Chapter Eight

I was intending on going home to see my mom, I had missed her immensely in the past two weeks that I have spent at the hotel with Michelle, staying away from her. Nonetheless, I guess my staying here was worth it.

I slide into a pair of blue jeans and a black sleeveless top, then I went ahead and packed the rest of my stuff in my suitcase. Once I was done packing I drag it down to Michelle's car and dump it in the luggage compartment. I slammed the trunk shut and jumped into the car, eventually, we hit the road.

While Michelle drove the car, my heart wouldn't stop thumping rapidly. Michelle cuts corners, she would take her right hand while the other held the steering wheel, and place it on mine holding it firmly as a way of unspoken encouragement. She has been a great and caring friend. A friend anyone would be damn lucky to have, I still couldn't believe that she would leave her home and responsibilities to come to stay with me at the hotel, throughout the days I spent there, she never left my side and made sure that I was okay.

She had a fiancee whom she could go and spend time with any time, but she chose me over him. I haven't seen someone as selfless as my best friend.

The moment I felt tears running down my cheeks, I wiped them off immediately. Michelle has had enough of me and my misery. No need to console me anymore.

She pulled into my garage and turned off the engine, she then veered toward me. " Ready"

I bolted and nodded my head.

Now you might be wondering why the sudden emotional breakdown just by coming back to my home. Well, here, puts my misery to display. It's like purgatory and I am about to relive every single part of it, over and over again. I have had ample memories with Connor at my home. My engagement party was held here, My bedroom was like a shrine dedicated to every memory I shared with that son of bitch. Some might say it was an obsession but that is how much I love it.

I got out of the car, my legs were beginning to tremble, but I still mustered up the courage to continue to the door. I rang the doorbell. My heart was almost in my mouth as soon as I heard footsteps coming from the inside and towards the door.

" Hi! Mrs.woods... " Mum froze in time as her eyes met with mine. I felt her breath quivering as she pulled me into a tight, bone-crushing hug. " My child is home!" She is humble as she placed a kiss on my hair and then my forehead.

" Gabrielle is home!" She screamed to the maid in the house. I giggled gaily.

I have missed her so much, especially her loving and caring spirit. I missed her smile, delightful meals, her troubles, and continued advice and nagging, but mostly her support.

" I missed you so much, mom." I embraced her again, as tears escaped my eyes.

" Missed you too, my darling." She planted a warm kiss on my head and stroked my back. I felt another weight on my back. It was Michelle, she had joined in our emotional moment.

We proceeded into the house, everything looked different. The painting on the wall was now white instead of cream color. The sofa was back and white instead of brown. There were new designs, flowers, and even newly employed help around the house. I was only gone for a couple of weeks not even months. I turned to mom, but she only smiled at me.

" I will go up to my room now," I muttered, ignoring the constriction I felt in my heart. I excused myself and grabbed my luggage after dismissing the maid that tried to help take it up to my room. I was going through some shit that I had to face head-on alone.

Mom and Dad's portrait that once hung on the wall by the hallway was no longer there, apparently, she took it down. Progress. She was slowly moving on, and I was happy that mom had taken such a huge step toward accepting her truth and beginning again with life. I wish I could do the same.

I slowed down as I approached my room. Time to face my worst nightmare. I shouldn't run away from my fears every time, I had to face them.

I pushed the door open with my eyes half shut. Then slowly opened them when I noticed the changes in them. My eyes opened even wider at the sudden modification of my room.

It was Connor free, no sign of his pictures or our memories together and/or anything related to him. I knew it was mom's hard work. I was grateful she made this decision in my place, to help avert the traumatic actualization of my real life.

I stepped out of my room feeling a bit free. I know deep within that in one way or the other in the nearest future, I would still have to come face to face with my past, but before then, I trust my feelings for him would have been long dead and forgotten, completely.

Much had gone home after having dinner with us, she used the opportunity to tell mom about her engagement. They won't be getting married till the next year or six months, reasons' because they wouldn't want to rush anything as they want to fake their time and make the right choices for the future. I was sure it wasn't just that, she was scared she might end up having the same fate as me, though she didn't make it seem that way. I didn't make a fuss about it. She was right, after all, Connor and I were in such haste, There were things that I still didn't know about him.