CharlotteI was in Newark, at least that’s what the brochure in my hands indicated. It felt great to be somewhere new. The uneasy feeling that enveloped me earlier in the day and throughout the ride had dissipated, and I felt a little more like myself again.I looked around the airport, watching as people rushed to their destinations. Others, not in a hurry, huddled in small groups, discussing in hushed tones, or passed the time reading a book or sipping coffee. In the corner, a child was throwing a tantrum, and I felt a twinge of sympathy for their visibly distressed parent.Only a little, because well, I don’t know much about parenting, but I’m sure having to deal with different emotions from your ward comes with the job description. I moved my gaze from the scene and scanned the room with my eyes.A few moments later, I found my target: an empty seat. After the uncomfortable flight I just had, I was in no mood to put myself in a position that required a conversation with another pe
CHARLOTTEI opened my eyes the next morning, a few minutes before the alarm went off and the memories of the previous night danced through my mind. I smiled wistfully, content with the decision I had made, but still feeling like I had lost something.I tried to shake it off and focus on the fact that I had given myself quite the experience. I turned off the alarm and got out of bed. I looked around the hotel room and realized that I had forgotten to check for cameras or get an extra lock for the door.“Need to make better decisions,” I muttered, eyeing the room’s disarray, a reflection of my current state of life.It wasn’t terrible, but I had a flair for the dramatic. Clothes were strewn about, my notepad upside down—it all amplified my self-criticism. I had to remind myself that this wasn’t Milan; littering didn’t mean I was stressing the person cleaning up after me. This time, I had to take care of my mess. It felt good and terrifying at the same time.I clicked my tongue against t
In the Halls of RemembranceCHARLOTTEThe scene shifted abruptly. One moment I was on a plane, anticipating my destination, and the next, I found myself standing in the old apartment I had lived in with my parents as a child. My mouth felt dry, and a metallic taste lingered on my tongue, preluding an overwhelming sense of dread.This was a different dream—a very unfamiliar one. I had been plagued with dreams about Rogerio and me a few weeks before our divorce and a few weeks after we had concluded the separation, so I knew this had nothing to do with him.I looked around for signs of any other person, but it was eerily silent. The walls were painted pale pink and adorned with a rainbow on one side. I searched my mind for hints regarding the direction of this entire experience, but for the first time in a very long time, my mind was silent. I was used to thoughts bouncing all over the place as I struggled to keep them in check, so I wasn’t sure how to respond to a quiet mind.The feeli
CHARLOTTE“I’m sorry, you were crying in your sleep,” he uttered as I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. “Are you alright?”My eyes darted to and fro as I tried to remember where I was. The sound of the plane’s engine hummed in the distance as I realized what had happened. While I was having what seemed to be one of the worst times of my life, he was watching it happen in real time. I looked around, wondering if anyone else was watching this, but thankfully, they were lost in their worlds.I turned my attention back to the man on his knees. “Please stand up,” I said, but he ignored me and watched me curiously.“Do I need to get the medic?” he asked.“Oh, no. I’m fine; I just need to catch a minute,” I replied, closing my eyes for a moment.“You’re sure?” he asked, and I opened them and turned to look at him. I nodded in response and wiped the tears off my face. I looked around for the tote bag I had carried with me and found it on the floor. Some of the contents had spilled out in fron
CHARLOTTE“Looks like nature delights in letting us cross paths,” a familiar voice said behind me. I turned around and locked gazes with Thiago.“That’s such a poetic way to say it,” I replied as a smile formed at the corners of my lips before turning away. I had just gotten off the plane and was trying to stop a taxi to take me to the hotel.“You think so?” he inquired as some men picked up his luggage and walked towards a black SUV. I resisted the urge to ask why he had people following him around and decided to focus on getting to a nice hotel room.The last thing I needed was a conversation I was trying to avoid, but I turned around and chuckled. “No. I think it’s corny.”He chuckled in response and stepped in front of me, hailing an oncoming taxi. “I would’ve offered you a ride, but I don’t think you’d like that.”“You’re right about that,” I wanted to say, but stopped myself before the thought formed words. “We might be going in different directions too,” I said instead.“I trie
CHARLOTTEI entered the room and let out a low whistle. The scene in front of me resembled a beautiful dream.“This is so beautiful.”“Thank you for your kind words about the suite, Ms…" the receptionist said as I walked slowly to the middle of the room and turned around to stare at the breathtaking décor.“Edwards," I replied, turning my eyes away from the decor to gaze out the window. The stunning California landscape greeted me, and a smile crept across my face. “This is the perfect way to begin my new life here.”She smiled at my response and assured me she’d ensure I had a great time in the hotel. I thanked her for her service and fully turned my attention to the room as she quietly closed the door behind her.I walked towards my luggage positioned in the corner of the room and placed it in the closet that had too much space than I could care to use. When I was done with that, I took one step back and sighed. “My life seems like a movie. I don’t know who’s in charge, but I need t
CHARLOTTEI had spent a few hours in the shack, and quite frankly, I didn’t want to leave. The food was great. The service was wonderful, and the general ambiance made me feel comfortable. However, as time passed, I knew it was time to go.I ordered takeout and exited the place, making a mental note to return the next evening. I was glad to find somewhere I liked and was happy to explore other restaurants and establishments, but I was so impressed with the service here that I was willing to make it a favorite.I stepped out and looked around for a taxi, but there was none in sight, so I decided to walk. I wasn’t sure which way to go to get back to the hotel, but I felt like that was part of the experience. If I took a cab everywhere, I wouldn’t learn how to navigate the city on foot.I considered going back in to ask for directions, but decided to follow the couple who had stepped out of the gym closely. I kept enough distance between us to ensure I didn’t come off as a weirdo, which
CHARLOTTEIt had been two weeks and five days since my arrival in Los Angeles, and I spent most of my days sitting at my new favorite spot at the beach, listening to the waves, and watching people come and go. It started as a form of relaxation but soon morphed into a weird sense of nostalgia, and something I couldn’t quite label.Watching couples surf together reminded me of all the things I wanted to do while Rogerio and I were together. Watching parents run around with their kids, whose happy laughter filled the air, made me feel like I had lost something. But I was determined not to let my past ruin my enjoyment of the present. So, I stayed put and focused on why I was there: to breathe, to find myself, and to ensure I was in a different headspace so I could aptly prepare for other experiences.I didn’t want to be the architect of my misfortunes anymore, and I knew it would take a conscious effort to get to that point. When I wasn’t sitting next to the sea, I walked through the st
CHARLOTTEThe next day started off well. I got out of bed early, took a bath, grabbed breakfast, and asked Sonia to book a reservation at a restaurant close to school where I would have lunch before attending the classes I had planned for the day.I intended to move around the different departments in the office, familiarize myself with the staff, their supervisors, and learn what each person contributed to the overall outcome of the company.Having a plan made me feel like I was on the right path. I moved around the apartment with a spring in my step and a sense of determination building in my heart as I prepared for the day ahead.I decided to focus on what I had in front of me and use it to my advantage rather than dwelling on what was going wrong. That seemed to be the best decision I had made in a while.I felt lighter, as though things were beginning to fall into place. When I arrived at the office, I asked for the files related to the company’s early days and the financial repo
Charlotte“Well… it might be because you’ve been with the club since its inception. You’re familiar with the system you created for it,” Sonia suggested, turning her gaze back to the road. “If you feel out of place at the firm, why not take some time to learn what makes the company tick?”I mulled over her suggestion for a moment, then chuckled lightly.“That’s a great idea, but I already have so much on my plate. I can’t imagine adding anything more to the pile…” My words trailed off as a spark of inspiration lit up in my mind.“What is it?” she asked, glancing at me briefly before refocusing on the road.I sighed, a small smile forming. “I think you’ve just given me a brilliant idea.”She looked over, her expression confused, before returning her attention forward. “I don’t know what you’re planning, but whatever it is, keep thinking about it. You already look better just talking about it,” she said with a chuckle as the car came to a smooth stop in front of the house.I reached for
CharlotteI took Thiago’s advice and decided to make the best of the situation. Surprisingly, things began to take a turn for the better.The meeting with the board exceeded my expectations; they understood the reasons behind the drop in sales and were eager to suggest solutions, even refining the ideas I’d presented.Their willingness to collaborate reignited a sense of purpose in me.After wrapping up at the firm, I headed to the university to pick up my schedule for the semester and familiarize myself with the campus.It felt strange to be surrounded by so many young people leading lives so different from mine. There was an energy here - a mix of excitement and uncertainty - but I decided to embrace it.I wasn’t ready to dive into any of the pre-formed cliques, nor was I eager to make friends right away. I resolved to take it slow and let things unfold naturally.The other classes I’d been taking to prepare myself for the semester were voluntary, but now it was time for the real de
CHARLOTTEIt had been a week since I started working at Thiago’s firm while also doubling as the manager at the club. Combining both activities had been nothing short of hectic.Every morning, I dropped by the office to review the previous day’s reports, stayed for an hour or two, and then rushed off to school for my classes, which had just begun.At night, I stopped by the club to supervise activities. I’d given up bartending for a while - it was clear that taking on that role too would be overextending myself.I also stopped spending the night at the club like I used to, knowing I needed at least a little sleep to function the next day.After a week of this chaotic schedule, I felt like I needed to drop something and focus on one thing. That morning at the office, I resolved to decide what worked best for me.Abandoning school was out of the question; I’d only just started, and giving up on something I so desperately wanted wasn’t an option.That left me choosing between the club an
ROGERIO“Elena, I assure you, I didn’t mean to hurt you or play any games. If I didn’t want to go through with the wedding, I would’ve let you know. I—”“You know, that’s what I thought for a moment,” she interrupted, pacing. “If you didn’t want to go through with it, all you had to do was call me. Did you even consider that, or was it fun for you to let me walk into the church and get embarrassed in front of everyone?”“Elena, let me explain… I wasn’t… I didn’t…” I stammered, but she stopped pacing and stepped toward me.“Since when do you stammer? Since when do you not know how to articulate yourself? Rogerio, you better say something that makes sense right now, or I swear to—” She stopped short as I raised my hands in defeat.“I was anxious!” I blurted out before I could think. I had been trying to come up with the perfect excuse, but nothing seemed adequate under the weight of her anger. The words tumbled out, unfiltered.“What?” she asked, her expression shifting to one of confus
ROGERIOI hadn’t planned to leave Elena at the altar until I received that message; in fact, I was resigned to my fate.As much as I hated how things had turned out, I convinced myself that I wasn’t going to track down Charlotte to confirm whatever suspicions I had.There was no use pining over a life filled with uncertainty or sulking over the road not taken - until I got that warning.The message warned me there would be a shootout at the wedding, and in all my years of being trailed by security personnel, I knew better than to treat such a message lightly.I discussed the issue with my head of security, instructing him not to inform the other guards or anyone else until we could trace the source of the message.Unfortunately, our efforts proved futile. The lead brought us to an empty, nearly dilapidated warehouse on the outskirts of Milan that was up for sale.When we inquired about the ownership under the guise of buying and renovating the property, we discovered the owners were d
ELENAAs she spoke, I zoned in and out, trying to think of how best to handle the situation my way. It seemed like she was trying harder to convince herself that what had happened was a mistake than to make me feel better.At least she stayed to console my family, unlike my own, whose reputation - now tarnished - was more important than the emotional torture their child was enduring.I inhaled deeply, closed my eyes, then exhaled slowly. When I opened them, I noticed Keisha had gotten up from her seated position and was moving toward me.It felt like she anticipated what I was about to do before the thought even took shape in my head. I stood up, bundled up my dress, and started running out of the church. She followed suit, trying to catch up with me.“Elena!” she yelled, trying to get me to stop or at least slow down. “Elena! Where are you going?”“To fix this,” I answered without looking back or slowing down. “To get to the bottom of this rubbish and fix it before it’s too late,” I
ELENAI looked around the empty church and chuckled as the priest slowly walked over to where Rogerio’s parents were seated, conversing with them in hushed tones. I turned to Keisha, who was visibly shocked at the outcome of things.I tried to say something, but no words came out when I opened my mouth. My heart started racing, and my palms felt sweaty as I lowered myself to the floor and sat down.Keisha tried to get me to stand, but I wouldn’t budge - I simply refused to move from that spot.“My worst nightmare has become a reality,” I muttered, chuckling, though nothing seemed funny at that point. I stared at Rogerio’s grandfather and his mother as they rose from their seats and walked toward me.The priest reached the altar before them, extinguishing the candles near the pulpit. He patted my shoulder and walked away without saying a word.I hated what this day had turned into - what was supposed to be a joyous ceremony had devolved into a spectacle of pity.A gust of wind blew thr
ElenaI pondered her words, watching as she selected three pairs of shoes from the options the attendant had laid out.She placed them on the table and asked me to choose one. I pointed at a random pair, and she giggled with excitement, stating that she was going to pick the same pair too but asked for it in a different colour.I tried to push thoughts of what she had said about having a child out of my mind, but they lingered.They reminded me of what Thiago had said about Charlotte. He had assured me she wasn’t pregnant, but what if he was lying?Or worse, what if he had been misinformed? If Rogerio ever found out she was pregnant, our marriage would end before it even began. My conversation with Maria crept back into my thoughts, and I sighed. She was right. I’d never admit it to her face, but in some ways, she was. “Hey,” Keisha said, her voice breaking through my reverie. “Cheer up. You’re getting married - it’s not the end of the world.” She chuckled, and I mustered a faint