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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsA6IoHZLmM
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5AMui4O4f
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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnjHyFEG2B
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrLDkjOoyH
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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvSPuM7tJl
I didn’t want to call Max because I felt embarrassed therefore I didn’t expect him to show up at the hospital.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8HnHyjyAP
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Ipl9SXKOx
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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡloIJpAmeVL
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFionuUrDs
“We’re going to the cafeteria. Want me to bring you something?” my mom asked and pulled my oblivious looking dad from his hand.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9AinJiY95
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSSbr0C7qw
“A juice,” I smiled “And a cake,” I said with a smug smile “Can I eat cake?” I frowned suddenly.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94FtrCj7Yp
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxPKdKIdzq
“I’ll ask,” she smiled and left. The twins smiled at my parents as they walked past them.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzQLpdreez
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvCZFUoBcV
“So?” Max looked at me and sat down at the foot of the bed. Cleo didn’t move.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUduZJzSm3
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhLHFOWrsI
“What?” I asked, frowning; avoiding the subject.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSMMOtdMnP
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaU59IfDdDO
“What’s going on? My mom didn’t say much,” he explained.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJHVJ3glyM
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2TEoyrmD5
“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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Cb0zkJvNF
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRJrUkOVnL
“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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡst1TFLCQPt
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrimKWBeaPe
“I don’t wanna talk about it,” I mumbled “Not yet at least.”511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PfGABUP3s
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhug316uVL
“When are you checking out?” Max asked another question.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdReRaz2eef
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJaslbtxQ3
“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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWvJbsMUNT
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPTZdHLoZm
“I got you these,” she said and opened her bag, taking out three magazines. She moved closer and gave them to me.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4eNhf3clT
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpWWJj2opU
“Music too huh?” I grinned as I saw my favorite music magazine among the fashion magazines she preferred.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4ttD7n4Hu
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JXrsi0wJN
“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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeP53qVcjq
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPmbHEDwVe
“So,” I took a deep breath after a moment of silence “Tell me about the project,” I smiled at Cleo “What is it about?”511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyH7x33S43g
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGhMID9ybM
“Um,” she breathed “Need to have a portfolio of ten summer outfits and sew one of them,” she explained.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHih44RaKX
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gQxNs8QGI
“Random summer outfits?” I asked while she sat down on the chair where my mom was seating earlier.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7SA2v4WLW
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpF77bRNAQw
“Sort of, I need to show a work outfit, a party outfit, a brunch blah blah, you get the picture,” she chuckled lightly.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjubrZhgsjt
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5cuCohpH3
“How close to the end are you?” I made an effort to smirk.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnItx9l1Pc
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQGtmoJ29P
“Surprising, she’s almost done,” Max mocked. I grinned at him and turned to Cleo again as she spoke.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPe881u2M2
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPzKqk3a06
“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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNASqev1HS
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7g3NKr1SyF
“Cool,” I smiled.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTeHrbgt2l
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGXdO6FyvA
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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGfE4HSjrd
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhP82qjd5CS
Max had to go outside to answer his phone a little while later and that’s when Cleo came and sat at his spot.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE96vGTS0em
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjESHDXHCH8
“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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOI5efvzYHI
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rfocW0FbS
“Please don’t,” I interrupted “I’m not ready to talk about that yet,” I mumbled; my hands curling up into fists.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8ErBUeuEj
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVyBDJDxjp
“Damn,” she breathed out as she studied me.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2We16rBeYL
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1viPZ0cM79
“Yeah, I know.”511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncJwMgz9Wd
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiMPrqHKP3
[+++]511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPxlON2HCC
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdD5Btedes9
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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHQlkSXm0X
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXhx9UR1pE
“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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkoas9owyQ
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfUA2IIc9x
“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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmaWHBEdYx
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzvAGpuVsQ
“Okay,” I nodded. “So, when I’m getting out of here?” I grinned. Mrs. Abbott chuckled.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVvll3zVxL
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLUqsZuOjX
“I’ll come by in two hours, for a session and we’ll see,” she smiled.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4UX0sUrAv
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXm819RyTwt
“But I’m fine,” I winced.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBSFreJCQE
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWR2pjsY97y
“We’ll talk about it later,” she smiled and nodded me for a goodbye.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOj2RiMQ1aZ
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZEwkxdc4v
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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKM9uBXJzT
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGorvEBpsA1
[+++]511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhFvNpRlY6
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhiOTiHErk
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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZYCV4SZFd
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3C0K28jsK
“Is this really necessary?” I mumbled.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGWAYbPnzb
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkm5Id2ZHKv
“How are you feeling today?” the blonde doctor asked me; ignoring my question.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaU0v7e7aPf
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsI28i0E3k
“Fine.”511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8KUf7eywv
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYnkal5cEW
“Fine is not a feeling Erica,” she noted.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkVoPv4GiF
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhapq8oHGP0
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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWUvEByL9W
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhfnHAYX7r
“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.”511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEwKc2Hq00
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtBu2njwEf
“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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5s1WLKHoL
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapaKvQbHK3
“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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkQxNYBojA
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFptL2jpg8D
“It’s not your fault you’re here,” she said “When things bottle up inside they’re bound to overflow at some point.”511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe90eeihZ7P
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnLNSuVXQK
“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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PrjP9WbDA
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegzVqjbKD8
“What is?”511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡar62e2vfIG
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKXppigJc9
“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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OaaFbwI75
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRzdIuidfu
“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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0T5paJ30lT
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFBTZtf6IM
“Why wouldn’t he?” I smiled a bitter, small smile.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1tGcfcwbf
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTz6OYxXeK
“You should answer to that,” Samantha told me and saw her hand moving her pen on the notebook she was holding.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJ8RzVVUbj
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWSTwcuXBr
“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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAg1weYljPt
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dd94U0SqR
“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”.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wAyL7qMcF
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIUtdztzt2
“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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dr2sfoJRc
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0aDmEcmqk
“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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAa7ZXoKyV8
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7hVdUHYz7
“You need to build up your confidence. You’re a beautiful, smart, young woman, Erica,” she said and I wanted to laugh.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVG0epnPsDX
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3UiC4qxpc
“Well, I still didn’t worth his time,” I mumbled.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gp43WGV3s
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tcsrmobLF
“Have you talked to your friends about it?”511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQPjtUbXmg
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgTPLZHQ50
“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,”511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWig4XDy01R
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQCFk7ICHu
“Why is that?” she asked again. Her questions were starting to annoy me.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RQdW8Y7RU
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJKlGTh4CO
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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8snxUh6mw
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iw6uOR6nx
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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqdHdwAZ6N
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2WYiU1I7r
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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUj6YXCxVUQ
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6vijrMODv
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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2jOr5PzpW
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT06riXTGmN
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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeSRXKp9JQ
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvExaRKyMFu
“Are you okay so far?” I turned towards him from my seat as he stopped the car.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4TtgEDiFD
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21ElnLsyRa
“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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3QxJZTjrT
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SBtiAXJvG
I check his black tie with my fingers to see if it was straight and put my hands against his shoulders.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8CJNnHJ3S
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfZYm0nn2W
“Ready?” I smiled.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2l3AVCD45
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4kqlBatEy
“Yes,” he smiled back and led the way.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVERH3G82pS
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1tDHpgEj3
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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVDHEmTYyC
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMTnkRYEIs
“It’s been two years,” he sighed.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwwIaHRerz
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAUEG38SKl
“That’s okay,” I told him “You’re here now. She knows you’re trying your best,” I smiled.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjii8i7NpyM
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiQTxYhEsh
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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdxHN1dwsO
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgF18UL8IS
“Do you want some privacy?” I asked quietly.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiDontfTTC
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJodss9PXD7
“No, I’m okay,” he replied as he stared at his mother photograph; his fingers brushing her face.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2Kg3KDqOR
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynQSRR7ItL
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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJr00yMq8a
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8Ocj5U3re
Alex got up and stood beside me again; bringing me back to the present. He took my hand in his and held it.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmEmErzbwi
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdw6qlak1Qp
“Thank you,” he whispered and lightly squished my hand. I turned towards him and as our eyes met I smiled at him.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNJt4zdiQN
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhB5JBK8Gu
I turned my eyes forward again and sighed.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡId4lWEluMM
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJp15JOGM7
[+++]511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWm43FLK5HH
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwBxMnaBZY
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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lThN55ydD
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOskywLSG2T
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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9fzmHarAV
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIt8ipxG1g
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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhITVfYy6of
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2TW1sCFGa
“I just wanted you to be okay with it,” I winced. Cleo sighed and left everything at the coffee table.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyCKSDFfKK
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuH6xJfwTIx
“I’m sorry,” she mumbled “I just didn’t want you to get hurt Erica,” she frowned as she looked at me.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvkGDikOyc
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEW646qSGo
“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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaar4rBBj0
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuMmmRSymR
“You really love him?” she asked and a deep sigh escaped my lungs.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Adyhw4hQt
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfBE9v40bP
“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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pOuyssSIr
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDG9D3C8ky
“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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KfgR38dVN
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrb21e7lij
“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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4phJTIbZe0
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHyc8Oyt5e
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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgr7hzvf8Mr
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYT3q39rvk
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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTNvEOEJA7
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUdBm3GOaN
“I’m sorry for saying or implying those things,” she sighed deeply.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqD78RDuBDG
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZv6xy0nLNm
“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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOLXCdCv20
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjXhkO1fcr
“If I knew it was serious, I wouldn’t be like this,” she frowned.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qxFxfcCFl
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJ14Hvakz2
“Don’t torment yourself. Obviously, you were right. I was right. It was only a matter of time before he left.”511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgeREzeLuO
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmADIMN7OSO
“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?”511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVMT4agX7v
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw93QHEZj7o
“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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kJdMTSp58
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULbVofTf1n
“I’m gonna call him,” she said; sounding determine.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRUKHK0Ura
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6iKDW3Lk4i
“Don’t,” I rapidly shook my head.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiWUlri81R
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnkjz5izZG
“Why not?”511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnf6Urc0PV
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjmurVvwIa
“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.”511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaG1HPArcY0
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jDvpfoud8
“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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqCyQc71U4
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRsxDyruef
“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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5dcHEE6up
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXATyu5bGVe
“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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXV5TJcIc1q
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqMTjn9IyA
“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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8d24keqH0
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRJOZWJebD
“Eat, your food is getting colder,” Cleo said out of the blue. I sighed and nodded.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhGFBxdd5S
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPaaj74UyJ
“When Alex left the first time, that’s when the chest pains begun,” I told her after a while.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcpzmDIkCC
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfix3PzBQMF
“You never said anything,” she frowned, when she swallowed her food.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzm2wFz8sKJ
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6H3I3G5OnU
“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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15v8Lf560a
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngBRQM2Hm3
“Is that why he was at the hospital?” she asked.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfcmXZbG4h
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrL69pt4ey
“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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCP9WWESNz
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAttneixOKL
“Good thing you run onto him, then”511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDnGI1CldM
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrOldhsVrK
“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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyELncF9wiY
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfCTZYqc56
“Oh, that’s why he’s there,” she mumbled.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnG8zIm7AsI
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7i8HVR0j48
“Yeah, I got him to go to the cemetery the other day, after two years,” I said; feeling proud of myself.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XN4W7G7UW
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnM3bh8yvID
“Are you…” she trailed “Are you feeling anything for him?” she asked finally her voice small. I shook my head.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdDsS6BWFA
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjCasp1SKJ
“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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByiKGPZJog
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPahwuKzGD
“What?” Cleo asked softly.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡea6VWwjQSZ
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZuNsE0S88
“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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSt9pkzal2
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLs1Abjjsgz
“What, what did he say?”511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytMlbsrLvE
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOFgeOgj12
“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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULheCwJtDm
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQ9hI9EAmS
“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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBkttAOvOu
511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFrQ64lfWY
“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.511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbCGiIRNdK
♠ ♠
Title Credit:511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmuGdEHzN0
One Last Goodbye by Anathema511Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QZUAek1st
