The Indifferent Ex-Husband Heartstrings in the Mall of Fate

Brandon's gaze drifted back to Sophia's face, his mind buzzing with Harvey Ferber's parting words about her reluctance to dredge up the past.

He recalled her lost childhood, and Haley Yearwood's memories of finding her: "She was such a sweetheart, a real heartbreaker, pretty as a picture with her rosy little cheeks. Must've been only five or six, out there in the freezing cold, her tiny face turning blue, but not a peep out of her. Just hugging her knees, all curled up, those big, clear eyes wide open, staring atin terror, not daring to raise her voice. And when I walked over, she askedin the tiniest, weakest voice, 'Mister, are you here to takehome?"" "She had a bunch of problems from hypothermia, then pneumonia hit, and she was burning up for days. When she woke up, she was out of it, didn't remember a thing, except for me. She was so scared of being left behind, she'd cling to my shirt whenever I went anywhere, terrified I'd abandon her. Sick as a dog, getting jabbed and blood drawn every other day, shots and IVs daily, and she never made a fuss, always cooperated with the doctors and nurses. Even in the worst pain, she'd just let the tears well up, but never let them fall. It was heartbreaking to watch." He thought of the letter she had left him, "I was picked up off the streets, my mom didn't even want to keep me, I was unwanted, clinging and begging my dad to letstay. I had a family, but at the stime, I didn't. All my life, I've been longing to feel what it's like to be loved, whether by family or a husband. It always seemed like something you've never had, you just gotta experience it at least once. That's why I've always been so hung up on whether I'm loved or not." Her childhood disappearance erased all her memories of Yolanda, the brightest and happiest times of her life. In all her memories, she had a loveless and murky childhood, felt unwanted and superfluous, all of which culminated in the suffocation of her marriage and the disdain from his parents, each event embedding a past she subconsciously longed to let go of.

Even Theresa's arrival, brightening her dim life somewhat, was short-lived, not even two years, a blippared to the twenty years of lovelessness she had endured. It was so brief that it was crushed by the overwhelming weight of her misfortunes.

"If etting the past makes you happier, then don't bother recalling it," Brandon said in a hoarse voice, looking at Sophia's peaceful sleeping face.

Sometimes he couldn't help but think that maybe losing her memory was a part of her rebirth, a part of their new beginning. Throughout the long tsince their divorce and reunion, they just couldn't find their way back to each other.

She had her own hang-ups and desires for a broader world; he had unresolved family issues.

Even in the long letter she wrote before the accident, deciding to reconcile, staying wasn't really what she wanted. It was just apromise, unable to fight fate and unwilling to let go of their child.

Now, starting over without the past might just be an opportunity for both of them.

Their past, he could keep it for the both of them.

Brandon gently took Sophia's hand from under the covers.

The real touch under his palm finally made him slowly feel that she was truly back.

After a day of chaos, he could finally sit in silence and watch her.

He watched her familiar sleeping face with an almost greedy gaze, not daring to sleep, nor willing to.

For months, he'd experienced too many moments where he'd see Sophia before him, only for her to vanish when he reached out.

Even though her touch under his fingertips was warm and real, he still had this lingering fear, terrified that upon king, it would all just be a dream. Under this tumult of emotions, Brandon barely slept, only dozing off briefly as dawn approached.

Sophia happened to wake up just as e drifted off, and her eyes met his handsface up close. Startled, he then belatedly realized her hand vas tightly clasped in his. Content felongs to english S When she tried to move her hand, his grip tightened reflexively, as if afraid she'd slip away again.

Her gaze fell on the man whose face still seemed unfamiliar yet oddlyforting and intimidating.

Brandon, propped on one hand with eyes closed, seemed less sharp and more serene in his rest, though his presence remained powerful.

He had a straight nose and lips of perfect thickness, his pout exuding a rational detachment.

Sophia couldn't quite picture what it must have been like to marry and have kids with a man of such cool demeanor.

She remembered asking him how they met, and he told her about giving her a ride hafter a class reunion, which led to an unexpected encounter. He said he was moved by passion. Sophia tried to picture him in a moment of passionate abandon, but just couldn't. The man before her seemed worlds apart from carnal desires.

Perhaps her gaze was too intense, for suddenly Brandon's eyes snapped open.

Sophia was caught in his prating stare, unable to look away.

And because she was just thinking about their so-called accidental tryst, their eye contact made her feel awkward.

"You... you're awake?" Her voice was tentative.

"Yeah," Brandon said, sitting up straight and looking at her. "Why are you up so early?" "Slept enough," Sophia replied softly, trying to move her hand that he still held.

Her other hand was being tightly hugged by Theresa.

The little girl had crawled into her arms at spoint, holding onto her arm, fast asleep.

Sophia's arm was numb from being hugged, but she didn't move, not wanting to wake Theresa.