had a small flower in his hand, which he placed on Olivias cheek, letting it fall down as a smile appeared on Olivias face as her eyes fluttered open.

She whispered to Hayden, You woke up before me again.

He kissed the top of her head, I dont ever want to miss seeing my beautiful wife wake up. You look like a child when you open your eyes.

This made Olivia giggle slightly as he booped her nose.

Waiting for you to wake up is like waiting for sunrise. Its more beautiful than you ever imagine.

She ran her hands through his hair, when all of a sudden, she snapped back into reality, still standing in the doorframe, nobody on the bed.

No Hayden.

Tears fell down her face as she closed her eyes one more time.

-Flashback-

-a couple weeks after they got married-

Olivia knocked on the door. She could hear Haydens footsteps approaching the door.

Who is it? Hayden yelled from inside, running towards the door.

Its me!

Hayden opened the door, Did you forget your keys- oh, who might this be? Olivia handed Hayden the small birdcage in her hand, a little white parrot inside it.

I saw it in the store window while coming home, I couldnt resist it. She squealed excitedly.

I love it! Hayden exclaimed.
-

At the balcony, Olivia watered he plants as Hayden plucked the small flower from the bush as whined,

Baby, this is the belle star flower. Stop insisting its not.

I cant agree to that, youre wrong. The belle star flower has four petals. This is the wild rose. Olivia took the flower in her hands.

There are the same flowers on the island, I went with my dad.

Olivia rolled her eyes. Youre WRONG. Im the daughter of an agricultural engineer. She paused for a second and looked down. I dont know if I am anymore. She mumbled.

-
Hayden knocked on the door, opened by Olivias father. With a big smile on his face, Hayden greeted him, but he rolled his eyes went back to where he was sitting. Hayden came inside and went straight to the kitchen and started doing the dishes.

Son, what on earth are you doing? Olivias father looked at him with worry.

He dried off his hands and tried to hug him, but her father pushed him back. What are you doing?

You called me son, and sons hug their fathers. Hayden spoke with a cheeky smile.

Are you sick or something kid?

I am sick, dad. Thats why I came to you. Youre the only one who can heal me.

Get out of my house, or else-

Alright, I got it, or else youll call security. But I wont go anywhere until you calm down and listen to whats worrying me.

-

Olivia came into the apartment, placing her bag on the table and looking around the empty apartment. Hayden? she called out.

Hayden yelled from the balcony, Were out here!

We? Olivia walked out to the balcony and what she saw next made her stop dead in her tracks. Dad?

Hello, sweetheart. He got up from where he was sitting, playing chess with Hayden and walked up towards Olivia. Its been long enough. Olivia burst into tears and quickly wrapped her arms around her father as he held her tight.

Ive missed you so much.

-
They sat and ate fruits, talked, jokes around, till it was sundown. Olivia showed the flower her and Hayden were arguing over earlier the day.

Hes right, it is the belle star flower. Hayden raised his hands in the air and bowed towards the imaginary crowd as Olivia rolled her eyes and laughed.

And finally, Olivia held her father for the last time before they said their farewells.

-present time-

Rambler. Olivias father laughed with Olivia sitting on her bed. He went in my nose and out my mouth that day.

Olivia held her fathers hand, Admit that you loved him so much that day. She smiled as he nodded.

You cant know him and not love him. She tries to hold back her tears.

Sweetheart, come on. Try to get some sleep. Look, were all here. I promise ill wake you up if we got any news. She nodded and wiped the tears away from her face and laid down on the bed as her father tucked her in and left the room.

He went outside and sat on the bed, sighing.

She hasnt been sleeping for days. Haydens father started.

I talked to her. Shes afraid of waking up. Of waking up and not finding Hayden by her side. I understand her. when I lost my wife I he sighed and looked down as Haydens mother entered the room and sat on the couch.

Anyways, has Hayden ever done anything like this before? Disappearing and such?

He used to run away to the island sometimes, he brought a small house there as well. But nothing like this has ever happened before. His mother replied, with sorrow in her tone.

Werent the kids so happy?

Everyone thought back to their relationship, when Haydens father got caught up in a memory of Hayden.

-in the office, a few months ago-

Hayden tapped his pen lightly on the table, moving his leg u and down constantly while listening to their clients in the meeting.

If we couldve solved the budget issue, this wouldve been much better. The amount you ask is too high. There are many companies who are willing to do it for half the price.

Yes, but Haydens father started but Hayden slapped his pen on the table and cut him off.

Give it to them then. Even better, let them have you make coop from a garden as a model. Have a good economic day.

And with that he bolted out of the conference room.

He stared at his reflection in the mirror, his head beating with the sound of drums, making him dizzy. He knelt down and washed his face, then looked back up.

Whats happening to me?

-
What happened to you inside, Hayden? Haydens father scolded him, but I a light tone.

I swear I dont know, I just lost control of myself back there.

Oh, dear god.

I made a mistake, didnt I?

Yes, you did. Both of them sighed.

-present time-

This flashback got Haydens father reflecting on his attitude his whole life.

Brandon heard a cry from Olivias bedroom, and ran to check.

-flashback of the same day-

Hayden entered the apartment, looking for Olivia. Olivia? he called out.

No answer.

He looked around the whole apartment, and went outside to the balcony.

His eyes landed on the birdcage, but the bird wasnt sitting where it always sat.

The bird laid dead on the floor of the cage.

Tears welling up in his eyes, he knelt down and put his elbows leveled to the table where the birdcage was placed, and rested his chin between his arms.

Did I leave you under the sun? did you get burnt? Of course, you got burnt, you couldnt find any shadow.

He looked down and cried. Because of me. He cried like a child, got up and picked up the patio chair and threw it on the ground with such force it broke. BECAUSE OF ME! he grabbed his head with both his hands, as the same ringing and beating sound echoed in his head.

He looked at the bird with tears in his eyes. I couldnt take care of a bird. I couldnt succeed! he picked up the flowerpots and threw them on the ground, making them break.

I am disgust! I am filthy! How horrible I am! Despicable! he punched the wall and pulled off all the branches of the beautiful patio setup, pulled down the twinkling lights, screaming, crying.

He fell down on his knees, his head spinning, bloody knuckles, as he sobbed. How despicable I am, how horrible I am.

-

Im not late, am I? Brandon stood in the doorframe as Hayden wore his jacket.

Youre still just a 17-year-old, what could you be getting late for? his words slurred which made Brandon come inside.

Brandons eyes traveled to the bottle of vodka on the table. You werent drinking at this time, right? Is everything okay? What happened to your hand?

Hold up, kid. I didnt drink anything. His words slurred. My handthats to and important thing. I hit a pillow. He laughed and went out the apartment, followed by Brandon.