Selena stood in her gallery, looking disheveled. Hair uncombed, still wearing yesterday’s clothes and she hasn’t slept a bit. This scenery which had mesmerized her before felt as if it was engulfing her right now. Her head ached at all those paintings which surrounded her.
Guests glanced at her as they maintained their distance with her. It had been three days now since she found out about that bastard. She raised the bottle of whisky to her mouth, took a last sip as she wobbled her way to the director’s office.
She barged in and he jerked at his desk, accidentally slamming down his laptop. He stood, sweating profusely, completely taken aback, “What the— Ms. Chase? My God, what happened to you?”
She arched an eyebrow, cackling as she stared at the laptop, “What were you watching in there, huh?”
The director reddened, “I was just—Nothing of your concern. Why are you here? And in that state?!”
She approached his desk, tears threatening to fall off, “Shut down the exhibition. Wrap it all up.”
He shook his head, confusion all over his face, “But you still have two more weeks! Most of your paintings have been sold and…should I remind you that I got in touch with Channel24? They are coming in three days for media coverage!”
“I don’t care. I don’t want this anymore. Get rid of all of them.”
He reasoned, wondering why she was making such a rash decision, “Ms. Chase. Let’s be rational here. You’ve already invested a lot of money—”
“For fuck’s sake, I made my fucking mind! What’s there not to understand?!” She roared, raising the whisky bottle and slamming it against the side of the marbled table, pieces of glass shattering all over the carpet.
"Unbelievable," The director stared at her outrageously, raising his voice at her since it seemed that was the only way he could get her to understand now. “Very well then. If that's what you really want, it will be done but know that this single savage act of yours will take a toll on your career.”
She sobbed, looking away, raising her hand to her eyes to hide her tears, “Just do it already. I don’t give a damn anymore.” He reached for his phone, looking concerned, “And I’m calling a taxi to get you to your home since you clearly aren’t in your right mind.”
She snorted, “Why? Are you my father? Even he wouldn’t care enough.” He pursed his lips, searching for the Uber app in his phone, “That’s it.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
She loved that spot in her crappy apartment. Since she was on the last floor, she had the roof all to herself. Lying there, staring at the stars, she could ponder about the wrong decisions she made. She was a monster. She was a horrible person and she was blind. So fucking blind.
Her cellphone had been ringing so many times and each time, it was that fucking bastard. She didn’t have the strength to deal with him ever. She groaned as she heard the familiar sound of a car pulling over right beneath.
She distastefully gazed at the empty bottle at her side, realizing just now that her head was aching, her body was screaming that she should stop torturing herself.
“Selena?” She closed her eyes. Her name still sounded so sweet when he said it. “Babe. Where you at?”
She heard him climbing the few stairs and a minute later, he was right there, staring down at her. He hastily knelt by her side, his hand cupping her cheek, “Babe. What happened? The gallery…” “Don’t touch me.” She swatted his hand away, repulsed by him.
Jason slowly sat beside her, wondering what happened to her. It hurt to see her in that state but he insisted, wanting to know what was troubling her, “What happened at the gallery?”
“I’m done with art. Please go.”
He pressed his palm on her forehead, “You’re burning. Stop making me worry like that. Whatever it is, we’ll get through this together.”
She scoffed. She couldn’t believe his words. How dare he? How just dare he? She wanted to punch him in the face. She hated him. She hated herself. Three fucking years of her life wasted on that asshole. She turned her back to him, not wanting to let him see her tears, “Please, just leave Jason.”
He gently said, “I’ll draw a bath for you, alright babe? Come downstairs.” He stood, feeling heavy to see her in pain. He could not understand why she took such a rash action. He knew she had waited so long for the opportunity to showcase her art to the world. The media was going to come too. So why did she shut down the exhibition?
“Jason?” Her voice shook him out of his thoughts. “Yes babe?” “Wait for me in the tub… naked.”
He smiled, feeling relieved, “Anything for you, gorgeous.”
“I’ll be there in ten.”
She waited for five minutes. She had thought about it a lot. However hard this was, she would do the right thing. She stood, feeling aches all over her body. She quietly made her way back inside. The bathroom’s door was opened. His clothes were discarded on the floor. The translucent curtain was slightly drawn before the bathtub. She observed how his eyes were closed as he waited for her in there.
She spotted his phone, wallet and keys near the counter and she reached out, her fingers trembling as she grabbed the device. Just as quietly, she made her way out. She entered his password which was basically her birthday and searched through his contact for that ‘doc’. She hastily sent this stranger’s number to her own phone, deleted all evidence in his phone and made her way back to the bathroom, only to find that this time he wasn’t in the bath.
“Boo!” She jolted as he embraced her from behind burying his head into her neck as he began kissing her, “God. I missed you, Selena.”
She felt disgusted. Clenching his phone, she turned around, bringing her arms around his waist and ordered, “Kiss me.” As expected he roughly pushed her against the counter, planting his mouth onto hers and she hastily placed his phone back there, forcing herself to respond to him. It wasn’t the same anymore. Instead of feeling loved, she felt used. She made such a fool of herself by being with him and it pained her.
He began peeling her shirt when she groaned, “Baby. I need a massage from you.”
He breathed, imagining her body drenched in that glistening liquid, “I’ll fetch the oil and then I’ll thoroughly enjoy you.”
She dismissed him, “It’s in my wardrobe. An orange bottle.” Once he turned her back to her and went out, she grabbed his car keys and made a dash to the exit. Of course the elevator wasn't working. Damn it. She ran down the stairs, rushed outside towards where his car was parked. She unlocked the vehicle, breathing hard as she slid inside.
She jammed the keys in the slot and revved the engine to life. Within seconds, she was driving away from him. She laughed, imagining his face when he would find out that she would not be waiting for him. No more now. She has drunk her pain away for three days, lost herself and now she needed to get back on track because she knew…that all she felt…that woman was probably going to feel worse.
She clenched the steering wheel. Was it the right thing to do? Three years wasted on that bastard. She gazed at the number in her phone, hesitating to press the green dial. She didn’t want to be the cause for someone’s pain. Maybe…she should just let it go.
She stopped the car at the side of the road, pressing her forehead against the top of the steering wheel. Crying was the only thing she seemed to be good enough to do these days. She trembled. It wasn’t as easy as she had thought, not when she felt so betrayed, so alone.
She had to talk to someone first…but who? She scrolled down till her elder sister’s number, bit her lips before pressing the green button. She closed her eyes, waiting as if her life depended on it. On the second ring, she answered, “Hi. Veronica Chase speaking. Who—”
“Hey, it’s me.” There was a long pause on the phone before the woman squealed, “Selena! Hell, is that really you? Oh God. Are you okay? Where are you? I’ll get dad on the phone.”
She exclaimed, panicking, “Wait! Wait, please… Vee, don’t tell them anything. I just… I just want to talk.”
“Do you… want to meet? I’m worried sick about you, y’know? It’s been months.”
“I’m sorry. I know… I don’t want to meet. Please just listen to me?”
“I am, I am. Tell me everything, sweetheart.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Her phone flashed with an unknown number. She would call back later. Cassandra tapped her pen on her desk, waiting for her computer to turn on. Her nurses were sorting out some patient’s files in specific drawers and working on the test results they have recently obtained. She cleared her voice, finding herself free enough to engage with them, “I heard you two complaining when you were in the lab. Is there anything wrong?” They froze, stopping what they were doing as they slowly looked at her, their face turning white. She could see that they were nervous. Jillian opened her mouth to say something and Emma protectively stepped forward, exclaiming, “Everything is alright, doctor! You don’t have to worry.”She looked back at her screen, launching her email, “Listen, I know work has been hectic lately. You two are my only assistants and you’ve been overworking yourselves.” Jillian laughed sarcastically, leaning against the edge of her desk, “Look who’s saying.” Emma shook her head as
She had never driven so fast before. Thoughts rushed through her mind. Those pictures… He’d been cheating on her. She felt the tears coming in even more now. No. She would not cry. She did not come all this way only to crumble because of some bastard. She was above this. She would see the reason and logic behind this fucking situation. She would handle this like a mature person.The tyres screeched as she reached her villa. She barged in anger, her tears on the verge of falling, “You fucking bastard! Where are you?!” A minute later, he came strolling down the stairs, a towel around his neck as he watched her in bewilderment. Cassandra marched up the remaining stairs towards him and he exclaimed, “Woah hun, what’s wrong?” She raised her hand and before she could slap him, he caught her wrist and stared at her in outrage, “Cassie?” The tears rolled down her cheeks now. She creased her fist and with her left hand she aggressively punched him on his jaw. He released her, letting out a
Selena still felt a faint headache as she gobbled the delicious pancakes. Mr and Mrs York were cheerfully chatting with her and she could barely keep up with their energy. The doctor sure had wonderful parents. She continued, “And after completing my art degree, I tried selling my paintings online but I wasn’t getting buyers. I was pretty demotivated then.” Billy York puffed, waving his hand as if brushing her words off, “Ah nothing’s good on the internet but you should persevere, girl.” She played with a blueberry on her plate, “I got the chance to exhibit my paintings…but I messed it up. I broke the deal and now…I don’t know what to do anymore. I don’t…care.” Maria shook her head, pushing the platter of pancakes more towards her, “Aw, don’t talk like that. Take it step by step. Everything will come out to be alright, you’ll see.” She gazed at her hand. She didn’t feel like painting anymore. Was that possible? To suddenly lose interest in the thing that captivated her the mos
Cassandra buzzed her intercom and said, “Charles, it’s imperative that I’m not disturb in the next hour.” “Sure thing. Er what do I tell the next patient?” “Just send her to the exam room. Jillian and Emma will take care of her.” This Monday, she had to take care of a few formal things. She drank some water, took a deep breath and before she could let her brain get into an argument with itself, she dialed Jason’s number. It rang but he wasn’t answering. She waited impatiently but he wasn’t picking up. She glanced at the other phone. The one which belonged to that woman and she wondered if she should use that instead. She had been constantly thinking if she should just drop it at a police station since she was sure that she’d never see her again. With a sigh, she held the device, turned it on for the first time and pensively gazed at the password screen. She wanted to see the pictures that girl had shown her again but then she would probably end up blocking the phone. What could t
The doctor authoritatively said, lecturing her, “You should have done that when you were 21. And you’re 24. We’re not delaying this any further. Come on.” “It won’t hurt?” “It won’t.” “I mean… you won’t hurt me?” She glanced at the sparkling scalpel which rested on a nearby tray and then warily looked at her, finding that she wasn’t pleased with her comment.“Fine…” Selena mumbled as she looked at that damn chair. It looked like an instrument of torture. She was shaking now. She awkwardly climbed on it and lied back on it while the doctor washed her hands. The latter approached the exam table, standing right beside her. Selena stirred till she was comfortable and then, looked up towards the woman, wondering what she was thinking right now. What was she planning to do with her? What if she killed her and one would know?! Why did she even come here for God's sake?“Relax now. I’m going to perform a breast exam.” Selena tensed as the doctor pushed aside the opening in the robe and slid
Jason grumbled to himself as he stepped out of an overcrowded bus. He hated it all. No space. No air conditioning. The smell of sweat. Noisy teenagers. He wanted to let out a cry of frustration. He was having a hard time adapting to that kind of life after the luxury he experienced when he was with Cassandra. He walked the path till Selena’s apartment building and glanced up towards the top floor, checking her window. That wrench. At least, she could have given him back his car, right? No. She took it off with her. Goddammit, and she was refusing to answer his calls. He scratched his head, groaning. He had to crash in at a friend’s place but that was so humiliating. Why was the women he loved behaving like that with him? He knew he couldn’t do anything about Cassandra. She always had the upper hand. He shuddered, recalling the way she had kicked him out of the house without hesitation. Hell. He always felt inferior when it came to her. But Selena? She was his. He did everything
Jason tried to look tough as he entered the police precinct. He had made a call to the lieutenant earlier and she had agreed to meet him for a few minutes. He followed the officer who directed him towards the lieutenant’s office. He tried not to look surprised when they passed by her office and instead headed to another room. Jason held his breath as he saw that woman in a sports bra and shorts, hitting rapid blows onto a punching bag. The loud succession of thumps it kept making told him how hard her punches were. He couldn’t help but stare at her physique. Goddamn. She was a sexy chick. The scars on her body were distracting though. The officer beside him uncomfortably cleared his voice, “Lieutenant!” Megan instantly clasped the bag with both hands to prevent it from swinging far and glared at the man, “What did I say about disturbing me, Matt?” He averted his eyes, “Sorry. He’s here—” “Right. Thanks. Leave us now.” Jason gazed at her as she held a water bottle and drank a gene
Friday eveningThe wipers in her car swung rhythmically to the slow 80s love song playing in her car. She longed for something she knew she would never have. A family of her own, a loving husband, children... and all of this, seemed like a distant dream now.She had never truly loved anyone before, never felt the need to. Even when Jason was here, she felt like she was just going with the flow, never living in the moment. And these days, it felt as if she had never been married and he never even existed. She had always felt lonely and nothing would cure that. Her gaze fell to Selena’s phone where it rested near the gearshift. She held it, brushing a finger along the cracked screen, wishing she had returned it to her when she came to her office. Guess, she just had to continue looking at more of her photos now.She