Home Sweet Hell.

In panic, Sophia had ignored the road signs indicating bumps ahead, causing her to drive straight into a bump which brought about the loud bang. Her reflex instantly kicked in and slammed on the brakes in shock. “What did I just hear?" She asked herself, lost in thought.

When they got home,Sophia sighed softly,it's been six years of total silence, disconnection from him. Worse still she couldn't get over him nor the beautiful memories they had shared together.

“How was she to tell her son that his father doesn't want him?.

“You have a call, mummy" Jayden's voice resounded through the car jolting Sophie back to reality,she looked at her son's face and read the guilt feeling written all over him,she thought of letting him know he hadn't caused her pain but she had to pick up her call first.

“Good afternoon,Miss Sophia, the caller said,congratulations once again on your promotion.“

“Yeah thanks,who am I on to please? " she asked, trying to figure out the caller but the voice didn't sound familiar.

“This is Dennis,the director of Kairos Digital Company Int’l New York city branch office.” Sophia was so surprised,her mouth agape as he introduced himself.

“Ohh wow,I'm so honoured by your call sir,it's a pleasure meeting you sir." in a polite voice.

"Same here Sophia, I look forward to working with you and please do not hesitate to reach out to me on any issues”.He said in a very friendly tone.

“Alright sir, thank you very much sir"

"Welcome on board once again Miss Sophia.“ Dennis said as the call ended.

Sophia took a deep breath filled with surprise, and overwhelming anxiety and turned toward Jayden, who now pushed his empty snack pack aside and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

“Momma, can we go to the park later?” he asked, his eyes wide with innocent excitement.

“No Jayden,I have lots of packing to do, remember we're moving out tomorrow."

"Ooh” Jayden said as his head dropped in slight disappointment.

Sophia noticed the change in his countenance and tried consoling him, patting his golden curly hair. “Don't worry baby, mummy promises to take you to different parks when we get to New York, alright.”

“Okay Momma, I love you."

"I love you more,baby.“ Sophia replied, kissing his forehead.

By 10:30 pm , Sophia was almost done with the packing , brown boxes were stacked up on each other and the once filled room looked void and empty .

Just as she was rounding up,her eyes caught a photo frame of her and Jayden as an adorable four year old.

The photo brought smiles to her face so she tucked it into one of the boxes, turned off the lights and went upstairs to bed.

***

The early morning light flashed in Sophie’s eyes and she bit her lower lip in annoyance,she checked her bedside clock and to her amazement,they had less than an hour to their flight.

“Jayden, hurry up, we're running late for our flight. “ Sophia called out as she struggled to carry the boxes and luggages out into the car trunk .

“ I am coming." he screamed immediately, pulling along his backpack.

After several minutes of to and fro trips to her apartment, they finally got into the car and drove to the airport where they got checked in and boarded the 9: am flight.

The flight was long but uneventful. Jayden slept for most of it, his head resting against her arm while Sophia spent the hours staring out the window, wondering what the future held for them in New York.

As they stepped off the plane and entered the arrivals hall, Sophia scanned the crowd. And there she was—Emily, waving frantically, a huge grin on her face.

“Sophia! Jayden!” Emily squealed, rushing toward them. She enveloped Sophia in a tight hug, then scooped Jayden up into her arms, lavishing his cheeks with affectionate kisses as he giggled.

“You have no idea how much I missed you Sophie!”

“I missed you too Emily."

Sophia laughed for the first time that day, feeling a flicker of hope ignite inside her chest.But just as they started walking toward the baggage claim, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She fished it out casually—and froze when she saw the message flashing on the screen.

“The blue sweatshirt looks good on you.”

She looked keenly around as fear gripped her,she checked the caller id but it was anonymous, landing in New York to have someone stalking her was really unwelcomed especially now that she has her child to protect.She unconsciously dragged Jayden close to herself raising Emily’s curiosity.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, I guess I must be jet lagged, let's get out of here fast.” She said with a forced smile glued to her face.

Emily shrugged her shoulders and they made for her car, Sophie couldn't shake off the feeling that someone was still watching them but she didn't want Emily to panic so she had to hide her alertness.

“I think Jayden looks more like you than Alex.”

The word left Emily’s mouth before she realized her word and turned to mouth a sorry to Sophie but Jayden had already picked on the slip of tongue and exchanged curious looks with his mother.

“Alex.”

He said in more of an audible whisper noting the name in his mind.Sophie knew trouble was brewing by the day.She smiled warmly without saying anything because she didn't want to add to the damage of Emily’s slip up.

They got to the apartment number she had given Emily, despite her insistence that they should crash at her place that night, Sophie preferred they move straight to the apartment the company had provided for her.

To her pleasure,the house was well arranged and furnished to her taste,the shimmers in the interior decorations excited Jayden.Few minutes to their arrival,their luggages arrived and the delivery men arranged the necessary ones according to Sophie's instructions.

Everything was in place, everything except her heart!

“Are you going to reach out to him?” Emily’s question made her turn.

“Who? Alex?”

Emily looked back awkwardly at the dining area where Jayden stood admiring the unique sculpture on the wall.He didn't seem interested in what the two adults were discussing,he was immersed in his intrigue of his new abode.

“Yes,he has the right to see him.” She said in a whisper referring to Jayden.

“Emily,he is dead to me,drop this topic please.” Sophie said, sounding annoyed more like with herself than her friend.Emily’s phone rang loudly and she looked up at it bewildered,she gave Sophie a strange look and spilled her worst nightmare.

“He is calling me.”

“Who?” Sophie asked, feeling restless.

“Who else, Alex of course!”

“What!”

“I think he knows you are back.” Emily said, turning to stare intently at the unbothered Jayden.