Black out...

 “Heey gal, this can’t continue; otherwise you’re going to get sick,” Lindsey said, hugging her as she sat on the couch next to her. 

It had been a week since Ashley came to her place and all she did was cry and cry more. 

Ashley looked at her best friend, who looked at her, worry filled in her face.

 “You have to eat something sweetie, I’m worried about your health, try to eat something, okay? For me…” Lindsey said, looking at her in concern, she watched her best friend breaking down as she explained all that happened. 

Lindsey had never seen Ashley that broken ever in her life. 

“Lin, I’ll be fine, I just need…” Ashley mumbled out her eyes red and swollen, her voice cracking stopping her from completing her statement. 

What she thought would be a happy ever after turned out to mean nothing to the man she adored most. 

“He’s not worth it sweetie, I know you’re hurting, but you have to stay strong and…” the doorbell rang interrupting their conversation. 

Lindsey walked towards the door, opening it just to reveal the last person she expected to be on her doorstep.

 “What the hell are you doing here?” Lindsey asked, looking at the man before her in disbelief. 

“I’m here to see Ash, how is she holding up?” he asked, his face lowered in shame. Ashley shot up from her seat, hearing the familiar voice she would recognize even in her slumber. 

“She’s not here,” Lindsey responded, holding herself back from slapping the daylights out of Jordan. 

“Please I need to see her, I know she’s here,” Jordan insisted, holding the door. 

Lindsey scoffed, looking at him in shock, “and what makes you think she wants to talk to you?” 

“Lin pl…” “Don’t call me that, you lost that right when you hurt my best friend!” Lindsey fired back her eyes wide in annoyance as she pushed the door ready to close it on his face.

 Jordan huffed as he shrugged his shoulders in defeat, he knew what he had done, there was no turning back from it.

 “Lindsey please, I just…”

 “Get out of here before I slap…” 

“Lin, let him talk,” a soft and weak voice from behind them said, making the two shift their eyes towards Ashley.

 Jordan’s eyes fell on her, making him feel his heart twist at the sight before him. He had never seen her that broken, but instead of feeling sorry, he felt guilty. He had done that to her, pushed her to her hell. 

If only his grandfather hadn’t forced the marriage on the two, maybe she would have found someone who was worthy of her.

 “Ash? What are you doing?” Lindsey asked, looking at her best friend in worry. 

“Let me Lin I’ll be okay, I want to hear what he has to say,” Ashley said, opening the door wider inviting him in. 

The man before her was no longer the Jordan she knew, he looked entirely different. A version of him, he hadn’t seen in their five years together, it almost looked like he felt guilty. 

“I’ll be in the kitchen, call me any time if you need me,” Lindsey said, placing either arm on Ashley’s cheeks.

 Ashley nodded, fighting hard not to shed any single tear, she couldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing just how much he had hurt her.

 “Talk,” Ashley said, her voice empty, her face bearing no emotion. Jordan ran his hands through his hair out of words on what to say. 

“What do you want?” Ashley insisted looking at his eyes which were filled with emotions. She could have sworn she noticed hurt in them, or maybe it was just her wishful thinking.

 “Ash I…” Jordan tried to talk, but he couldn’t face her straight, he reached in his briefcase removing a stack of papers. 

“Look Ash, I hope it was different but we both knew this couldn’t work out, and I’m not trying to justify my actions but…” 

“Do you need me to sign the papers?” Ashley interrupted looking at him, her face emotionless, but the same couldn’t be said for her crumbling heart.

 “It doesn’t have to be this cold Ash, I’m doing this for the baby, you know how much grandpa wanted me to have an heir,” Jordan explained, his eyes averting her eye contact. 

Ashley breathed in sharply as holding herself together, she had no fighting will in her anymore. 

“I understand, where do I sign?” Ashley said, suppressing the hurt inside her voice as she looked down at the papers, he handed her. 

Not in a million years did she imagine herself signing the end of their marriage because of another woman. 

“Ashley, please don’t be… l’ll give you everything you want, you can have the mansion… any amount of money you want…” Jordan tried to lighten the situation, but Ashley seemed deaf as she lowered her pen, signing away what she thought was her haven. 

As Jordan watched her signing the papers, he felt his heart ripping him apart, but he had responsibilities to take care of.

 Ashley was forced on him, although she was kind and loving, he never really felt the spark. But the banging feeling overwhelming his heart and body begged to differ.  

“I don’t want anything from you, Jordan,” Ashley said as she looked up to him handing back the already signed divorce papers. Jordan looked at the broken woman before him, knowing too well as to not push her any further. 

“Here, goodbye Jordan, good luck on your new-found love.” Her words cutting through his heart like a sharp knife, the finality in her tone made him instantly regret his decision, but it was too late. 

“Ashley, I wish things…” 

“Leave!” Ashley said feeling breathless and weak, her head swirling. Everything happened so fast as Lindsey flew out from the kitchen hearing Ashley’s distressed wail.

 Before Jordan could comprehend what was going on, Ashley was falling on the ground unsupported. Springing into action he held her in his arms hurriedly placing her on the couch.

 “What happened! What did you do to her!” Lindsey asked the panicked Jordan who shook his head clueless. 

“I don’t know, we were talking and she just… she …” Jordan tried to catch his breath, but he couldn’t talk straight. Lindsey picked up the papers, waving them on Ashley to supply air around her until her eyes caught the writings on the papers that she froze.

 “Is she going to be…” “Get out of my house!” Lindsey ordered in anger looking at him in rage as she threw the papers to him. 

“You did this, Jordan! You’re so heartless, I hope you never regret this, now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get my friend to the hospital,” Lindsey said, trying to pick Ashley up, but she couldn’t.

 Before she could say anything, Jordan lifted his ex-wife up heading towards the door. As Lindsey settled in her car with Ashley on the back seat still unconscious, she started the car.

 “I’ll look after her from now on, Jordan, there’s no tie between you two! You’ve done enough,” Lindsey said, driving out of the compound.

 As Jordan watched the car disappear, he felt his cheek get wet making him touch his face quickly wiping the tear. 

He knew his choice was difficult to make but the right one but after what just happened, he didn’t know anymore.

 Picking up his buzzing phone he got into his car and drove away remembering Maya was supposed to be discharged in an hour.