The Bond Between Us (Anastasia and Herman)

Annie couldn't get over how frustrating WhatsApp's design was. It was like the app had no idea how real people felt.

When you retract a message, it's because you don't want the other person to see it. But no, the app just had to announce that a message had been deleted.

It was like putting up a neon sign that says, "Hey, something's up!"

All Annie could do now was pray that Herman hadn't seen her message before she yanked it back. That he hadn't noticed the glaring "This message was deleted" notification. Talk about a social disaster.

All Annie really needed was to vent, to pour out her frustrations to Herman. She was just blowing off steam, thinking he had blocked her and wouldn't see her messages anyway. She treated the chat app like a secret diary, a place to unload her deepest secrets. Now, that diary didn't feel so secret anymore.

Her heart was doing somersaults as she waited anxiously. Then, her phone pinged with a WhatsApp notification.

Annie's heart skipped a beat at the sound. The very thing she dreaded most had happened.

Sure enough, it was a message from Herman.

Seeing his message was like a jolt of life, sending her pulse racing and bringing color back to her world.

For months, they'd had no contact. All she knew about him came from the news. They had retreated to their separate lives, no intersection.

Now, his message linked them together again.

It was just four words, but they brought tears to her eyes and made her lashes damp.

Because he had written: "I'm downstairs."

Annie dashed to the window facing the street and there, under the glow of the street lamps, was Herman's car parked at the curb.

He had come.

Hadn't he promised Feiman he would never come to see her again?

Then why was he here?

Annie wished she could run down to him, yet fear held her back.

Logic warned her not to go. She feared Feiman's retribution. She had just regained some semblance of peace, and she didn't want that shattered. Her mother was too old for any more upsets, and Pattie was still so young... But eventually, emotion overruled reason.

Annie left the house, not even bothering to change her slippers or pajamas, running down the stairs, out the door, towards him...

The streets were silent in the early hours, devoid of cars and pedestrians.

Stopping a few meters away from his car, she peered through the glass at him.

Their eyes met, and it was as if time stood still.

March in Riverdale was still cold, especially at night.

Herman quickly got out of the car, shrugging off his coat to wrap it around her. "Why'd you come down without even putting on a coat?"

His voice was scolding, but concern and worry were unmistakable.

She looked at him, seeing him up close after so long, her heart surged with joy.

No matter how much time passed, the only person who could make her heart race like this was him.

"I wanted to see you as soon as possible. I was afraid you'd leave... I was afraid..."

Suddenly, he hugged her, and months of longing came rushing at her like a flood.

"I've always been here," he said.

A lump formed in Annie's throat, and the moment felt like a dream. She was in his arms, smelling his familiar scent, which she had longed for.

Her voice was choked with emotion. "I thought I'd never get to be in your arms again."

Under the orange glow of the street lamps, a breeze stirred, scattering leaves around them as they held each other tightly, wishing they could fuse together, never to be parted.

Though they were divorced, their affection hadn't waned. Their hearts had always remained entwined.

As he held her, Herman's heart was full. Promises, commitments, they all flew out the window. With her by his side, he needed nothing else.

Just then, a flash of white light crossed their sight. Herman's brow furrowed, his gaze sharply turning towards a nearby bush. He knew someone was there, taking photos of them.

It was one of Feiman's men. Feiman had been secretly keeping tabs on him for the past few months, making sure he didn't go to Annie.noveldrama

Herman released Annie, took her hand, and said, "Get in the car."