I love you

Naomi helped Alex clear his schedule and gave Alex final things to wrap up before he was able to hurry home to pack. Since Zac's home was nearby, he also helped out with clearing up Alex's schedule and rescheduling things before going home to pack as well. Since Alex was in such a hurry to get home, he almost went over the speed limit. He was so anxious and worried and wanted to rush over to Alexa's side as soon as possible.

When he heard Alexa crying and begging for him to come get her, he couldn't help but want to pull her into a hug and comfort her. He didn't know why he got so worked up when it came to Alexa. Or why he felt such paternal affections towards the bright and adorable little girl. She wasn't even his biological child.

As soon as Alex arrived at his villa, he fumbled for his keys and practically slammed the door open. He ran upstairs without taking off his coat and packed some of his casual clothes and toiletries and was about to leave when he suddenly remembered something. He put the suitcase down in the foyer and went past the living room and into the kitchen to grab Alexa's favorite dinosaur print cup. He figured it would cheer her up to have it with her.

He suddenly felt thirsty and hot from all the rushing he did. He opened the fridge to grab the gallon of milk and let the fridge door swing shut on its own. Just as the fridge door slammed closed, the picture of him and Kaia as children fluttered to the ground. He was about to pour the milk into a glass cup, when he noticed something flutter to the ground in his peripheral vision. He glanced down at it.

It took a second for him to realize what it was. The photo fluttered to the ground face up. He just stared at it for a long time, as if frozen on the spot. Why did he still keep it? Even after all this time? It always hurt whenever he saw it, but for some reason he still kept it. He just couldn't find it in himself to toss it.

After a while of staring, he finally let out a sigh. He put the gallon of milk down on the kitchen counter and walked back to the fridge, bending down to pick it up. He gazed down at Kaia's childish and goofy smile before turning it around for the first time. He froze instantly when he read the three words written on the back. 'I love you' was neatly and carefully printed in Kaia's cursive handwriting.

Alex stood there for a while. His hands trembled as his eyes teared up. Why? Those were the last words she left him. Why did he never notice this message until now? He never got closure on Kaia's "death," yet right here in his home was her last message for him and he only realized it now. 5 years after she was dead…

Zac stood at the front door, waiting for Alex to finish up what he was doing. The silence dragged on with Zac just staring at Alex's broad and slightly slouching back. After a while, he looked down at his watch and noticed the time. They needed to rush back to the company and hop on the private company chopper within the next half hour. Although he didn't want to disturb Alex when he was having his moment—which was a common occurrence—they really needed to go. After a moment of internal conflict, he cleared his throat. "Mr. Sabor, we need to go now or we'll be late," Zac said, as he watched Alex wipe his cheeks.

Alex barely reacted to Zac's sudden appearance. All he could feel was the guilt and regret for not noticing Kaia's message. After he calmed down, he silently walked to his luggage, which quietly sat there, waiting for him in the foyer. He carefully placed the picture into a special compartment in his suitcase and briefly nodded in Zac's direction without looking at Zac, then took the suitcase and left the house. He didn't even turn to look back before locking the door.

The drive back to the company was eerily silent, almost like the day Alex returned to work after his recovery. They took the elevator to the top floor and climbed the stairs of the emergency exit to the roof. The helicopter pilot was standing there patiently, as he helped them put the luggage into the somewhat spacious private helicopter. After they all settled down with their helmets on and seats buckled, they took off.

It took them a few hours to reach the countryside, and by the time they did, it was getting dark. They safely landed in a forest clearing just as the sunset. When they got out, Alex stared at the beautiful sunset and remembered Kaia and the hill again. He remembered how it was the first time she had taken the initiative to hug him, as well as the beautiful yet shy smile she gave him. He stood there, feeling Kaia's soft touch again in the biting cold weather. He felt her warm body cuddling up next to him and her soft lips pressed against his when the first snow fell. He stood there until the last smudges of pastel colors faded away into a dark purplish-blue. He smiled bitterly as he watched the light fade away while thinking about all the things Kaia and he planned to do...