The Past That Stayed
It's Been a While
The city skyline glows through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows. A sleek office, dimly lit. Maria, a lady in her late 20s sits at her desk, elegantly dressed, flipping through a magazine. The name on the cover? "Maria: The Fashion Icon"
She looks up as her pa, Sara, enters.
Sara (Maria pa)
Ma'am, she's here.
Maria slowly looks up, exhaling. Her perfectly manicured fingers close the magazine. The reflection of the city lights dances in her cold eyes.
Sara nods and leaves. Moments later, Liz walks in—dresses in an expensive but calculated outfit, her hair flowing effortlessly. She walks with the confidence of someone who knows she belongs anywhere. The two women lock eyes. A tense silence.
ML (Liz)
(soft smile)
It's been a while, Maria.
Maria leans back, studying her with an unreadable expression.
MC (Maria)
Has it? Feels like just yesterday.
A pause. Liz smirks, sitting across from Maria. The air is thick with history—unspoken and yet screaming between them.
ML (Liz)
You look... different.
Liz chuckles lightly, crossing her legs, then casually looks around the lavish office.
ML (Liz)
You've done well for yourself. I always knew you would.
A flicker of something unreadable in Maria's eyes. Liz watches her, sensing the underlying meaning behind that response.
ML (Liz)
I'm here a reason.
Liz leans forward, her voice lowering just slightly.
ML (Liz)
I want back in, Maria. I want us to try again.
Maria blinks slowly, then tilts her head with an almost amused smile.
MC (Maria)
Try what, exactly.
Liz' smirk wavers for just a second, but she recovers quickly.
A long silence. Maria simply watches her, unreadable.
A flicker of shock crosses Liz' face, but she quickly masks it.
ML (Liz)
You don't mean that.
The weight of those words hangs in the air. Liz exhales, looking away for a moment, then back at Maria.
ML (Liz)
We can fix this. I know you still—
MC (Maria)
(cutting in, voice sharp)
No, you don't know, Liz. You never did.
Liz leans forward, her tone eerily calm.
MC (Maria)
You think this is some love story with a happy ending? That you can just walk in here, say a few words, and I'll forget everything you did?
Liz' jaw tightens. A flicker of guilt—real or performed?
MC (Maria)
(leaning back, smirking slightly)
Tell me, what was it again? I was a slut? I deserved to die alone? I forced myself on you?
Liz' face falters. Then she smiles, a little bitterly.
ML (Liz)
That was a long time ago.
MC (Maria)
Yes, But you see, Liz—I never forget.
A chilling pause. Liz shifts slightly, sensing something beneath Maria's words.
Then, suddenly —A small voice calls out from the hallway.
Both women freeze. Maria's eyes flicker—barely noticeable, but Liz catches it.
A little girl, Lila, runs into the office, clutching a teddy bear. She stops, blinking at the unfamiliar visitor.
Liz stares at the child, something unreadable passing through her expression. She kneels slightly, smiling gently.
ML (Liz)
What's your name, sweetie?
Before the girl can answer, Maria stands and smoothly walks over, placing a protective hand on her daughter's shoulder.
MC (Maria)
Go back to bed, baby.
Lila looks up at her mom, then nods and scurries away.
As soon as she's gone, Liz exhales, looking at Maria with something between shock and realization.
ML (Liz)
She's mine, isn't she?
The suggestion and experiment we did, it worked?
MC (Maria)
That's the thing about the past, Liz. It never really goes away. It stays.
Liz swallows, the weight of everything finally sinking in. The truth. The consequences. The manipulation. And for the first time... she realizes—she's the one being played now.
The Collapse part 1
The room is dimly lit with a desk lamp. Posters of movies and fashion sketches are on Maria's side, while scientific charts and anatomy drawings are on Liz'. They are both laying on opposite beds, chatting.
Young Liz
(voice low, curious)
Maria... can I tell you something weird?
Young Maria
(turns, slightly amused)
Weird coming from you? Color me intrigued.
Young Liz
(serious now)
I overheard my parents talking about one of Mom's IVF patients. And I started reading about it.
Young Maria
(sits up)
IVF? Like... test tube babies?
Young Liz
Exactly. I was fascinated. The whole science of it... creating life outside the body, and then placing it inside.
Young Maria
That's heavy curiosity for a Friday night.
Young Liz
(chuckles)
I know. But it got me thinking. What if we tried it?
Young Liz
Just as an experiment. For fun. I mean, we're not going to actually get pregnant. We wouldn't even know if we're doing it right. I just... I want to know. What it feels like to try something like that. Like science, but personal.
Young Maria
(turns away nervously)
That's not science, that's... borderline madness.
Young Liz
(turning to her bed's edge, soft)
Come on, Maria. You know I wouldn't hurt you. And I wouldn't ask if I didn't feel something real about it. We don't even know if it'll work. It's just... trying. For the experience. Between us.
Young Maria
(softening)
You really want to?
Young Liz
(quietly)
With you? Yeah. I don't know why. Maybe because I trust you. Maybe because I'm scared to ever try something real with anyone else.
Young Maria
(sighs, heart racing)
Okay... Just this once.
Young Liz
(whispers)
You have no idea how much this means to me.
In Liz home, her and Maria went to her mom's science lab which is empty. Dim lights hum. Liz stands with a small cooler and a few sterile tools. Maria enters, visibly anxious.
Young Maria
(sighing)
You sure this isn't illegal?
Young Liz
(grinning)
Only if we get caught.
They prepared awkwardly. Liz explains each steps—retrieving donor sperm, using her own egg, and the awkward attempt to insert it into Maria using unfamiliar tools. it's a mix of suspense, absurdity, and sincerity.
Young Liz
Just relax... breathe.
Young Maria
This better not end with me on a campus gossip blog.
They laugh nervously. Liz gently proceeds. Time slows, their breath syncing, eyes locked. It's not sexual—it's intimate, strange, scientific, emotional.
Young Liz
There. That's it.
Young Maria
So now we wait? For... nothing?
Young Liz
(chuckles)
Exactly. A perfectly useless memory.
They sit side by side on the cold lab floor, shoulders touching. In the silence, something deeper stirs between them—love, confusion, fear.
Young Liz
Promise me if anything ever happens between us... we'll still be each other's home.
Young Maria
(nods, whispering)
I promise.
The Collapse part 2
Two weeks after the IVF moment
The room is dimly lit. Maria is laying on her bed, a book pressed against her chest, smiling slightly. Her phone lights up. It's a message from Liz.
Young Liz
(Text from Liz)
Will you go to the departmental party tomorrow?
Young Maria
(Replied to Liz)
Nah.
Young Liz
(Text from Liz)
Why not, what's up.
Young Maria
(Replied to Liz)
Nothing really, just need to study.
Young Liz
(Text from Liz)
Well I had a feeling you might say that, after all you're a bookworm.
Young Maria
(Replied to Liz)
Lol, we both know you're also a book worm.
Young Liz
(Text from Liz)
Yeah but you're on a whole other different level compared to me.
Young Maria
(Replied to Liz)
Lol.
Young Liz
(Text from Liz)
Am serious, you're the one that always have first class with a CGPA of either 4.99 or 5.00.
Young Maria
(Replied to Liz)
Yeah right, you know you're also a first class student right, let me just remind you cause it seems you've forgotten.
Young Liz
(Text from Liz)
Yeah, I know I haven't forgotten, but I always have a CGPA of 4.89 or 4.90. So jealous, lol.
Young Maria
(Replied to Liz)
But you're famous, like u entered this university by writing their exam and passing it without paying any of them.
Young Liz
(Text from Liz)
Yeah, you're right. But then again you entered this university through fully funded scholarship and to get that from this university is impossible until you proved that it was possible.
Young Liz
(Text from Liz)
You're just as famous as me maybe even more famous.
Young Maria
(Replied to Liz)
Lol.
Young Liz
(Text from Liz)
Anyway, I'm actually going to the departmental party tomorrow.
Young Maria
(Replied to Liz)
Okay, have fun.
Young Liz
(Text from Liz)
Let's go together, let's make a memory as it'll be our very first party, what do you think?
Young Maria
Did she just ask me to be her date, omg.
Young Maria
(Replied to Liz)
Sure, fine?
Young Liz
(Text from Liz)
Okay then, see you tomorrow.
(softly, almost whispering from adult Maria)
She always knew what words to use... what strings to pull. And me? I always danced
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