Is this destiny?

In the morning, Sarah had a checkup, and all tests had results within normal range.

JoAnna was confident that Sarah is ready to go back to her daily routine and allowed her sister to leave the hospital.

"Are you sure you want to go back?", JoAnna was not sure that was a good idea. "Philip knows that you are aware of what he did. What will you do if he sees you?"

"Don't worry. I have a plan.", Sarah assured JoAnna. "I was careless and paid the price. Thankfully I have all of you to take care of me." Sarah glanced at Aiden, and then looked back at JoAnna. "I will not become a victim and shrink in some corner waiting for this to go away. And I will not give him another chance to hurt me."

JoAnna gave number of reminders to Sarah for what symptoms to watch out for, before signing her discharge papers and letting her go out of the hospital.

...

Aiden and Sarah took the train back to Fairfield. Sarah loves riding the train, and she was happy to share that experience with Aiden. They were sitting next to each other in a train compartment. She turned sideways facing the window and leaned her back on Aiden while he held her from behind, occasionally placing a kiss at the top of her head, and sometimes on her cheek.

Aiden held Sarah tightly. His heart was heavy when he remembered that he lost her that evening, almost for good. That night he felt horrible. It was the worst night of his life, and if not for a sliver of hope that he can find her, he would lose his mind.

He needed to feel her close to him, to suppress that horrible feeling. Only the feeling of Sarah in his arms was making him feel better.

Sarah felt his hold on her tighten, and she took his hand and interlaced her fingers with his. "This feels nice." She sank deeper into his embrace.

He liked that.

Scenery outside changed through rain drop speckled window as two of them appreciated their time together silently.

From the train station they took a cab to the Fairfield Main Hospital and picked up Sarah's car which Aiden left there previously. And then they headed home.

...

Sarah was happy to reach home. It was the place where she lived with Aiden, place where she felt safe.

Aiden observed Sarah as she took her laptop as soon as they got to the apartment, and she got immersed in browsing some websites. He didn't want to disturb her, he observed her silently.

Aiden ordered dinner and groceries to be delivered. He didn't want to leave Sarah alone, and he also didn't want her to go outside, fearing that Philip might see her.

They spent the day not talking much, each immersed in their own thoughts, appreciating that they are together, and that they can enjoy a day like this. Peacefully.

Next day few large boxes got delivered to their apartment. Sarah pushed them into the exercise room. Aiden asked her what that is for, and she smiled mysteriously, "You will see. Few more things need to arrive, and then I will tell you."

...

Aiden felt that something is weighing down on Sarah. She didn't talk much, and that mixed with the heavy atmosphere got him worried. He assumed that it's related to the incident and thought how to help her. "How about we go somewhere for few days, and relax?"

Sarah shook her head, "No, now is not the time to relax. I need to prepare."

"What are you preparing for? I see you drifting away, not telling me anything. I don't know what to think. Talk to me...", he sounded desperate. Aiden wanted to know what is on her mind. How can he help her if he does not know what is going on?

Sarah looked at him and felt guilty. "Sorry, I got carried away in my thoughts it seems. To be honest, this relationship thing is new for me, and I'm used to doing things on my own. In the future, if I forget to talk to you, just ask... I have no intentions of keeping anything hidden from you." Sarah observed that his expression lightened, and continued, "I got a message yesterday after we left the hospital, from my mom. She said that I messed up and she will have me go through one week of training with her, as a reminder to say vigilant." Sarah frowned.

"Is she coming here?", there was a hint of panic in his voice.

Sarah shook her head, "No, we have a place where we do training."

Aiden thought about what she said, and he got upset remembering the duration she mentioned. "For one week? I'm coming with you."

Sarah smiled, "I was hoping you will come. You can join in training if you want... and if you don't, just enjoy the fresh air. We have a good connection there, so you can work."

"I'm curious to see what training you do with Stella... If training is not here, what is with all the boxes you are getting in there?" Aiden pointed towards exercise room.

Sarah frowned, "I need to prepare as much as possible. It's been a long time since my last practice. Mom said she is giving me two weeks to recuperate before we start. I was not a match for her before, and I didn't train in a while... I'm afraid that I will have a hard time." Sarah sighed. "I'm better in speed and flexibility, but she beats me with her precision and technique. To show me my shortcomings, she would drag the fight to tire me out, once my speed goes down, I'm at her mercy. I don't want her to bully me anymore, I need to raise my stamina and my precision. I decided to start tomorrow with morning runs."

"I will join you." Aiden had no intentions of leaving her to go out by herself. He did some calculation in his head... "If it starts in two weeks and lasts one week, it will overlap with Valentine's. That will not do.", he shook his head.

Sarah smiled. "I will tell her that. We can postpone training for after we come back."

Aiden bitterly smiled, "You heard everything I said in the hospital?" His mood dropped when he thought that trip to Greece which he spent time planning, is not a secret anymore.

Sarah hugged him, "Yes. Don't worry that I found out. I still look forward to it... I don't know how to show you how grateful I am that you are part of my life." She kissed him gently on the lips.. "Thank you."