"Calm down, Mom. She just talked to me about Arik. About returning the company to him. That's it. Why does everyone act like you're afraid of her?" I couldn't help but ask.Her gaze hardened, and she shook her head."Who said I'm scared of that evil witch? I just don't want that woman meddling with you. You don't know how she thinks, Celeste, so you better steer clear. What did she say to you?""She just gave me a condition regarding Arik's condition. She wanted me to give up on him. Of course, I won't do that. I told her to leave us alone because she might be the one to go first..." My response to Mom was almost automatic, and I found myself staring into nothingness.Maybe that woman is truly a witch, an evil spawn, based on what Aurora said about her involvement in Rusty's sibling's death.Could she be the reason Arik couldn't do anything to save the child back then?Soon after, I heard Mommy's laughter beside me, so I turned to look at her."Oh, Celeste, darling. We didn't make a m
"Celeste!" Rusty yelled at me, but I ignored him.I gripped the hem of Arik's t-shirt and sobbed again."I-I'm sorry, Arik. I'll change. I can change that. I was just... I was just too excited and dumbfounded when Faye told me you're lucid now, and this is what I see. I'm sorry, Arik. Please, let's go home. Not like this. I don't... I don't want us to break up. It can't be..." I pleaded and burst into tears.I clutched my chest. I pounded it gently because it felt like darkness was slowly taking me away. My heart ached. Everything in me hurt. This wasn't what I expected to happen."Enough, Celeste. Go home.""N-no, please. Just tell me what I did..." I looked at him again and begged. He just took a forceful breath as if he wasn't really interested in what I was saying."D-did I do something wrong? Don't you love me anymore?"For a moment, fear washed over me after asking that question. But no, I am confident. He still loves me. He loves me so much, so why am I afraid?But his reaction
My heartbeat slowed down. I breathed heavily. My knees and hands were trembling. I could hear the fragile beats of my heart, like a crystal shattering on the floor."I'm sorry for making this hard for you. I'm sorry for hurting you. I'm so sorry for everything. I'm so sorry..." Arik's voice broke.I shook my head."P-please... Arik, I still love you. I love you so much, but I can't keep loving you. It's too exhausting. It's too draining. I just want things to be okay. Why... why do you have to do this? It hurts so much..." I sobbed continuously as I felt him caressing my hair."I-it's fine," Arik stuttered. "You can stop loving me. It's okay, Celeste. I'm sorry."Then, in just a snap, Arik vanished. He left while I was crying in that room. I ended up sitting on the floor, sobbing silently. I had no strength left to pick up the pieces of my shattered heart.I glanced at my daughter, peacefully sleeping. I couldn't help but cry again silently as I watched her, filled with worry and pain
"You know what, Celeste? Why don't you try to live your life without bothering me? I'm tired. Can we just end everything like it didn't happen anymore?" He said it with casual indifference.Once again, my heart sank. I anticipated these painful words, yet I still couldn't bear them."What?" I mumbled.Suddenly, his eyes flared with intense hatred and disgust as he looked at me. I couldn't fathom where it came from. The way he stared made me question, made me doubt if he ever truly loved me. It felt like a tree rooted in loathing."You're making this hard for me, you know that? Why can't you just let me go easily? Why are you still insisting on everything? I told you, I don't want this anymore! I don't want to be with you! I don't want to see or talk to you anymore! You're making it difficult for me, Celeste!" he roared angrily.I blinked rapidly, dumbfounded, unable to speak immediately. It was the first time he raised his voice at me. He used to be so careful with his words, even whe
I fell headfirst into a reckless love. A love that beat so loudly I knew I would go deaf, but I didn't mind because it was the only sound I wanted to hear.A love without half spoken promises and empty words. I fell into a blazing love, a brave love. A love that burned with certainty, without fear of what tomorrow might bring.Arik was the best thing that ever happened to me. He transformed my chaos and pain into something beautiful, a memory I can cherish whenever I want. He shifted my worries into a better mood and thawed my stone-cold heart into a tender romance.I was in turmoil when he found me, yet he didn't hesitate to stand by me, enduring the flames alongside.But now, it feels like he left me alone amidst his relentless fire, his fierce blaze.I watched my daughter sitting on the living room carpet, engrossed in painting. It was her passion, discovered at the tender age of three, and she continued to pursue it.Does she understand what's happening between her father and me?
Rusty scoffed beside me, so I looked at him. He was a bit furious, but he still had a smirk on his face."Dude, come on. I know you're hurting, but do I really need to remind you how you tossed Celeste aside like trash? If you think I picked her up, hell no. She picked herself up and is now trying to live her life. Leave us alone, crazy fucker," Rusty retorted with a laugh, dropping my jaw.The tension between the two was palpable. Rue and Bien seemed alert to what might happen."What did you say?" Arik threatened.I quickly pulled Rusty by the arm, making him look at me. I winked at him and turned to Rue and Bien."I'm so sorry, Rue, Bien. We're leaving. Congratulations to both of you," I said, taking Rusty's hand and pulling him away.I glanced back at Arik, who was staring at the hand Rusty was holding. He's out of his mind.As we exited the venue, Rusty still didn't let go of my hand. I peeked at his face. It was shadowed, irritation evident."Hey, are you alright? You seem to be
We both stayed silent for a few minutes, sensing the people around us in the coffee shop. The smell of coffee, the sounds of the entrance with customers coming and going, the heavy rain outside – it was an ordinary night, or so I thought.Not until Arik suddenly appeared. I stared at him as he walked straight to the counter. He's ordering, I guess, his favorite Caramel Macchiato."Talk to him. I know you want to. Even if it's the last time," Aurora whispered to me, so I looked at her."I don't want to.""It's so evident in your eyes, Celeste. Go on. I'll wait for you here. It's closure, so you can move forward too. Not just him being happy."I pondered Aurora's words multiple times. When I shifted my gaze back to Arik, he already had his two cups of coffee and a pastry in hand. I glanced at the entrance and saw his car. Tatiana was probably there, waiting for him.Damn. It seems like there's no day that I won't get hurt.I quickly stood up, blocking him before he could exit. I saw the
Warning: SuicideHis hands moved, embracing me tightly again. I couldn't speak because of the pain that blocked my throat."I'm sorry..." I murmured. "I'm so sorry for being like this. I'm okay now. You can leave."His expression softened even more. His shoulder-length hair hung loose, but it was messy. He looked so stressed."I won't leave you, Celeste," he declared firmly.I furrowed my brow. "Why?"He seemed confused by what I said, so I chuckled bitterly. My gaze fell on my trembling hands. I felt the ache in my heart. It felt like it was being torn apart. Maybe it would be better if I just slept, so I wouldn't have to feel this for a while."Why is it so hard for you to leave me, but it's so easy for Arik?" I asked him bitterly.My tears fell onto my trembling hands. My throat tightened even more. I didn't know what else to do. In an instant, I covered my face with both of my hands and silently cried.I just wanted to die. I wanted to disappear. I wanted this to stop."H-he promi