History Repeats – 1

Thea’s POV

“Ms. Sterling, are you okay today?” one of my students asked, her eyes filled with concern. It had been a month since the Kane situation, and I was still a mess. Okay? Not even close. Painful? Like being mauled by rogues. Moving on? I hadn’t even touched the edge of it.

Every morning I woke up feeling like I was sinking deeper into an ocean of pain and heartbreak. I’d thought I was healing when I was with Kane, but now I realized it had all been a fucking lie I told myself. His betrayal was like a key that unlocked all those painful memories I’d tried to lock away. All those old wounds were splitting open at once, mixing with fresh pain.

I was going through the motions each day like a zombie. The world around me seemed to have a blurry filter over it. I could smell other people’s scents in the air but couldn’t really feel any emotions. Everyone else had moved on, but I was stuck, unable to break free.

“Just… Thea. I’m fine… focus on your assignment,” I answered briefly, turning away to hide my expression. Another thing—I hated the Sterling surname. Every second it reminded me of my past. I wanted to change it but didn’t know what to use instead. Kincaid? But I didn’t know them well enough yet. And I hadn’t spoken to them since that day at my house.

I turned around, hiding my emotions. Before, I loved teaching. Now it was just another thing that drained me. Every day I came to work wishing the time would pass quickly so I could go home. I wanted to be alone. But Iris and Sebastian kept checking on me, which meant I was never truly alone.

The students had clearly noticed the change. The classroom atmosphere wasn’t vibrant anymore, and my voice had become mechanical and flat. Several students had started skipping class. I couldn’t blame them—who wanted to listen to a walking corpse? I just didn’t know how to find that confident Thea who thrived in her field again.

Instead of trying to go back to who I was, why not try to create someone new? I’d gotten used to that strange female voice occasionally popping into my head. I didn’t know what it was, but I treated it as my second conscience, talking to her like I was talking to another version of myself. But was it possible? To create a newer version. One different from that child, that girl, that woman who’d been broken countless times.

The bell interrupted my thoughts. I packed up without even saying goodbye to my students and left the classroom. I kept my head down as I hurried to the teachers’ lounge. I just wanted to breathe for a moment before my next class. Luckily, no one stopped me in the hallway. I really didn’t want to talk to anyone.

When I reached the teachers’ lounge, I froze. I’d expected it to be at least somewhat empty, but damn, it was packed. I groaned and headed for the furthest seat.

Just then, my phone rang. Seraphina’s name flashed on the screen. I’d been avoiding her calls, not knowing how to face these sudden biological parents, especially considering Kane’s relationship with them. I was about to hang up, but my finger mysteriously slid to answer instead.

“Thea? Are you there?” her voice came through the phone, a hint of nervousness in it.

I didn’t answer, just breathed softly.

“Please, my daughter, don’t shut us out,” she pleaded quietly, her voice trembling slightly. “Don’t reject me and your father.”

I remained silent, even though I wanted to speak; my throat felt like something was blocking it.

“You’re our blood, Thea. I want to be the mother I was supposed to be. I know you’re hurting, and I want to be there for you. I’ve already lost one child, please don’t let me lose another. Losing you again, after just finding you, would kill me,” she begged, crying, which broke my heart.

Tears involuntarily welled up in my eyes. Damn, I’d become so emotional these past few weeks.

“I need time,” I finally said, my voice raspier than I’d expected.