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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hNhqh2zqS
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSgPpIQHdz
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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqfj5QNywr
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71qrrPRY5Y
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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7puLmSz6k6
I didn’t want to call Max because I felt embarrassed therefore I didn’t expect him to show up at the hospital.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtrI1RK8e1
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu322SujhGv
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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIjpDtIqbH
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOZTTcUwSb
“We’re going to the cafeteria. Want me to bring you something?” my mom asked and pulled my oblivious looking dad from his hand.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAewtwooeuN
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsLxhaoE94
“A juice,” I smiled “And a cake,” I said with a smug smile “Can I eat cake?” I frowned suddenly.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXF4ND9G5cX
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8J11T1Wzle
“I’ll ask,” she smiled and left. The twins smiled at my parents as they walked past them.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7NwToOi4i
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5nuH1gyrt
“So?” Max looked at me and sat down at the foot of the bed. Cleo didn’t move.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iybP73fyo
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79lPIksz9r
“What?” I asked, frowning; avoiding the subject.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuXdX0Fp5s
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AKGPRSLGn
“What’s going on? My mom didn’t say much,” he explained.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZY9b6cxe4
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLAhyP72BI
“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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE17fsYtDif
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwameuHIKsO
“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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VYcOGFs0r
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMD1PhJbT9b
“I don’t wanna talk about it,” I mumbled “Not yet at least.”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghAdX9pcu4
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0fm8T1fiM
“When are you checking out?” Max asked another question.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6dUJPh3Nr
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz75KErVpNc
“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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4yk3kBC9S
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVXbTINjie
“I got you these,” she said and opened her bag, taking out three magazines. She moved closer and gave them to me.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdcns79VBt
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNt1eFA0Nj
“Music too huh?” I grinned as I saw my favorite music magazine among the fashion magazines she preferred.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXkXcpLzyv
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd29P5lQC2Y
“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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcR5Yq7CP6
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4tj8J4i0S
“So,” I took a deep breath after a moment of silence “Tell me about the project,” I smiled at Cleo “What is it about?”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26MxNRSz68
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIdzl5pRJQ
“Um,” she breathed “Need to have a portfolio of ten summer outfits and sew one of them,” she explained.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡit77qvJZPG
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObwJsrFSGC
“Random summer outfits?” I asked while she sat down on the chair where my mom was seating earlier.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rOmNSkoVn
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsozGbeL7V
“Sort of, I need to show a work outfit, a party outfit, a brunch blah blah, you get the picture,” she chuckled lightly.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡof2t8QCDqk
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrAGIyw3kG
“How close to the end are you?” I made an effort to smirk.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Jr1ia61YM
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYBPR3di3B
“Surprising, she’s almost done,” Max mocked. I grinned at him and turned to Cleo again as she spoke.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWbszEebOe
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwiVgnUqO1
“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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1iuKtTvvJN
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6llEc0bug
“Cool,” I smiled.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GHdwvS9rl
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20JjR8BHIo
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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbQEsw9zl6
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCFOE893Dw
Max had to go outside to answer his phone a little while later and that’s when Cleo came and sat at his spot.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ANzdReScD
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TEJXbsYGG
“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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgUnEoJ3jR
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEuhEa2RXS
“Please don’t,” I interrupted “I’m not ready to talk about that yet,” I mumbled; my hands curling up into fists.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OXID06EML
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡse9KFKs0Xe
“Damn,” she breathed out as she studied me.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡushMQgwqq3
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPw9pfwmB4
“Yeah, I know.”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyTa6ffTCY
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zqbnuB9Ep
[+++]478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEcToLL7f9
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0rSbpzQgc
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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOSDTfOdwF
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmy5eSm7H32
“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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0IqZzfe6W
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FthQD5aRI
“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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7ow4vV9PO
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFEH6bo4j1
“Okay,” I nodded. “So, when I’m getting out of here?” I grinned. Mrs. Abbott chuckled.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrGg0MNDEV
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZegEWoZEWD
“I’ll come by in two hours, for a session and we’ll see,” she smiled.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZMVjTwMAW
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbMcNCHtnR
“But I’m fine,” I winced.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1jIJbo6Tx
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRcmsIF8em
“We’ll talk about it later,” she smiled and nodded me for a goodbye.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ssqqMEQyB
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKl1K8tfGR
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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7fUPaZ74L
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[+++]478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuMCqwx2BA
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MYb1pSwM1
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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGx1Li5Psi
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuC2XaxTyv5
“Is this really necessary?” I mumbled.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXp7skp7O6
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDs9xVNYwP
“How are you feeling today?” the blonde doctor asked me; ignoring my question.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFtpvHS8kF
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIP36hua66F
“Fine.”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgwAGUMXi8
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhSYjnE8F8
“Fine is not a feeling Erica,” she noted.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzT1usIqqGj
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIT6QWSKCv
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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3XT9wX5RK
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5qWwof5mr
“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.”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuF1MX6jIns
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94v2tAmgaI
“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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOA6oHWt7b
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrb76TkL0Z
“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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdQmQct6WH
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6H5bKO0SbM
“It’s not your fault you’re here,” she said “When things bottle up inside they’re bound to overflow at some point.”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1KdIOhjx9
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaO2sp0Bo6c
“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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzs9EFgB0Yq
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpIF6lr1Kq
“What is?”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGK5g7BQQf
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuw2j7lEAj4
“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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEeywcQigFj
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0rVj0qHO6
“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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1a84aCzzr9
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8C9OKOx12x
“Why wouldn’t he?” I smiled a bitter, small smile.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBJoCaYGq4
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRD9gasVjVy
“You should answer to that,” Samantha told me and saw her hand moving her pen on the notebook she was holding.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01ocFfyqCd
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRytkztCCVG
“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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo22QNdp9tQ
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBF4SRhrMO
“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”.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1P111PgS6
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW42baSoXzg
“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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDqy0J4mrp
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirC2dq660l
“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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmN3jxRjs3
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OvrjksIQn
“You need to build up your confidence. You’re a beautiful, smart, young woman, Erica,” she said and I wanted to laugh.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqI2kyMjAZ
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZXgZLBDdp
“Well, I still didn’t worth his time,” I mumbled.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUag6dWGpYO
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡau9djABhSX
“Have you talked to your friends about it?”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3E5E1fAfGC
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPkOT6BatN
“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,”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8nD3OvEcI
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXkGfuVanG
“Why is that?” she asked again. Her questions were starting to annoy me.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMge9LPZey7
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IpwqSVN2R
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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqU4ICzMbnA
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxqBYcjTw3
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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppu2zFqLF5
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuTR8OVepx
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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ebs2oawNK
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbQQRstIOx
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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGgGBKIjnv
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTnf9tA9ZW
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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQIfdIVOFv
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpFl1csclG
“Are you okay so far?” I turned towards him from my seat as he stopped the car.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMtoAf7K8D
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuup65Wt9Fv
“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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99T8jdO1Hp
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1cgHfaCI5
I check his black tie with my fingers to see if it was straight and put my hands against his shoulders.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKjD2aO4dW
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCztUr4IpQ4
“Ready?” I smiled.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU21CTKCmXH
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgIykWwP2R
“Yes,” he smiled back and led the way.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrbm0gXR6R
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTc4Tak3Hlq
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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOiQXpMoIra
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboOx76BZQP
“It’s been two years,” he sighed.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs606MkTpgi
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNRlnpCxIA
“That’s okay,” I told him “You’re here now. She knows you’re trying your best,” I smiled.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPF4mZmSwS
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYB81Y6Lw1T
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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPVth2PdM3
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHBNY8BaZs
“Do you want some privacy?” I asked quietly.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOTsNSYq7w
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4BzWCQiaf
“No, I’m okay,” he replied as he stared at his mother photograph; his fingers brushing her face.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06bblaReXd
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnubOwItAb
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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKudzuUmRJj
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdEyoS83pe
Alex got up and stood beside me again; bringing me back to the present. He took my hand in his and held it.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5RIE7Cqgc
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DjFEiKXiu
“Thank you,” he whispered and lightly squished my hand. I turned towards him and as our eyes met I smiled at him.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMA5BTFydx
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGKa90kc7c
I turned my eyes forward again and sighed.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFq15QJrtRY
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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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XNTaI411N
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqMWFyvFZm
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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTCxAkVXsn
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbfSjtaWTH
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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHGvGVxDuU
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWzz2QUgYa
“I just wanted you to be okay with it,” I winced. Cleo sighed and left everything at the coffee table.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9AKWiLxE3J
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocWAbVSWnE
“I’m sorry,” she mumbled “I just didn’t want you to get hurt Erica,” she frowned as she looked at me.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGltqR7iS1j
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“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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVJjEeDQm6
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“You really love him?” she asked and a deep sigh escaped my lungs.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP55HbNG854
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“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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcg12W1m1sL
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“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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFz3xz6MdB
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“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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDOa81vhrB
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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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gWxbNt4O4
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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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzwdgaFLJW
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“I’m sorry for saying or implying those things,” she sighed deeply.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMc9ZqLXwg1
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“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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jmx64MYD7
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“If I knew it was serious, I wouldn’t be like this,” she frowned.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0dtf1fdoP
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“Don’t torment yourself. Obviously, you were right. I was right. It was only a matter of time before he left.”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvHjcldqqp
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“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?”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7mdZ6lBKz
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORyJkxTgYa
“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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjBFmU5OIY
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“I’m gonna call him,” she said; sounding determine.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0r0rthX19E
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“Don’t,” I rapidly shook my head.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEkzVO3U4E
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“Why not?”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3D7Rajp4uW
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“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.”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBvF7TvThw
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7Dy8Jt6uJ
“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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Q1TAOoBCn
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“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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Er6jlK1wH
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJytYPigFFv
“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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKYoXTA6Do
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“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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡni1FLP4H76
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“Eat, your food is getting colder,” Cleo said out of the blue. I sighed and nodded.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRoKtiSCmv
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“When Alex left the first time, that’s when the chest pains begun,” I told her after a while.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9VEySERHt
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“You never said anything,” she frowned, when she swallowed her food.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavYex8eQ66
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“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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGREHofRheM
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“Is that why he was at the hospital?” she asked.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnhHJQ02JL
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“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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmxLN1ITnV
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“Good thing you run onto him, then”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95F6lqtgUC
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“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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhjRiFGXyK
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“Oh, that’s why he’s there,” she mumbled.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXzCN4t42l
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“Yeah, I got him to go to the cemetery the other day, after two years,” I said; feeling proud of myself.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHd6b8UlFT8
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“Are you…” she trailed “Are you feeling anything for him?” she asked finally her voice small. I shook my head.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qbt9Pokih
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“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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZE87kaKWL
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“What?” Cleo asked softly.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtYHLNsNvW
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“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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiyGCf2CmH
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“What, what did he say?”478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyD8KUtDko
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“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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgntvetRjoP
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“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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3RZUFjCTS
478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXf4Q07PVq
“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.478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QN8dVsUeJ
♠ ♠
Title Credit:478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3H6ge4ZNMz
One Last Goodbye by Anathema478Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiYP39LxIX
