I put my palm against my chest and frowned lightly. The pain wasn’t strong, but it was there. My parents had arrived at the hospital soon after I’d called them. Alex told them everything he knew, as I overheard while they were talking outside the room.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRS8IF9vEq
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡruYnepm1lE
Apparently I needed to stay in the hospital so they could monitor me; make sure that this wouldn’t end up with me having a heart attack or at least until my new doctor came back from her vacation. She was going to have the last call on when I would be going home.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnBlbY1SG2
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tNDKZ97UR
A knock on the door made my parents and me turn towards the door. I managed to send Alex home to get some sleep just two hours ago so I didn’t expect anyone else.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvFvCXdpq9
I didn’t want to call Max because I felt embarrassed therefore I didn’t expect him to show up at the hospital.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYs8KyUlTt
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4erO6bVAMN
I couldn’t see who it was but I saw my mom smiling and getting up from her seat. That’s when Max and Cleo came into view. I sighed and leaned back against my pillow. I would have to explain why all these was happening.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOFJ3SucsU
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7CKgIzYtn
“We’re going to the cafeteria. Want me to bring you something?” my mom asked and pulled my oblivious looking dad from his hand.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GJLuxJUU9
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTMmp747Uu
“A juice,” I smiled “And a cake,” I said with a smug smile “Can I eat cake?” I frowned suddenly.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nlgtffxy0
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRovexhwcn
“I’ll ask,” she smiled and left. The twins smiled at my parents as they walked past them.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi93OkuEKWs
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeOUyP6NlM
“So?” Max looked at me and sat down at the foot of the bed. Cleo didn’t move.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCiy2TRjgx
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkBVNhW49H
“What?” I asked, frowning; avoiding the subject.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzMvc5dwnx
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NSHbND2Ca
“What’s going on? My mom didn’t say much,” he explained.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLOiUadwj2
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE743NKiz1C
“Well, I had chest pains and they thought it would be better for me to stay in,” I smiled uneasily. Max blinked and tried to speak again but failed.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8NlhSmpP6
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwqEv2QnyI
“Why?” Cleo spoke for the first time; her voice kind of startled me. I haven’t talked to her for so long and I missed her so bad. I stared at my hands, my sight blurring, and the machine started to pace up. I noticed the twins turning towards it.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHpXOZ878p
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQC9tr2bTSY
“I don’t wanna talk about it,” I mumbled “Not yet at least.”477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKA9Io2YFkp
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFlEwHKDZi
“When are you checking out?” Max asked another question.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwufxTV0LB
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtd2Qif1VJa
“When my doctor comes back from her vacation,” I replied “Tomorrow I think,” I winced and Max frowned “Yeah, I know bad timing,” I chuckled. Cleo looked more relaxed after my small joke and a small smile formed on her lips.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlWkG4epo0
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lRlLEfVD6
“I got you these,” she said and opened her bag, taking out three magazines. She moved closer and gave them to me.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooruHh6Fbk
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFRpF4tXRF
“Music too huh?” I grinned as I saw my favorite music magazine among the fashion magazines she preferred.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUp6B41WE03
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerin172GOa
“Well, it’s not the time to be a bully,” she chuckled. I noticed Max gazing at the magazines, as if looking for something and then winced when it didn’t found it. I guess he was looking either for a car, a football player or a semi-naked woman. I smiled lightly and turned towards Cleo again.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkmYz6Sfea
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdwN2W9R1F
“So,” I took a deep breath after a moment of silence “Tell me about the project,” I smiled at Cleo “What is it about?”477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKZDdkQ8mT
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mTClopLdM
“Um,” she breathed “Need to have a portfolio of ten summer outfits and sew one of them,” she explained.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCUFZovHWb
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjivDXAtp5X
“Random summer outfits?” I asked while she sat down on the chair where my mom was seating earlier.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXSYQWnnpG
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNkvXQniPw
“Sort of, I need to show a work outfit, a party outfit, a brunch blah blah, you get the picture,” she chuckled lightly.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNq6Z7w14d
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6fsPpx4ik
“How close to the end are you?” I made an effort to smirk.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsKuS7wUof
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Vxf8SoXIl
“Surprising, she’s almost done,” Max mocked. I grinned at him and turned to Cleo again as she spoke.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYpGrJwnMz
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0LLliSBAi
“I’m actually drawing the last one but I can’t stop thinking about the previous I’ve done, so I’m gonna sew that one,” she said.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7S10DNqtQ
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9MKWEuah4
“Cool,” I smiled.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6mvbrK2Gj
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0EKpgjQ37
I tried my best to ignore the fact that although she knew that Damien left, she only contacted me the first day. But as I couldn’t afford anymore drama these days, I turned to Max for a while, asking about Lexie. I understood that he didn’t want to say much maybe because he didn’t want to remind me Damien’s departure. Not that I have forgot about it at all.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPDelmIRJL
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhtJSopCV1
Max had to go outside to answer his phone a little while later and that’s when Cleo came and sat at his spot.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75JggbzyiA
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9Mo4TO2ob
“Um,” she begun and exhaled deeply “I’m really sorry that I haven’t contacted you since you came back or since you left actually,” she frowned. “I was mad at first because I didn’t want you to get hurt and then…” I swallowed hard figuring out for where this was going and I felt being dragged down under by a black hole. As my sight blurred I averted my eyes from her.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekxLLNg6tB
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLljzu2j8Cr
“Please don’t,” I interrupted “I’m not ready to talk about that yet,” I mumbled; my hands curling up into fists.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFg9EJcMMBq
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLk6AAVHD9C
“Damn,” she breathed out as she studied me.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGv9SG3sBRw
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDXFdlK4I0
“Yeah, I know.”477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsacGA7ReF
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjwn5Y9rNk
[+++]477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgN4qTMEuY
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOblXZ7iQ1P
Thankfully, the very next day the new doctor came by my room; a young woman of medium height and slim figure with curly blonde hair. I was suspicious that Alex had something to do with the fact that I was her first patient; especially since she was stunning. But then she informed me that she was a psychologist; she couldn’t have many patients actually staying in the hospital.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuulJbOYRVp
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2dBTePBv0
“Can you please leave us for a moment?” she asked my parents. As soon as we heard the door closing, the doctor sat on the foot of my bed. Popural spot.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFt5XTeQaA
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4nK6v9QvU
“As your pathologist may have told you, right now there’s nothing wrong with your body, it’ s just reacting to emotional pain,” she explained “So, we need to work on that,” she smiled.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKplRqctQBO
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjU9eTY1RA0
“Okay,” I nodded. “So, when I’m getting out of here?” I grinned. Mrs. Abbott chuckled.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgMemWKspG
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnT5C5ex7p
“I’ll come by in two hours, for a session and we’ll see,” she smiled.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1rWuNhHvr
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnNfZF9Nou
“But I’m fine,” I winced.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7NAWRLwgl
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNumiXA6wG
“We’ll talk about it later,” she smiled and nodded me for a goodbye.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1pCiAlNUa
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjqNGQMiXH
She must have informed my parents herself because they didn’t ask me anything when they returned to the room. They left soon afterwards, leaving me to read a book I asked from my mom. I would probably have to study for my exams but I didn’t felt ready and just the thought of it made me anxious.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvaRfYofKP
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJLjVUa9qT
[+++]477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfPJQTfUj1
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIE0xWZ349
Samantha Abbott, my psychologist, was sitting on the chair across from me; a notebook on her lap. I was getting impatient. I wanted to go home and hide under the covers of my own bed. I felt oppressed in the hospital as I had to suppress every feeling I had; unless I wanted everyone to witness my weakness.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhC0Aacqsjy
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHF2e7fZTrh
“Is this really necessary?” I mumbled.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpYIUSGR5M
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBciZRGbLX3
“How are you feeling today?” the blonde doctor asked me; ignoring my question.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58sufqh5ZA
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcvazhCyrQ
“Fine.”477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1nqh3eP1k
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiRfUSv7VN
“Fine is not a feeling Erica,” she noted.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7AHs0aEfG
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2fGwb5sfr
I breathed through my nose. I wasn’t anywhere near fine. I couldn’t understand why Damien left. It killed me even more that I knew it was a matter of time that he’d do it. I just hoped he would prove me wrong.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcRqEdE7NC
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3ghh2pWUt
“Okay then,” I exhaled “I feel ridiculous about this,” I motioned around me “People get dumped all the time,” I said and my eyes stared on my lap “So I don’t get it why I have to do this.”477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5z1YAefOWv
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUJCZaOm9K
“Because we want to make sure that you’re healthy enough to go home,” she smiled. I looked at her. I guess this could be done two ways; the easy way or the hard way.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfx8Z9TjvZl
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqIzsScAKw
“Yeah, still… I mean, people get dumped all the time but I ended up in the hospital. Always full of drama,” I rolled my eyes.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejIP2RZUO9
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxCSMLT2g5
“It’s not your fault you’re here,” she said “When things bottle up inside they’re bound to overflow at some point.”477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jVQGb9yaM
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8nhIdvVks
“I know,” I nodded. A deep sigh escaped my lungs as I curled my knees in front of me. “I feel it’s beyond me,” I confessed.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggDZqdKQFd
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0n8SoFLwR
“What is?”477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxNWKpRsO8
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBE0ovlqSkU
“How much I love him. I can’t handle it,” I paused “And obviously he couldn’t either,” I raised my eyebrows “I knew it was a matter of time before he’d leave me,” I confessed.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3uA6VST0q
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbkobqr1gZ
“Why do you believe he would leave you?” she asked. The tone surprised me. I always thought that psychologists ask blank questions, just to get into your head. I blinked and then scoffed.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Fbwysisbm
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeW4VE1FekY
“Why wouldn’t he?” I smiled a bitter, small smile.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbA0aY144S
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRtIqgDixv
“You should answer to that,” Samantha told me and saw her hand moving her pen on the notebook she was holding.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSuEO8P830
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsg6tu1vvV
“Okay,” I exhaled. “I always loved him. That will never change. For the most part I was alone in this since he never knew and will never know how much I loved and will love him. I’ll just deal with being alone again,” I shrugged my shoulders “It’s not a big deal,” I smiled.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqtPhDryCO
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQ60V377T6
“Erica, I don’t think you realize how much of a big deal this is,” she looked at me “You’re body reacted to the emotional pain you pushed away. You need to deal with this before you’re body looses this battle. I’m not going to lie to you. You can give you’re self a heart attack,” she kept talking and the only think I could think of was “Fuck, he’ll actually be the death of me”.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYIMwsDcxw
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2nrSh7Hws
“Other people get headaches from stress and emotional pain, others get nausea, others all the above, others get heart attacks. Every organism deals with emotional pain differently. Yours is on the verge of giving you a heart attack. You’ve pushed yourself to the limits,” she said and I began fuming.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡro3HlkGAtk
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zYNEDebnK
“So what the hell am I suppose to do? Make him love me so I’ll stop the pain?” I asked, my tone rising and my hands cutting the air in front of me. “You can’t make people love you! Hecan’t love me! I’m not…I don’t think…” I stopped to think the best way to say this “He’s too good for me anyway,” I whispered.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoPpgjk3N2
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00tN5becXu
“You need to build up your confidence. You’re a beautiful, smart, young woman, Erica,” she said and I wanted to laugh.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXK04CxlOvF
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQlMBWJqIp
“Well, I still didn’t worth his time,” I mumbled.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYuF5RAyG6
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqtB8sJdGj
“Have you talked to your friends about it?”477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHxRQ1O2FO
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwsQg3MBM1
“Not completely,” I replied and rushed to explain “I think you run into them earlier; my friends. They are twins. It’s their older brother,” I sighed “So, it’s complicated,”477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEU3YwLSv3Z
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlndrjs56Mq
“Why is that?” she asked again. Her questions were starting to annoy me.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSmXECmU10
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gJ8CbFCTY
I explained all the reasons that made this so complicated for me. I figured that if I couldn’t get away from this, I might as well take advantage of the situation. Since I thought my best friends weren’t keen on listening what was going on inside my weird head, she was the only option.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKgHqruWAm
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9f1w3X33w
She discharged me from the hospital the very next day. I went home with four different pills to take each day and an appointment every two days for the next ten days.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYHaCdUQyX
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEHyWCEmD4
I had asked Cleo to wait for me until I was ready and felt comfortable to talk to her. She was supportive through those two weeks that it took me to actually feel human again and I was glad to have my best friend back. I could see, however, that she didn’t feel as comfortable, maybe because she was scared that something she would say or do would trigger me.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzkXJhG5bO
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKc1cVVTaq
I didn’t even bother studying for my examinations using the hospital and the whole situation as an excuse. My parents of course were supportive about that, reminding me that what mattered what for me to be okay; an extra semester at the university wasn’t going to harm anyone.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQu14KVhPH1
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfji0EwTizJ
The first month passed quietly and I managed to actually control my outbursts about Damien whenever I thought about him. Now, I would only cry during my sessions with Samantha, when I had to talk about him, or not even there. When Cleo couldn’t keep me company, Max would or when he wasn’t available Alex was there to keep me occupied.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49NPZ6lEog
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ921rPv0zmp
“Are you okay so far?” I turned towards him from my seat as he stopped the car.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gylXOYZZt
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZuu8Dq46RL
“Yes,” Alex sighed. I smiled and got out of the car, the bouquet of flowers in my hands. We met at the front of the car and I gave him the bouquet. “Okay,” he straightened up and sighed.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34Cep6On5F
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYf3pn02pl0
I check his black tie with my fingers to see if it was straight and put my hands against his shoulders.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrKZ4fgjF8
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsHvcWoTPO
“Ready?” I smiled.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFv1ptG8V2h
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLST3dTvvEM
“Yes,” he smiled back and led the way.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3Zp8p0bkL
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJkyrEs08r
We walked quietly for a while before he stopped in front of a beautiful white stone. I noticed the name “Elizabeth White” curved carefully against the stone and knew we were there.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSmYzqsa3Y
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UkZLv8fsM
“It’s been two years,” he sighed.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QoAMENB0l
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgg3LT7rnxf
“That’s okay,” I told him “You’re here now. She knows you’re trying your best,” I smiled.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQA6kNk7PKl
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72YedkmxOQ
He turned towards me and smiled too before he walked away from me and crouched down in front of the stone. He left the bouquet in front of the grave and stayed there for a minute.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bhhO3nYjw
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wbmW4ysJj
“Do you want some privacy?” I asked quietly.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjxOC13jPe
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEv9YK5qQM
“No, I’m okay,” he replied as he stared at his mother photograph; his fingers brushing her face.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ywvUbg4YS
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDct9zmZTLa
Sometimes Alex confused me so much. Sometimes I wish he was like that before we broke up. Why did he have to show his soft side to me after all of this? If he did it before maybe we would still be together and maybe I wouldn’t be that hurt right now. But I treasured those forty days with Damien so much. They were some of the best days of my life and I felt guilty for even thinking that I would be better off.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZFHoO6pIR
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7JWtQCWw1
Alex got up and stood beside me again; bringing me back to the present. He took my hand in his and held it.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqQKLmRy5M
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX58ypuXAI1
“Thank you,” he whispered and lightly squished my hand. I turned towards him and as our eyes met I smiled at him.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmxvhkJTPU
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtoCUkPKRP
I turned my eyes forward again and sighed.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjybh6MZfc
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwv7wLdSDw
[+++]477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeuH87gpI8
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkuQjphcQN
The same week, Samantha informed me that she will cut down our sessions to once a week and I figured it was time to finally talk to Cleo. As far as I knew she had no idea how things with me and Damien were before he left.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyl8AcJlErE
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdX45EfuXL
I invited Cleo over for dinner and left the option to invite Max up to her. I tried to keep it light, do what we did before everything happened; just order dinner and watch television next to the fireplace.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5xqMFl0He
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11d3m1Ne94
She arrived alone so I figured she would like for us to talk like this. We sat down and decided what to order at first. When the food arrived and I returned into the living room with plates and as my mind was already spinning I couldn’t help myself anymore.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLU5tU95tD
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLDavAeEN9
“I just wanted you to be okay with it,” I winced. Cleo sighed and left everything at the coffee table.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19qeQRjCqv
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrRjhvVOTC
“I’m sorry,” she mumbled “I just didn’t want you to get hurt Erica,” she frowned as she looked at me.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYWghLq8YY
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQqNnQxlVc
“I know,” I mumbled and sat down on the chair. “I left because I didn’t want to get between you two. I would never make him choose, even if he’s the love of my life,” I confessed, not realizing what I said.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSShVUTFIWD
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡps0yYl880X
“You really love him?” she asked and a deep sigh escaped my lungs.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDm972Me02G
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PKsDhIivE
“Why do you think I’m in this mess?” I asked softly “Though he’ll never know,” a bitter small smile appeared on my lips.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EZZZQa3PU
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XU8TOq20y
“I had no idea,” she replied. Of course she didn’t, because she wouldn’t listen to me. “Were you okay before you left for the City?” she asked after a moment of silence.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUuuicjxUY
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUQXbTK8Ub
“Yes. I actually made several attempts to talk to him, to tell him how I feel but the only thing I’ve managed to say was that I was scared,” I scoffed.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9iDLaxg8k
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WONafIdqs
I explained how he wanted to visit and talk to me, while I was away just to let her know that it wasn’t entirely into my head. Told her that he kept saying that he wasn’t going anywhere and that he wouldn’t leave me and that’s why it hurt so bad. Because he knew I didn’t want him to promise me things but he did it anyway. And then he broke those promises; and broke me into a million pieces.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMC4YQgMbCG
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9IpFmQ0aa
Cleo wasn’t talking by this point. She would only make small questions to get the whole picture of the relationship I once had. Then I had to do the unavoidable; tell her the impact her words had. I tried to phrase it better though. I told her that I knew he was between relationships and that he never stayed with one girl for too long. I also knew right from the start that I’m not enough for him, that he wasn’t for me and I’ll never be enough for him.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuCXvCCE9h
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprxMHOILTG
“I’m sorry for saying or implying those things,” she sighed deeply.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmEcb7r53n
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZYIBUaGJY
“I know you are. But it’s the facts,” I bit my lip. Before she said anything else I started talking again. “Before I even started getting back to normal, he told me he was going to Italy,” I said “So, I never really had the chance to talk to him again.” I explained.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7433lXh1f
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRoVAfW9hq
“If I knew it was serious, I wouldn’t be like this,” she frowned.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsUVWVRgWn
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDo9P3i5pR6
“Don’t torment yourself. Obviously, you were right. I was right. It was only a matter of time before he left.”477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuezhzrtBBI
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fgr4pCdHc
“But, I don’t get it,” she mumbled “If you guys were fine when he left the City, why he left for Italy earlier than planned and didn’t even say a word?”477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyh0b3NnmI
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGeafsZbXe
“If you find out, I would love to know,” I told her and now that I got all of that out of my chest I decided to grab a bite from my food that was waiting on the coffee table in front of me.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQeP44kNzzE
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsMHnsD4WB
“I’m gonna call him,” she said; sounding determine.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhu9yim5vNG
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunDzkrOlfO
“Don’t,” I rapidly shook my head.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdEPZTc0LX
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvhnbwsDd6
“Why not?”477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdiAZ5Yh56
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqqYHyyScb
“If he wanted to say something, he would. He’s the kind of guy that stays quiet and you know that. So, I don’t wanna ambush him like that.”477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzoATxgTKW
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDE9PusVwBn
“Okay,” she nodded. “Do you want to tell me how it started? I hate it that I wasn’t near you when it all happened,” she smiled a shy smile.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡak4F1lpevU
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACWmYkLJqy
“Remember that night at the summerhouse when Mike visited?” I asked and she nodded. “Since he had nowhere to sleep and I was drunk, we slept together,” I said and her eyebrows rose.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQAW4U6NfU
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnonieWJmi
“Not like that dude! Slept for real,” I explained and she chuckled “Anyway, the next day we stayed back at the house and Alex pissed me off, I had to calm down and I got into the swimming pool. That’s when he kissed me for the first time,” a smug expression on my face as I remembered my heart bouncing, butterflies attacking my body and his lips tasting like chlorine. I shook my head to push away the memory.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyxHZnq00m
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyzy7fD61P
“He kissed me again after the renovation. We spent a lot of time together in the garage,” I said softly looking at the floor as the memories consumed me.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivv7pNhBIJ
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvjNaGergt
“Eat, your food is getting colder,” Cleo said out of the blue. I sighed and nodded.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGY6eVp7ZOt
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfXpspBzHQ
“When Alex left the first time, that’s when the chest pains begun,” I told her after a while.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJVEWxhV3d
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrefUpSizO
“You never said anything,” she frowned, when she swallowed her food.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdRqrSIq9K
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JjMIAC4LS
“It only happened twice I think and once after he came back and he wanted to take me to the doctor but I convinced him I was okay,” I explained.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nI4sITqDq
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55TH5JMrs1
“Is that why he was at the hospital?” she asked.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8N5xgZUIUk
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMcmvMKi7B
“I hope not,” I chuckled thinking she meant that he felt guilty for not taking me to the doctor back then “I run onto him my last night in the city actually and he was a mess,” I said and she looked bored; Bored of the over-dramatic Alex. “Seriously, from his half words I understood he almost killed himself or started doing drugs. He had no one else, so I made him talk to me,” I shrugged my shoulders.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpFpmwWVDj
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTe4AHaFQO
“Good thing you run onto him, then”477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmrrtWVEb6
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ89TqumjTu
“It was,” I nodded “Anyway, when Damien left, he contacted me to see how I was, I lied at first. But you cannot lie to the master of lies,” I explained and she scoffed; agreeing with me. “He got me to tell him everything and as I talked the chest pain was there and he noticed. Only this time he dragged me to the hospital for a check-up. The next time it happened, two days later, I called him and the rest you know,” I explained.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUHxeoJrqv
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XWIizjd8r
“Oh, that’s why he’s there,” she mumbled.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuyMNWEYvO
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2r9snoplm
“Yeah, I got him to go to the cemetery the other day, after two years,” I said; feeling proud of myself.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07CWucmExQ
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRj7nk0ZmPw
“Are you…” she trailed “Are you feeling anything for him?” she asked finally her voice small. I shook my head.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5qb2h1rm6
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrovMHfeGw
“He’s only a friend now. He keeps my mind occupied and plus, I don’t want to be in a middle of a romance anytime soon,” I mumbled looking at my food before taking another bite. As that night came back to my mind, the second time Alex took to me the hospital, the reason came to my mind and a deep sigh escaped my lungs. I left my food on the table and leaned forward, touching my elbows on my knees.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66ksREiItl
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPi6fnc6t9
“What?” Cleo asked softly.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuLgPlUEkL
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhu8dk3xg3
“The second time I went to the hospital, I had called Damien and he answered. For the first time he left, he had answered his phone,” my voice trembled.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyKN82uSbb
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz19113xMZQ
“What, what did he say?”477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6xAgwQ8Af
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTdrCiVn43
“I told him that I just needed to hear his voice and he replied with a «So what?» I hang up the phone then, because I didn’t want him to hear me crying,” I explained but tears filled my eyes and I sobbed hard. Cleo put down her food and came to sit beside me. She put her arms around me and hugged me.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJjzGF3QvW
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9QBXau1h3
“You’re gonna be okay. I’m here now,” she mumbled. That gave me strength and calmed me down a bit. I sighed as the sobs stopped and I hugged her back.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWObbUQY745
477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VOuDLGwlt
“Thank you,” I mumbled as she brushed my hair and kept me into her arms. I had missed my best friend so much. Now that she was here, everything seemed easier.477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOB0ZnYxn1p
♠ ♠
Title Credit:477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGRdRWNP3J
One Last Goodbye by Anathema477Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3ojH8KdW8
