The Box

The Box:

I was enshrouded in disbelief as I saw the number calling my phone.

I wondered what he could want, this is a number I haven’t seen in five years. I didn’t know what to do whether to pick up or just smash the phone into the wall.

At last I summoned the courage to pick up the phone. I held the phone up to my ear in total silence waiting for him to say the first word.

“Hello, Ruby. I’m guessing you’re surprised.”

“What could you possibly want from me, do you derive joy in seeing me cry. how did you get my number?”

“That doesn’t matter, aren’t you going to ask why I called?”

“The reason you call doesn’t matter as well, I want nothing to do with you.”

“I saw you earlier today, you know”

 “Saw me? what are you talking about?”

My heart boils with rage as I hear him talk over the phone, the voice that caused me so much pain was having a conversation with me.

“I saw you with that guy at the café”

“Are you stalking me? what do you want?”

“You belong to me”

“Like hell I do, stop playing these games with me.”

“Games? I’m just telling you the truth.”

“You rejected me, what more do you want?”

 “You said it yourself, I rejected you so don't go forgetting that I’m hanging out with random guys. You are my rejected Mate”

“I hate you so much, and I hope you burn in hell. I don’t know where you got my number but I’d appreciate if you never called me again.”

“wait a minute, before you hang up there’s something I have to tell you.”

“And what’s that?”

“I’d like to see you, alone.”

“What makes you think I’d agree to see you?”

“you just can't resist, I can bet on it.”

“Forget it, I’ll never meet up with you. just allow me live my life.”

“your life belongs to me, don't forget that. meet me at the spot we used to play when we were kids, tomorrow.”

I hung up the phone and threw it at the ground in annoyance. who does he think he is?

A while later, I pick up the phone and go inside. I walk straight to my room without talking to anyone, and slammed the door behind me.

 “Ruby, are you OK?”

 I hear my brother’s voice coming from the door, I pay him no mind.

“Is something the problem? did anything bad happen with you?”

“I don’t wanna talk about it”

“you can talk to me about anything, if you’re uncomfortable with me, you can talk to mom or dad.”

“ don’t think I want to stay here anymore, it's been nothing but pain since I returned.”

“Can I come in?”

“I don’t want to see anyone right now. Can you just let me be?”

“I just want you to know that I’m here for you, if you need someone to talk to just call me.”

“The sound of his footsteps echo as he walks away from my door.”

“Mason, is there something wrong with me?”

 His footsteps stop sounding, he walks back to my door and turns the knob.

“would you even ask that? Did someone say something to you?”

 “It's nothing, I just feel that way sometimes. Maybe if nothing was wrong with me I wouldn’t have been rejected.”

“Listen, there is nothing wrong with you. You are beautiful, you’re smart, you’re a strong woman.”

“I think I want to go back.”

“Go back? You’ve been away for five long years. Do you know how much we missed you?”

“I just feel like it’d be best. Maybe then I wouldn’t have to go through all this pain.”

“I don’t understand you, nobody does and that's the problem. I don’t have peace of mind here.”

“So you think disappearing again in the best thing to do? You’ve been away for half a decade!”

Mason suddenly becomes enraged. The reason behind his sudden anger is a mystery to me. I change my position on the bed and sit up

“What are you yelling for?! You have no idea what it’s like to be wanted by no one. You are married and you are expecting a child, everything is going great for you But it’s not the same in my case”

 “nobody wants you? how could you say that? we are your family.”

“you'd never understand.”

“I’m sorry for lashing out at you like that, if you think living is the best thing to do for your happiness; then by all means, do it.”

“Could you please keep this a secret from everyone?”

 “You don’t want mom and dad to know you’re leaving?”

“Layla and Marcus too”

“Why though?”

“If they found out I was leaving, they try anything and everything to make me stay.”

“I understand, I’ll drive you to the airport early tomorrow”

“Aren’t you going to stop me?”

“As much as I want to, your happiness comes first”

“Are you sure it’s what you want?”

“Honestly, I’m not sure about anything right now.”

“then how do you know you're not making a mistake?”

“Any mistake would be better than how I feel right now.”

 “Get to packing then.”

 “he walks out of the room and shuts the door behind him”

 I put my luggage on the bed and start folding my clothes inside the box. As I fold them, I grab my purse, the panda falls out And immediately, I start reminiscing everything that happened today.

 The way Logan acted had a solid impression on me, I start smiling as I hold on to the teddy.

“I just agreed to be friends with him, am I gonna just leave without saying anything to him? Then again; if I do tell him, he might try to stop me.”

I clear out a part of the box and put the panda in one corner.

“I’m leaving and I’m not coming back this time, I’ve decided”