Prologue
The bedroom was dark as it was short after midnight the whole apartment in silence, he suddenly started to breathe heavily squirming in bed mumbling words no one could understand, his body was quickly covered in sweat before he was abruptly awoken, sitting up in bed instantly, his breathing uneven. Pushing himself up Brandon leaned against the head case, trying to calm down.
One would say that after a year he'd get used to waking up to the same nightmare every night, but the opposite was the truth. He hated it with passion. He hated that after a year he still had to go through the very same day each night in his dreams. He hoped that the pain he felt that day will slowly fade away, but it was still there and every night he was reminded of it. Running fingers over the empty side of bed he closed his eyes picturing his late wife, he could still clearly see her face, remember what she wore that morning, the smell of her perfume, her laugh, the last words she spoke to him before she kissed him goodbye that morning. Those were the last moments that made him happy before the nightmare started. She was gone now. The smile faded away from his face and anger took over. It was not pointed at anyone, it was an accident after all, four people lost their life that day, Amanda being one of them. He was angry that she was not with them, that she won't see their son grow up, graduate, get married and have children of his own. Brandon sighed, slowly getting out of the bed, he knew that he won't be able to fall back asleep any time soon.
He walked into his son's room to check on him, as usually Caleb has tossed the blanket aside. Brandon covered him back properly before leaning down and kissing his forehead, watching him as he slept. He almost couldn't care for him after his wife died, the reminiscence to his late mother was so strong, but he had to go on and continue with his life. He had to do it for his son, their son.
Walking out of the room he let the door open a jar as every night. Walking into the kitchen he headed straight to the fridge, taking out the milk and pouring some into a glass, sitting on the bar stool deep in thought again.
He and Caleb moved to New York over two months ago. Since the day Amanda died he knew that he won't be able to stay in Washington, everything there reminded him of her. Before he got the job offer from New York, he considered moving back to Los Angeles. But what would be the point? Except for Steve and his family he had no one other there either. His parents were still in Hong Kong, his sister was living in London, Andrea and her family were in Michigan, Donna and David moved to Japan few years ago, Dylan was always on the go now mostly in London with Brenda, and then there was Kelly. Several years passed from the moment her saw her for the last time. He did not hear anything about her since that day, it was almost like if she disappeared from the face of earth. Over the years he tried to convince himself that it was just a coincidence, but it was not working. He was almost sure that in a way it was his fault… he never said a word to anyone about what happened between them back in Los Angeles, not even to Steve. He tried to convince himself that he made the right decision, but what was the right decision in a situation like that? He sighed again trying to push the image of Kelly out of his mind, but as with Amanda it was not working.
Brandon stood up and placed the glass in the sink before returning to his bedroom. He knew perfectly well that there will be two women on his mind before he'll fall back asleep.