Chapter 1

I unlocked the door with my key and entered my new apartment. I was holding a cardboard box with my last things in my arms. It wasn’t easy for me to find something I liked, but I finally found it.

After several wasted hours on Norwich’s streets, I was fortunate when looking for an apartment, and I ended up sitting in a coffee shop on Pottergate Street.

I found an empty table next to the window that I preferred. After I sat down and ordered coffee, I called my mother and told her about the big problem of finding a lovely home. 

Fortunately, Mr. Robert, a curious older man, overheard that phone call. When I finished my phone call, he told me about an apartment available for rent in a beautiful and quiet neighborhood. It featured cobblestone streets and courtyards with fragrant flowers.

He explained to me that the couple who own the apartment were his friends, and if I wished, he could talk to them and arrange a viewing. “I am sure you will love it,” he told me and smiled kindly under his white mustache.

I accepted the kind elder’s suggestion, thankful for my good luck. I went as the man told me. I viewed it and loved it! The man was right!

It had a spacious living room, bathroom, kitchen, and a big bedroom, with almost-new furniture and no moisture in the walls. But what I liked most was the large windows that allowed sunlight to enter abundantly into the house.

I accepted and paid the couple for the next four month’s rent. I spent the last days cleaning and arranging my things. It wasn’t too big, but it was so cute. For one person to stay in, it was great. I left the box on the floor and went to the kitchen. It was small and functional, just fantastic, and also during the day, the sunlight enters abundantly.

After a while, I felt thirsty, my throat got dry, and I wished for a glass of juice. I opened the fridge. Empty. I should have gone to the supermarket. Fortunately, there was one in the area. It was late. It was unlikely that it was open at the point.

So, instead of juice, I filled the glass I was holding with water and drank it at once. Then I leaned against the kitchen counter and recalled my ex-fiancé Paul and his betrayal with my ex-best friend Tia - from Portia.

One day I returned home earlier from work and found them both in bed. Our bed! Paul had stayed at home that day because he wasn’t feeling well as he told me. He made a phone call at work in front of me, telling them he was sick and would stay at home.

I expressed my desire to stay with him and take care of him, but he convinced me that he didn’t need help and ensured that he would be fine on his own. So, I accepted his wish and went to work. Shortly afternoon, I received a text message from him telling me that he got worse and asked me to leave work and return home. I did ask my supervisor to go home for the rest of the day, and he agreed.

I arrived home carrying bags from the supermarket. I bought all the ingredients needed for making chicken soup for him, and since I was over there, I got some other things we needed for the house.

After entering the apartment and heading to the kitchen to leave the bags, I heard groans coming from the bedroom before putting them on the table. Still holding the bags, I moved to the bedroom. The door wasn’t completely closed, so I pushed it with my foot to open, and what I saw? Paul and Portia are naked in the bed and definitely not sleeping.

I felt my whole body numb. In seconds, I remembered all the facts of that day. I realized that Paul’s illness was a big fat lie so that the house would be free for him and his mistress.

Everything was a trick to deceive me.

I felt so stupid. I trusted him. And here it was where that faith led me. All these thoughts crossed my mind in a few seconds. Only one word was ringing in my head… Cheated! Cheated!

“Paul!!!!” I shouted, or more like screaming. “What’s going on here?”

He turned his head and looked at me – he hadn’t noticed me earlier because he was too busy with Portia’s body. It took him a few fractions of a second to realize who it was. And when he did, his eyes rolled, and he jumped up throwing Portia down from his lap. “My love is not what you are thinking of.”

Oh, my God. Mercy with this stupid attack. Who first said it anyway?

“I agree, is not what I think. It is worse.” I shouted furiously.

“And you, snake?” I addressed Portia, “You are not ashamed at all?”

“Be careful how you talk to me.” She replied angrily.

“Oh, yes, you are right. You deserve worse words bitch! You pretended to be my girlfriend for so many years. A whole life. Oh, my God, I still don’t believe all these.”

I saw Portia’s face blush with anger, but I ignored it. I addressed Paul again: “So Paul, how stupid are you?”

“What do you mean?” he asked in anger.

“Since you were here with your mistress, why did you send me a message that you got worse and you needed help. Why did you ask me to come?”

Paul looked at me in astonishment. “I didn’t send you such a message.”

“Well, how then? Cannot be sent by itself.” I asked him, and my gaze fell on Portia. From her look and her sly smile, I understood that she was the one who sent the message and obviously did it on purpose to catch them together in bed. I also noticed that Portia even bothered to cover her nakedness.

Portia was a girl like that. She always liked to provoke. Her long black tufted by stirring, and her lipstick was everywhere on both of their faces. After that picture, I went crazy. I threw the bag with force on her head and left the bedroom shouting.

“I don’t want to see you in my eyes again. Neither you asshole nor you Portia bitch”.

“My name is Tia,” she screamed. ‘Bitch’ didn’t bother her. Portia did!

I knew that Portia hated her name. That’s why I said it on purpose.

Leaving the apartment, I heard her cursing me but didn’t bother to answer. I laughed and slammed the door behind me and left. Only when I came out of the building, only then let my tears flow. The pain was unbearable from the double betrayal. Within minutes I lost my fiancé and my best friend.

Still crying, I went to a hotel to spend the night. Unfortunately, I didn’t have other friends. The next day I went back to the apartment when I knew that Paul was missing and took my things. Leaving, I left the keys on the table next to the door. Closing the door behind me, I knew there was no going back.

On the contrary, I made the big decision to disappear by erasing every trace of mine. I completely changed my life. I got a new job, home, phone number, appearance, even place. From London, where I lived, I moved to Norwich. I didn’t want to meet them by chance.

Paul dared to keep calling me, but I didn’t answer him. The next step of his was texting me, asking to meet and explain himself. I just ignored him.

Everything stopped as soon as I changed my phone number.

My next move was to visit a hair salon. I changed my haircut and hair color. I dyed them red that I always liked but not for Paul.

The new color was great and matched the green of my eyes incredibly.

I came back from the past. I was still leaning on the bench of my new house after what I had gone through, determined to leave everything behind. Unfortunately, in practice, it wasn’t so easy. I was left alone.

I shook my head. “Come on, my girl. Forget about them. Not worth it. Move on with your life”.

I went to the bathroom. I filled the bathtub with hot water and my favorite bubble bath and got myself inside. It was exactly what I needed. Calm and relaxed.

The next day was my first day at my new job as a personal assistant.

After soaking for about half an hour, I got out, wrapped my fluffy towel, and went to the bedroom. I wiped my body, tossed the towel down on the floor, and pressed on it to dry my soles, bad habit.

I opened the nightstand drawer, took underwear, and put it on. I also put on my pajamas and lay down. I quickly sank into a restless sleep without dreams.