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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyYRCJGJ5Z
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1U3qa0meh
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rxwOoBqWU
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNzwysTi4M
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5BG4YwCdQ
I didn’t want to call Max because I felt embarrassed therefore I didn’t expect him to show up at the hospital.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOsct09tpr
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87tR4Dvquw
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthztGMbO2d
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQ2pEItZiE
“We’re going to the cafeteria. Want me to bring you something?” my mom asked and pulled my oblivious looking dad from his hand.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooysTN3GO1
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9uGe74s7N
“A juice,” I smiled “And a cake,” I said with a smug smile “Can I eat cake?” I frowned suddenly.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ376G9NM3T5
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8yea6tLCAx
“I’ll ask,” she smiled and left. The twins smiled at my parents as they walked past them.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZxwCa0BkC
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6F7o6DyRF
“So?” Max looked at me and sat down at the foot of the bed. Cleo didn’t move.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67VTMWy6GY
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvko8ENnkB
“What?” I asked, frowning; avoiding the subject.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZOUthbaEK
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHaA4eXH6D
“What’s going on? My mom didn’t say much,” he explained.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrCE174xvX
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAyJVgr6xQ
“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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYTXqUUqYT
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UFktFXKEN
“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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxK8VuLaa96
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNquYSj3WDH
“I don’t wanna talk about it,” I mumbled “Not yet at least.”497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFCbLYGV1g
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5JMFzLHPu
“When are you checking out?” Max asked another question.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfeeBVdnwe
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnE8xQoocKh
“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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPoOrg3Vc8
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqiE6umxAT5
“I got you these,” she said and opened her bag, taking out three magazines. She moved closer and gave them to me.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHFaT4oDZx
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoikW0RKP6V
“Music too huh?” I grinned as I saw my favorite music magazine among the fashion magazines she preferred.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuZOkdYWh1
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgr23QNASD8
“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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ys6gn4lit
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAUNbcUqAY
“So,” I took a deep breath after a moment of silence “Tell me about the project,” I smiled at Cleo “What is it about?”497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kFLS3K0r0
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZ24MySRDU
“Um,” she breathed “Need to have a portfolio of ten summer outfits and sew one of them,” she explained.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7VuctL5Bw
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSO2nCoPIrA
“Random summer outfits?” I asked while she sat down on the chair where my mom was seating earlier.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qzpFsSQDm
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJle8oSlbx
“Sort of, I need to show a work outfit, a party outfit, a brunch blah blah, you get the picture,” she chuckled lightly.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyTF6ECfNl
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRJhMwvcGc
“How close to the end are you?” I made an effort to smirk.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCZP1ExrQf
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKrZdzxxZs
“Surprising, she’s almost done,” Max mocked. I grinned at him and turned to Cleo again as she spoke.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvkO6BvFSr
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjEmjrm3nE
“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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrGOIzBCgE
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2n0LpNatrW
“Cool,” I smiled.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5AIBgzpOH
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIzRUtleC9
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2nMh9kg59
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgi4fK23U2
Max had to go outside to answer his phone a little while later and that’s when Cleo came and sat at his spot.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASQnBwosro
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUFWpmordS
“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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsk6kSKY8ML
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqGq3fQ1gF
“Please don’t,” I interrupted “I’m not ready to talk about that yet,” I mumbled; my hands curling up into fists.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYWIVXQOG7
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuID31bLye4
“Damn,” she breathed out as she studied me.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiDIV5Jchw
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKJvn5cNn7
“Yeah, I know.”497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZUXyzv5ZN
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1xc8LmnjQ
[+++]497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVjS00q236
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFaFlS22q7
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioKjw6U3gL
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9601zmqiK
“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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8m3KdhQUE
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzciJXvdgoM
“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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDBSMhLdAT
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAX0IdXJ4qr
“Okay,” I nodded. “So, when I’m getting out of here?” I grinned. Mrs. Abbott chuckled.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTuvK4TcvA
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewkEARB3YI
“I’ll come by in two hours, for a session and we’ll see,” she smiled.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtOyfJzcGu
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0e6raYRZH
“But I’m fine,” I winced.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GXJBcy849
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvXpIPbl5X
“We’ll talk about it later,” she smiled and nodded me for a goodbye.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YouUlxOyI
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNyxPFSjml
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxY3tXI0xZ
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZZ5wUdHU1
[+++]497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQhWGn97pp
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9HFhcNhEz
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa76b9r93Ab
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLcnJjs8kU
“Is this really necessary?” I mumbled.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYkJEDhkRw
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegRIYqVJih
“How are you feeling today?” the blonde doctor asked me; ignoring my question.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Yy0FIjPG0
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelO53SUdfn
“Fine.”497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqilQ7IH8CP
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWJsWWqa6W
“Fine is not a feeling Erica,” she noted.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88ZqT9TFQj
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAR3b3e4Q3Y
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHNEpLfcDm
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4Xl5G1L1a
“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.”497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAweRfiLMVl
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVE6Ltl9BDi
“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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNSSffrDA1
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0RVlJzEGN
“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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxCoBIjrMH
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoBcdFvpna
“It’s not your fault you’re here,” she said “When things bottle up inside they’re bound to overflow at some point.”497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuSQ5w0RJb
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUjUS9CEcx
“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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFx45mnlPrk
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdCKPWrtmK
“What is?”497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuK0JQQAHht
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3jr2ywo5K
“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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFXYmpU4Dh
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUg1Ic6bzw
“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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEE6wZ6ZYO
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQOYAhPmq4
“Why wouldn’t he?” I smiled a bitter, small smile.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4SkFdW6IH
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcXJ042B1h
“You should answer to that,” Samantha told me and saw her hand moving her pen on the notebook she was holding.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPy2hsWCdSl
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmB5EnGNGz
“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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOH5W7CfoaG
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIC6BGVwzcG
“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”.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxERByV1IJV
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpH8xqgJKW
“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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquYGXrYdYh
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP14pyvbUKV
“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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuuRD9LbZT
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTSb61KNN8
“You need to build up your confidence. You’re a beautiful, smart, young woman, Erica,” she said and I wanted to laugh.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBideyRX9N
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEqPr2HIOT
“Well, I still didn’t worth his time,” I mumbled.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdzXvpdC7h
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEe98c0o1X
“Have you talked to your friends about it?”497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMB24f4klsk
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJlwEpzwJJ
“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,”497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP97wqdaHwX
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlf2iYZaIlJ
“Why is that?” she asked again. Her questions were starting to annoy me.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeUJUAQJeQ
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIwzHJrbyb
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuFDx3kH3A
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwQV5iweLQ
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKOzQvYBPC
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuz0hSMTjI
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2e7dJKnShy
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvWAN3G4ft
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGF07KLu0QZ
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7sWbxuwNM
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSr1QJWyZH
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHVqmz5ax8
“Are you okay so far?” I turned towards him from my seat as he stopped the car.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1RbY8jO1S
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzdZbEqdjc
“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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJeaO7cmpz
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdO7eljc40
I check his black tie with my fingers to see if it was straight and put my hands against his shoulders.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf60OKt0ElT
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmlmPvcZGV
“Ready?” I smiled.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLdumDAjPl
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDHN7L7pMA
“Yes,” he smiled back and led the way.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqy7dt9V6oF
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvY38lP1Y4F
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlZ7iy7TAO
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZ9rSWQuie
“It’s been two years,” he sighed.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6f6LQMBS6b
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zwYwizRvZ
“That’s okay,” I told him “You’re here now. She knows you’re trying your best,” I smiled.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wgd4VEOUT
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMK74L1IMEh
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWagUGXNxN
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnS7lPEldh
“Do you want some privacy?” I asked quietly.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwkfaR89q4
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAwcXburHR
“No, I’m okay,” he replied as he stared at his mother photograph; his fingers brushing her face.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfKwxgARSW
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQLiGI57XJ
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0VrkeolGM
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhS6HLbfz3
Alex got up and stood beside me again; bringing me back to the present. He took my hand in his and held it.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTdiseOmrX
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QCVJ0sJaW
“Thank you,” he whispered and lightly squished my hand. I turned towards him and as our eyes met I smiled at him.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwP5u5qchSG
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhCdHNGqdZ
I turned my eyes forward again and sighed.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCkpuuu6Xr
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1RxIdJgea
[+++]497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJF2nQtAeE
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJIiGusY2d
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENQU9qYw2F
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSqNpxdE5E
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOfivJMBnX
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIzvkD5sZ5
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5MTRvJfsF
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5o0gdUeHH8
“I just wanted you to be okay with it,” I winced. Cleo sighed and left everything at the coffee table.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ltDiPb7w1
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2BY8g4MV6
“I’m sorry,” she mumbled “I just didn’t want you to get hurt Erica,” she frowned as she looked at me.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyj8JLAP74U
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYQmcRBobd
“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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrf0wm3vUP
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhscaBfmTsY
“You really love him?” she asked and a deep sigh escaped my lungs.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2F5JcFDeat
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdS01g3F22
“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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIbfnlERyo
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0K4euqN9Hg
“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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKgh6jJ8o6
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72YZZTb8Qk
“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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kXXORSuoU
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7Jn2ex7ei
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMrpWIO32I
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVGcKaStFI
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5MhNR1SYK
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvwPaNAZUV
“I’m sorry for saying or implying those things,” she sighed deeply.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW47E1cgfQz
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Qsg8HNb8q
“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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xAE4ueaXs
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRzXkYTCfv
“If I knew it was serious, I wouldn’t be like this,” she frowned.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyy3ZRrCfLQ
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4u2hGNkVvG
“Don’t torment yourself. Obviously, you were right. I was right. It was only a matter of time before he left.”497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKo792jqXVW
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCnqns7Z3r
“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?”497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZb4OHfYzSt
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFtdpCqrop
“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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBDDerIg8z
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqO8rUN6Ehn
“I’m gonna call him,” she said; sounding determine.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpx4Zqx9QH
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWlKk82DJY
“Don’t,” I rapidly shook my head.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVxg4VnJk3
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfDlELqpYM
“Why not?”497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZT9VbPLeM
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zpA5Jqc5H
“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.”497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdQxzzxBlG
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWaDmblFuX
“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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Y9hWbD086
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtZaHlY2vI
“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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuPNKqNiBO
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknZ2JTLYNA
“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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqy4FOhy86a
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ37DKIXevQ
“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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pP1umiVog
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMmaCqEFMM
“Eat, your food is getting colder,” Cleo said out of the blue. I sighed and nodded.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3Mavidvew
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YZKle5TGf
“When Alex left the first time, that’s when the chest pains begun,” I told her after a while.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aoREcnlHR
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIOU31BJRL
“You never said anything,” she frowned, when she swallowed her food.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IABN9B1JY
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgbQC5i2e4
“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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrPpXMpEVi
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WfYibgY9z
“Is that why he was at the hospital?” she asked.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFSwmuxz0f
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnTss9vp9i
“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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRhaiZt0Px
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy95dMvCopl
“Good thing you run onto him, then”497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8KYeXrXKL
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0urIyKkUN
“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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9elCVP09NR
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxd2HC0BuLJ
“Oh, that’s why he’s there,” she mumbled.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuG5v4JDo5r
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1Ytwj6Wul
“Yeah, I got him to go to the cemetery the other day, after two years,” I said; feeling proud of myself.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12DohOGLZh
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NOjgKMbVk
“Are you…” she trailed “Are you feeling anything for him?” she asked finally her voice small. I shook my head.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacUBbXVghV
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28VLtqw31S
“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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFM6itgwxE
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzYA9ll99Z
“What?” Cleo asked softly.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCBvi0cKit
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nfPd06LJQ
“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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvDohi8R1r
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtvDTL8L98
“What, what did he say?”497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7RPrcuCvb
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5U4GKBZrv
“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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDnNllyj3G
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZiLsVIe1H
“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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvHon6ro3M
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvWl0MDX1D
“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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTW2mtid2V
♠ ♠
Title Credit:497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRp7kwTniZP
One Last Goodbye by Anathema497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1vG21qSZO
