Chapter 1 “She had a long battle, Juliet. It was time for her to rest. I'm sure she is in a better place now” A sad smile appeared on Juliet's face as she looked up at her mom's nurse of two years, Gloria. Why did everyone keep saying that to her? Did They want her to feel bad that she was sad, was it wrong for her to be sad? Why couldn't she grieve how she wanted? Why did she have to pretend like she was strong when she wasn't? All she wanted to do was cry out loud, but she knew if she did so she would hear those same words again. “Thank you, Laura.” Juliet simply said as the older woman leaned in for a hug and left after saying a few more words. Juliet walked back towards her living room, where a few people remained after the wake was over. Mrs Willams From her mom's support group had a smile on her face as she gossiped with two other women Juliet could barely recognise. They were probably gossiping about her. Maybe not, but didn't they look so cheerful? This was a wake and not a
Chapter 2 "Are you alright, sir?" Patrick asked, his voice laced with worry as he scanned the deserted street for a safe place to park. He occasionally checked on his boss through the rearview mirror concern in his eyes. Alex's face twisted in a grimace, his hand clutching his chest as he struggled to breathe. "Stop the car..." he gasped, his voice barely audible. His face had turned pale, and he was fighting hard to stay conscious and get a hold of himself, but it was hard to do so because the car had suddenly become so stuffy, making it harder for him. Patrick slammed on the brakes, and Alex stumbled out into the night, gasping for breath. The place was on the opposite side of where he lived, but Alex didn't notice. He was too busy trying to calm his racing heart. As he walked away from the car, the streetlight above flickered, casting eerie shadows on the ground. Alex loosened his tie, feeling suffocated by the tight collar. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to shake off t
Juliet laid On her bed staring at her white ceiling. She couldn't believe she could be so careless and walk with a literal stranger so late at night. What if he had been a creep and tried to harm her. He didn't look like one but she still had to be careful. What if he had tried to hurt her or even worse? She glanced at her beside the clock and sighed. “I shouldn't have talked to him” Juliet muttered, remembering how she told him and how she had cried uncontrollably. He looked really confused… She Didn't Even cry during her mother's wake but cried when someone she didn't know asked her if she was okay. It felt oddly comfortable when she was with him. She could cry out and not bother about bothering him because he was a stranger and she would likely not see him again. That was why she couldn't control her tears. Juliet closed her eyes and tried to sleep but it was futile she ended up working the whole night, looking for some kind of distraction from her reality... But she couldn't see
Juliet watched as they lowered her mother's coffin into the ground. Not a single drop of tears left her eyes as she watched. Her eyes were empty as she watched, then slowly started to cover the grave, but her heart was the contrast. Her heart hurt so bad as she watched, and she wanted to rip it out of her chest so it would stop hurting… But she couldn't, and it only made it unbearable for her to watch. One of the men working asked her a question, but she couldn't process his words, so he understood and let her be… Florence, on the other hand, was a mess. Her eyes were completely swollen and red, and she was sobbing behind Juliet. Juliet sighed and turned to look at Florence. One would mistake her as the daughter at one glance. She patted her neighbour's arm, trying to console her, and it only made her cry the more Flo was the only one who had shown up. No one from the wake yesterday showed up, and she preferred it that way, but she wondered if her mother was sad that no one showed
Alex glanced at his watch for the nth time. The meeting was taking longer than he had expected. It had been over an hour and he wanted to leave already. He glanced At Patrick who had already noticed how restless he was. Alex brought out his phone and messaged Patrick. Alex: [Can you round things up for me here? I need to be somewhere right now] Patrick: [But sir you have a lunch meeting after this meeting] Alex raised his eyes and glared at his secretary and Patrick immediately nodded and knew not to ask any more questions. “I need to leave Mr Charles. Mr secretary will continue from here” Alex said and shook hands with the investor, who didn't seem a bit annoyed that he was leaving. Alex took the car keys from Patrick and left a bit in a hurry. He sighed deeply as he started his car engine and drove the car out of the parking lot. He just wanted to check… he just wanted to know if she was okay… Alex wasn't sure how but he could only think of the park where they had sat together
"I can go on my own from here you don't need to follow me” Juliet said and Alex shook his head. “They said you needed a lot of rest. I will drop you off at your house” He insisted and this made her sigh. Why was this man so persistent, it was getting on Her nerves. She glanced at him and it didn't look like he was going to stop the car...“Alright just drop me off at the park then, I can walk home from there” Julie wasn't sure if it was okay for him to know where she lived. He didn't seem like he would harm her. He even took her to the hospital when she had passed out. She was beyond Shocked when she opened her eyes and found him staring at her…“Since it's close to your place. Isn't it better if I drop you off then…” “Fine…whatever!” Julie finally agreed when she realized how persistent he was… she told him her address and they rode in silence, occasionally glancing at him… “I'm Alex,” He said out of the blue and she nodded. “I know your name and I gathered I haven't told you mine
Alex watched as she walked to her front door and he let out a sigh. She turned to look at his car and he smiled. She had that same curious look on her face as she entered her house… she was curious about who he was, but she didn't bother to ask even once…He was glad she was fine. He had been shocked when she passed out in front of him. He had also found out her name. Juliet, her name was Juliet…He started his car engine and drove off when his phone buzzed. “Where have you been sir!” Patrick sounded frantic at the end of the line…“I'm not a child Patrick. Can't I spend some time alone” “You can sir. But I was worried when I couldn't reach you, I was afraid of you…” Patrick trailed off and the smile on Alex's face was soon replaced with a frown…“That didn't happen, you don't have to worry… how did the meeting go?” “It ended well sir, they accepted the deal” “That's good to know. I'm going home. You can leave early today” Alex ended the call after. His demeanour had taken a comple
Juliet sat in front of the TV trying to distract herself, but she could barely concentrate on the movie and her whole mind was preoccupied with something else, or rather someone else… Alex.Why couldn't she stop thinking about him. He was just a nice samaritan and nothing more. But he had strangely comforted her. She had felt a peace in her heart when she was with because with him, she couldn't hide her feelings deep within her. She was vulnerable when she was with him and a part of her hated that. If he kept showing up, she didn't want to slowly start relying on him. A stranger, was he still a stranger now. Yes! He was a stranger, she only knew his name and that was all. She groaned and turned the volume of her TV… Why couldn't she stop thinking about him!.Her phone rang, startling her a bit. She picked it and saw that it was her boss. The deadline! She had totally forgotten about it. She sighed exasperatedly and waited for her phone to ring to the end… but it started to ring again