Chapter One: Lost

Anne’s POV

I stood in front of the floor- to- ceiling window of grandmother's hospital room, gazing at the skyline. Something felt different today and I couldn't figure what it was.

I turned around to look at Grandma, she was still asleep.

I stepped outside unto the balcony, not knowing what else to do to pass the time, I began trimming the flowers and watering them.

My mind was a whirlwind, how long was I going to continue like this? Will grandma ever make it out of this hospital? She should, she is the only thing I have left.

My mind drifted to Max, he was my husband quite alright but doesn't feel like it.

I met Max when I lost my parents, he had accompanied Bella, my bestfriend, to the funeral. He had taken a liking to me and grandma had encouraged the marriage.

"You need someone to take care of you too", she had said. "Besides, you are not getting any younger".

"But he is Bella's friend and I wouldn't want Bella to be hurt if she likes him". I defended.

"Seek Bella's blessing then and see how she responds", grandma insisted.

Bella was supportive of our union, but it didn’t feel quite right.

Now, after two years of marriage, I am having the same mixed feelings I had back then. I heaved a sighed and dropped the watering can on the balcony railing.

"Anne, you’ve really put in a lot of effort today; it's time for you to head home," Grandma Karee said gently behind me startling me.

"Grandma! You are up! You scared me" I replied clearly shocked.

I walked over to help her seat on the outdoor chair set for her by the nurses, and adjusted her blanket over her shoulders.

"Do you really want to rob me of my happiness?" I couldn't help but stick out my bottom lip in a pout, feigning disappointment.

But Instead of answering me directly, she gave me a light tap on the back with her small hands.

"Ouch! Granny, that kind of hurt!" I exclaimed, feeling the sting.

With a mischievous smile on her face, she replied, "You should go and see your husband; he needs you."

At that moment, at the mention of husband, I cringed. Feeling unesay again.

"I’m not so sure he actually needs me." I murmured, with a hint of sadness, which didn't go unnoticed, and Grandma's expression changed to one of concern.

"What do you mean by that? He always needs you," she insisted, her brows furrowing slightly.

I remembered that Grandma Karee was quite the curious person, and she was aware that I often avoided answering personal or uncomfortable questions.

It was clear she had intentionally posed that question to me.

Deciding to sidestep the conversation for now, I said, "Goodnight, Grandma. I’ll see you tomorrow!" as I waved goodbye and hurriedly grabbed my bag from the sofa and stepped out of the room to avoid her endless probing.

I made my way down the hospital corridors, stepped out into the streets and began my walk home.

The cold, chilly breeze brushed against my skin, making my pale complexion feel even colder in the evening air.

Each step I took was accompanied by an unknown feeling, growing thicker as i approached our home.

Unable to calm myself, I pulled out my phone from my jacket and dialed Bella's number. It rang severally without a response.

On the second ring it went straight to her voicemail.

Not knowing who to talk to, I entered a bar on the the street before my house. I took a seat on the high stool in front of the bartender.

"Two shots of tequila please ", I made my order.

"Having a bad day?" The bartender asked.

"More like a nervous breakdown ".

"You are not on the run, I hope?"

I tilted my head to one side, and raised an eyebrow " Do I look like a refugee to you?"

"Just trying to help with the nerves. Here, your shots" the bartender said with a smile.

I felt much better. Maybe from the shots or maybe from the bartender's jokes, but I felt better.

After what seemed like an hour, I headed on out of the bar to continue my walk home.

As I stepped inside my home, I was immediately struck by a disheartening sight that made my heart drop.

There, strewn messily across the floor, were a man’s and a woman’s clothing items, carelessly discarded as if their owners had simply shed them in a hurry.

I gasped.

"What in the world is going on here?" I wondered to myself, my curiosity piqued but quickly overshadowed by a wave of confusion and disbelief.

My gaze then quickly scanned the room and settled on the scene that unfolded before me, causing my heart to race.

There were my best friend, Bella, and Max, caught up in a passionate kiss, their bodies completely naked and their surroundings oblivious to the world outside.

I froze. Confusion, hurt, anger, disbelief and the emotions I can't name, all came rushing from within. My mind was in chaos.

As the shock settled in, I could hardly contain my feelings and blurted out, “What’s going on here?"

My voice, surprisingly cold and piercing, echoed through the chilly air of the room, causing both Bella and Max to snap their attention towards me.

“Anne, why are you back so early?” Max stuttered, his voice shaky and uncertain, clearly trying to understand why I had returned unexpectedly.

Meanwhile, Bella, on the other hand, seemed unfazed by the entire situation. Her expression remained unchanged, as if this moment was just another ordinary occurrence in her life.

As I processed the situation before me, I took a careful step forward, avoiding the scattered pile of clothes that cluttered the floor, and made my way to the dining table.

With a steady hand, I poured myself a glass of water, the cool liquid glistening in the glass before I gulped it down, trying to quench not just my thirst but the overwhelming feelings brewing inside me.

Max’s reaction to my unexpected return seemed to shift when he finally put on some clothes and approached me, where I had settled down onto the sofa.

His demeanor showed a mixture of embarrassment and surprise, and I couldn't help but figure why I had been feeling uneasy all day, as the realization of what I had just walked in on, dawned on me completely.

“It’s not like you think it is,” Max tried explaining.

"What exactly is it then?" I snapped.

In the heat of our argument, Bella pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to me .

“Take a look at this. He doesn’t want you anymore,” Bella said without showing any emotion in her voice.

I glanced at the papers stretched infront of me, the heading was written in block letters, DIVORCE AGREEMENT.

“Bella!” Max shouted her name, clearly upset.

“What? You were the one who said you wanted to end things with her because you were tired of her, Am I mistaken?” Bella replied sarcastically, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

I sat there, papers in my hands, eyes full of tears and heart full of hurt and anger. I was lost. Where do I go from here.

Unable to make a decision at that moment I stood up and left, leaving them guessing how I was going to react next.