MARRY YOUR KILLER
Chapter One Hundred Three: The Tears
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One week had passed since the twins were born.
The house in Manila was alive with new sounds. Crying. Cooing. The soft padding of feet in the hallway at odd hours. Percy was up at all hours now, walking the halls with Aurora in his arms, her small face pressed against his chest, her tiny fists clenched. He sang to her. Old songs. Lullabies. Songs his mother had sung to him. Songs he had forgotten until now.
Honey watched from the doorway, her face soft, her eyes bright. "You're going to spoil her."
Percy looked at Aurora. At her dark hair. At her closed eyes. At the small mouth that was curved into something that might have been a smile. "She deserves to be spoiled."
Honey walked to him. She touched Aurora's face. Her skin was soft. Her breath was warm. "She does."
---
Keiran was in the nursery every morning. He stood by the cribs, his hands on the rails, his face bright. Alexander was awake. His eyes were dark. His face was serious. He was watching. He was waiting. He was always watching.
Keiran leaned close. "You're going to be my favorite cousin. Don't tell Aurora."
Alexander's hand opened. His fingers wrapped around Keiran's finger. Small. Warm. Strong.
Keiran's face was wet. "He likes me."
Keigan stood in the doorway. His arms were crossed. His face was cold. His eyes were soft. "He likes everyone."
Keiran turned. "He likes me best."
Keigan walked to the crib. He looked at Alexander. At the dark eyes. At the serious face. At the small hand that was holding Keiran's finger. "He likes you."
Keiran grinned. "I knew it."
---
Jay moved slowly now. Her body was healing. Her arms were empty. The twins were with the family, with the uncles and aunts who had been waiting for them. She walked the halls of the house, her hand on the wall, her feet bare, her hair loose. She stopped at Lyra's door.
The machines beeped. The monitors glowed. The roses were red on the table beside her bed. Fresh roses. Percy brought them every morning. Lyra's face was pale. Her eyes were closed. Her hand was in Alex's.
Alex looked up. His face was thin. His eyes were hollow. His hand was in Lyra's. "Jay."
She walked to the bed. She sat on the other side. She took Lyra's other hand. Her fingers were cold. Her skin was pale. Her face was still.
"She's going to wake up," Jay said.
Alex nodded. "She's going to wake up."
Jay looked at Lyra. At the woman who had saved her. At the woman who had saved her children. At the woman who was fighting to come back. "The twins are here. They're healthy. They're strong. They're waiting for you."
The machines beeped. Lyra didn't move.
Jay squeezed her hand. "Aurora has Keifer's eyes. Dark and steady. She watches everything. She's quiet. She's serious. She's going to be a handful."
The machines beeped. Lyra didn't move.
Jay's voice cracked. "Alexander has my stubbornness. He doesn't cry. He just watches. He's waiting. He's always waiting. He's waiting for you."
The machines beeped. Lyra didn't move.
Alex's face was wet. "She's waiting."
---
The morning came. Jay walked to the nursery. Aurora was awake. Her eyes were open. Dark. Steady. Watching. Alexander was awake. His eyes were open. Dark. Serious. Waiting.
Jay picked them up. One in each arm. Small. Warm. Alive. She carried them down the hall. Past Percy's room, where he was sleeping with Honey, his arm around her, his face soft. Past Aries and Ella's room, where they were curled together, their breathing slow. Past Care and Cole's room, where Care was dreaming of medicines, Cole was dreaming of her. Past Rakki and Ci N's room, where Rakki was sprawled across the bed, Ci N was curled beside her. Past Mica and Calix's room, where Mica's laptop was open, Calix's arm was around her. Past Freya and Erdix's room, where they were silent, still, together. Past Grace and Denzel's room, where Grace's fists were open, Denzel's hand was in hers. Past Kuya Angelo and Ion's room, where they were reading, side by side. Past Tita Gemma and Tita Rachel's room, where Tita Gemma was crying, Tita Rachel was holding her. Past Keiran and Keigan's room, where Keiran was sprawled across his bed, Keigan was watching the window.
She stopped at Lyra's door.
The machines beeped. The monitors glowed. The roses were red on the table beside her bed. Alex was in the chair, his head on the bed, his hand in Lyra's. His breathing was slow. His eyes were closed.
Jay walked to the bed. She sat in the chair beside Alex. She placed Aurora on Lyra's chest. Small. Warm. Alive. She placed Alexander beside his sister. Two small bodies. Two small hearts. Two small lives. Pressed against Lyra's chest. Pressed against her heart. Pressed against her soul.
Alex opened his eyes. His face was pale. His eyes were red. "Jay."
She looked at him. "They need to see her. They need to know her. They need to feel her."
Alex looked at the twins. At Aurora's dark eyes, watching her aunt. At Alexander's serious face, waiting. "She needs to feel them."
Jay took Lyra's hand. Her fingers were cold. Her skin was pale. Her face was still. "Lyra. It's Jay. I'm here. The twins are here. They're on your chest. They're warm. They're alive. They're waiting for you."
The machines beeped. Lyra didn't move.
Jay pressed Lyra's hand against Aurora's back. Small. Warm. Alive. "This is Aurora. She has Keifer's eyes. She's quiet. She's serious. She's going to be a handful. She's going to need her aunt. She's going to need you."
The machines beeped. Lyra didn't move.
Jay pressed Lyra's hand against Alexander's back. Small. Warm. Alive. "This is Alexander. He has my stubbornness. He doesn't cry. He just watches. He's waiting. He's always waiting. He's waiting for you."
The machines beeped. Lyra didn't move.
Alex took Lyra's other hand. His fingers were warm. Her fingers were cold. "They're here, Lyra. They're here and they're waiting. They're waiting for you to wake up. They're waiting for you to hold them. They're waiting for you to love them."
The machines beeped. Lyra didn't move.
Aurora's hand opened. Her fingers touched Lyra's skin. Small. Warm. Alive. Alexander's eyes closed. His body relaxed. His breathing slowed. He was sleeping. He was waiting. He was home.
Jay watched. Her face was wet. Her hands were shaking. "She's going to wake up. She's going to hold them. She's going to love them. She's going to—"
She stopped. Her voice cracked. Her hands were empty.
A tear fell from Lyra's eye.
Small. Silent. Slow. Down her pale cheek. Down her blank face. Down to the pillow beneath her head.
Jay saw it. Her hands were shaking. Her face was wet. "Lyra."
Another tear. Slower this time. Following the same path. Down her cheek. Down her face. Down to the pillow.
Alex saw it. His face was white. His hands were shaking. "Lyra. Lyra, can you hear me? Can you feel them? Can you—"
The machines beeped. Lyra didn't move. But the tears kept falling. Silent. Slow. One after another. Down her pale cheeks. Down her blank face. Down to the pillow beneath her head.
Jay held her hand. Her fingers were cold. Her skin was pale. Her face was wet with tears. "She's crying. She's crying for them. She knows they're here. She knows they're alive. She knows they're waiting."
Alex held her other hand. His fingers were warm. His face was wet. "She's fighting. She's always fighting. She's going to wake up. She's going to wake up."
The machines beeped. Lyra didn't move. But the tears fell. And the twins were on her chest. And Alex was beside her. And Jay was beside her. And the family was waiting. And Lyra was fighting. And Lyra would wake up. She would wake up.
---
Percy stood in the doorway. His hands were in his pockets. His face was wet. Honey was beside him. Her hand was in his.
"She's crying," Percy said.
Honey looked at Lyra. At the tears on her cheeks. At the twins on her chest. At Alex holding her hand. At Jay holding her other hand. "She's crying."
Percy's voice cracked. "She's going to wake up. She's going to wake up and see the twins. She's going to hold them. She's going to love them."
Honey pulled him close. "She is."
---
Aries stood behind them. Ella was beside them. Their face was wet. Their hands were shaking.
"She's crying," Aries said.
Ella took their hand. "She's crying."
Aries looked at Lyra. At the tears that wouldn't stop. At the twins that wouldn't leave. At the family that wouldn't give up. "She's coming back."
Ella pulled them close. "She's coming back."
---
Care stood in the hallway. Cole was beside her. Her face was calm. Her eyes were red.
"She's crying," Cole said.
Care nodded. "She's crying."
Cole put his arm around her. "She's going to wake up."
Care leaned against him. "She's going to wake up."
---
Rakki stood at the end of the hall. Ci N was beside her. Her face was hard. Her eyes were wet.
"She's crying," Ci N said.
Rakki's voice cracked. "She's crying."
Ci N pulled her close. "She's going to wake up."
Rakki held him. "She's going to wake up."
---
Mica stood in the doorway of her room. Calix was beside her. Her laptop was closed. Her glasses were off. Her face was wet.
"She's crying," Calix said.
Mica nodded. "She's crying."
Calix took her hand. "She's going to wake up."
Mica held him. "She's going to wake up."
---
Freya stood at the gate. Erdix was beside her. Her arms were crossed. Her face was sharp. Her eyes were red.
"She's crying," Erdix said.
Freya's voice was low. "She's crying."
Erdix put his hand on her shoulder. "She's going to wake up."
Freya leaned against him. "She's going to wake up."
---
Grace stood in the garden. Denzel was beside her. Her hands were on the roses. Her face was hard. Her eyes were wet.
"She's crying," Denzel said.
Grace's voice cracked. "She's crying."
Denzel pulled her close. "She's going to wake up."
Grace held him. "She's going to wake up."
---
Kuya Angelo stood at the door of the house. Ion was beside him. His face was calm. His eyes were red.
"She's crying," Ion said.
Kuya Angelo nodded. "She's crying."
Ion took his hand. "She's going to wake up."
Kuya Angelo held him. "She's going to wake up."
---
Tita Gemma sat in the living room. Tita Rachel was beside her. Her hands were in her lap. Her face was wet.
"She's crying," Tita Rachel said.
Tita Gemma nodded. "She's crying."
Tita Rachel held her. "She's going to wake up."
Tita Gemma held her. "She's going to wake up."
---
Keiran stood in the hallway. His face was wet. His hands were fists. Keigan was beside him. His arms were crossed. His face was cold. His eyes were red.
"She's crying," Keiran said.
Keigan nodded. "She's crying."
Keiran looked at him. "She's going to wake up, right? She's going to wake up and see the twins. She's going to hold them. She's going to love them."
Keigan pulled him close. "She's going to wake up."
Keiran held him. "She has to."
Keigan held him. "She will."
---
The sun was setting when Jay left Lyra's room.
The twins were in the nursery. Sleeping. Waiting. Alex was beside Lyra. His hand was in hers. His face was wet. His eyes were closed.
Jay stood in the doorway. Keifer was behind her. His hand was on her back. Her body was healing. Her arms were empty. Her heart was full.
"She's crying," Jay said.
Keifer kissed her hair. "She's crying."
Jay looked at Lyra. At the tears that had dried on her cheeks. At the hands that were still. At the face that was still pale. "She's going to wake up."
Keifer pulled her close. "She's going to wake up."
Jay leaned against him. "She has to. The twins need her. Alex needs her. We all need her."
Keifer held her. "She knows."
---
The night was quiet. The house was still. Lyra lay in her bed, her face pale, her eyes closed, her hand in Alex's. The machines beeped. The monitors glowed. The roses were red on the table beside her bed.
Alex sat beside her. His face was thin. His eyes were hollow. His hand was in hers. He didn't leave. He wouldn't leave. He was waiting. He would always wait.
The door opened. Keiran stood in the doorway. His face was pale. His hands were empty. Keigan was behind him, his hand on his brother's back.
"Ate Lyra," Keiran said. His voice was small. His voice was breaking. "Please wake up. Please wake up and see the twins. Please wake up and hold them. Please wake up and love them."
The machines beeped. Lyra didn't move.
Keiran walked to the bed. He took her hand. Her fingers were cold. Her skin was pale. Her face was still. "I miss you. We all miss you. The twins need you. Alex needs you. We all need you. Please wake up. Please come back. Please—"
His voice cracked. He couldn't finish.
Keigan pulled him close. His arms were around him. His face was cold. His eyes were red. "She's going to wake up."
Keiran held him. "When?"
Keigan looked at Lyra. At the woman who had saved them. At the woman who was fighting to come back. "Soon."
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END OF CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED THREE