The Memory Keeper: The Sin In Our Name

S2 Chapter 4: Lost Times

Khai glanced at me with a raised eyebrow, a playful glint in her eye. "Oh, really? Should I be worried?"

"Absolutely not," I said with mock indignation. "Therese and Kroft have been perfect company."

Khai laughed and disappeared momentarily to freshen up before joining the rest of us. As the evening unfolded, the penthouse was filled with warmth and camaraderie. It felt like, for just a little while, the weight of our challenges could be set aside, replaced by the simple joy of being surrounded by the people we cared about most.

As the playful conversation flowed effortlessly around the dining table, Therese, with her signature mischievous grin, turned her attention to Khai. "So," she began, leaning forward dramatically, "how's the new CEO doing? Are you filling up those big ol' shoes or what?"

Khai, in the middle of taking a bite, paused and smirked. She leaned back in her chair, her fork still in hand, and gave Therese a pointed look. "Well, let's just say the shoes are snug, but I'm breaking them in nicely."

Kroft chuckled, gesturing with his chopsticks. "Translation: she's probably working herself to death and pretending it's fine."

Khai rolled her eyes but laughed. "I'm managing, okay? It's challenging, but I knew what I was getting into. Plus," she added, glancing at me, "I've got good support at home."

Therese nudged me with her elbow, wiggling her eyebrows. "Look at you, Rain. You're her secret weapon."

I laughed, shaking my head. "More like her biggest distraction."

Khai reached out and took my hand, her expression softening. "Not a distraction, Babe. You're my balance."

The room went quiet for a moment, the sincerity of her words settling over us, before Jessica dramatically faked a sniffle. "Okay, that was sweet, but now I need dessert to recover from this emotional overload."

Everyone laughed, and the mood lightened again.

Therese wasn't done, though. "But seriously, Khai, how do you juggle it all? Meetings, rehab, and keeping Rain in check?"

Khai smirked. "Well, the rehab is the easy part. The meetings... not so much. As for Rain..." She trailed off, looking at me with mock seriousness. "She's the boss of me. I just follow orders."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't hide my smile. "Nice try, CEO."

The banter continued, light and carefree, and for the first time in a long while, the tension in my chest eased. Moments like these reminded me of what was truly important-family, friends, and love.

As the laughter and chatter continued around the dining table, I felt it creeping in again-this time worse than before. The faces of everyone around me blurred as though their features were melting together. The laughter echoed in my ears, distorted, and the room began to spin. My chest tightened, and my breaths grew shallow.

I stumbled to my feet, murmuring something incoherent, and made my way to the bathroom, desperate to escape before anyone noticed. My hands fumbled as I rummaged through the medicine cabinet. Bottles clinked together loudly, my shaking fingers unable to grip the one I needed.

Panic set in as my vision swirled, and I couldn't make out the labels on the bottles. "No, no, no," I whispered, trying to steady my trembling hands.

Just then, the door creaked open slightly. "Rain?" Therese's voice was calm but concerned. She stepped inside and saw me crouched on the floor, clutching the edge of the sink for support. "Hey, hey, what's going on?"

I couldn't even respond, my words caught in my throat. My chest heaved as I tried to catch my breath. Therese knelt beside me, her hand on my back. "It's okay, Rain. Breathe. I'm here."