I dragged myself out of bed and had a very hot bath. Aly was still on vacation, and the house was empty. I hadn’t gone back to Jared’s place. I wanted that time alone. School never seemed like a chore before, but now, I groaned every minute as I found my way to school. “Nice tan!” I groaned again. I’d come back with a tan, but I knew Jack was going to have a field day about it. “Thanks.” I smiled and dropped it immediately, letting him know I was not in the mood. “What crawled up your ass this morning? Jared didn’t give you that vitamin D?” I stopped in my tracks, my cheeks turning red. “Oh, I finally figured it out. Miss Alyssa sure was naughty saying that.” A choking sound made it out of my throat in embarrassment. He was referring to the time I’d gone pale in Aly’s office and she’d recommended getting Vitamin D from Jared. Although, Jared’s name was not mentioned but I was sure Jack knew now that it was implied. “Shut up.” Jack guffawed, only making me more embarrassed. “How’
“It's been a while Leah.” I leaned against the couch and looked up at the ceiling. I was much more comfortable that way.“Yeah.”“You've missed a couple of sessions.” I turned to look at my therapist. She was such a beautiful woman. Older and still beautiful. She couldn't be younger than 50. “You're getting distracted again.”“Sorry. You were saying?”“Our sessions, you've missed about 5.” I heaved a sigh. Was it intentional that I had avoided her in the past couple of weeks that Jared and I had our fight? Maybe but I didn't feel like talking about it because I knew just what she would say.So, why was I here? I felt guilty.“Yeah. Sorry about that.” Her brows were perfect but you could see the light tilt to them and you could tell she was intrigued by my answer as she scribbled something down.She was always scribbling something down. It was her job to make notes but I always wanted to see what she was always writing about. To read it.“You seem to be saying sorry a lot. Did yo
“Fuck him.” I muttered under my breath and sniffled against my pillow as I tightened my hold on it. I had gone home straight from the event and cried myself to sleep.The cab man kept giving me pitiful looks as he looked at me from the rear view mirror and I didn’t care that I was ugly crying.All my crying had left me somewhat hungry but I didn’t have the energy to cook. It was morning and I looked horrible as well. Lifting myself off from the bed was a miracle in itself.My phone rang beside me and I picked it up on seeing the name.“Hey.”“What’s wrong? You sound horrible?” The concern in Aly’s voice had me sitting upright.“Nothing. I kinda just woke up.”“It’s almost… 11am over there. How are you just waking up?” I rubbed my eyes and looked at my phone for time again.“Fuck!” I cursed as I realised I was late for class. We were supposed to have a class trip today and I was supposed to be in school by 11.“What!” Her voice was pitched.“I overslept.” I muttered and put the phone o
The weather had acted up and we decided to cut our trip short by going to one company. “We can only make it to one company, it seems.” Dr Ramon frowned at the atmosphere. It shouldn’t still be snowing this hard in February. I prayed silently, hoping we would end up in the other company and not Jared’s but alas, the universe wanted to make a mockery of me. As we rounded the corner that led to the street where Jared’s company was located, my shoulders slumped. “That it?” I gulped and nodded as we stopped in front of the building. I was only here a few years ago but I could still see the flashes, hear the clicks and the voices. I shook my head as I tried to dispel my thoughts that threatened to swallow me whole. “You can call in sick.” Jack suggested and I scoffed. “I think that’s a little late.” I squeezed his hand and finally let go as we were about to file out. “I’ll be good.” While I had not been inside, I hadn’t expected the warmth that surroundings of the building. It was su
“Looks like we’ll be stuck here another hour.” Dr Ramon sighed and walked off to meet the duo that seemed to be in a heated conversation. We were done with the tour but the snow outside had worsened and we were locked in until it was safe to drive again. We’d been moved to a very large conference hall and provided hot cocoa. I guess the company wasn’t so bad if you removed a certain red lipped woman from the equation. “What do you think they’re talking about?” I had taken my eyes off them for the sake of my sanity. “Don’t know, don’t care.” Jack gave me a resigned look. My bladder decided to hold me down and I searched for an escape route. “I need to use the bathroom. I’ll be right back.” I had no idea where I was going to and I hoped to find at least one person who could direct me. I was on the verge of tears from holding my pee back when I came across a guy. “Hi.” I called his attention as he seemed to be typing away on his phone. He raised his eyebrows and frowned. “I don’t
Jared didn’t call me back. Not like I gave him a choice. I’d ended it in the toilet. My nose scrunched up in disgust as I thought of better places to have delivered that kind of news. Jack didn’t leave my side, even after we left Jared’s company and I didn’t see him after our talk. “Will you be all right by yourself?” I scoffed at Jack. “It was a break up. Not a funeral.” I was lying to myself, really. It did feel like someone had died because my chest hurt so much. I’d thought taking charge and handling the situation myself would lessen the blow I’d dealt but the pain only seemed to magnify. I held back the tears that threatened to spill. ‘Jared would not be crying, now would he?’ I thought to myself. Jack didn’t look like he believed me but he didn’t push it. I hadn’t even been forthcoming with my answers when he saw me looking pale and pained and asked what was wrong. “If you say so.” I turned to him, my nose flaring. “What is that supposed to mean?” “A spat between lover
“What?” That was definitely the story I was expecting from her. I was shocked to know that she knew something was up.My brows lifted up in suspicion.“How?” Aly scoffed at me in disbelief.“I cannot believe you didn’t tell me that something had happened to Jared. I’m supposed to be your best friend, Lee. Imagine hearing it from Aarav that something was happening and I had no clue about it.”“Jared told him?”“Yes.” She cried, her face pinching in pain.“He’d called a few nights back pissed as fuck, asking me what the hell was going on with you and why you were avoiding him, hoping to get some answers from me but I didn’t even know that you guys were fighting.” I suddenly felt bad for keeping her out of the loop.“I didn’t mean to. You were out on vacation and I didn’t want to ruin that happiness just because I ran into some issue with Jared.”“It doesn’t matter if I’m at the edge of the world, you tell me what happens, when it happens and how it happens. Your happiness is my happines
ALY’S POV What on earth was going on? The Jared I knew would never do such a thing to Leah. Of that I was sure which was why I’d suggested going to Jared to talk to him about it. He was the only one who give us answers but Leah didn’t want that and I understood where she was coming from. I would’ve poured my boba tea over that bitch’s face but we were already causing a scene and Leah just wanted to leave the place. “Babe, I think the cup is quite full already.” I gasped and grabbed a rag to soak up the coffee I’d spilled. “Fuck!” I muttered under my breath. “Baby, what’s wrong?” I sighed and turned to Aarav as he approached me. He was perfect. The best man I could hope for but talking about this issue… I didn’t know if I could bring it up. Jared was his friend too. Suddenly, an idea popped into my head. “Ravvy…” I pulled him towards me and he chuckled. “Yes, what is it?” I wrapped my hand around his neck and pulled him in for a kiss. After a few seconds, I pulled back and looke
Jared and Leah did become friends again but their interests lay somewhere else. They realised they were made for bigger things and they would do that outside the cave they once existed as lovers and even if something were to happen between them, it would take more time than expected for it to happen. Aly, Aarav, Jared, Jack and Leah remained friends but things would change over time. Work, family, life and ambition would force that circle to expand to others too. You may imagine that Leah and Jared ended up together or not. You are the author of that story, a work of fiction is a work of fiction. Author’s Note (I hope this doesn’t come off as offensive): I’ve seen some comments about therapy seeming like a bad thing. Therapy is not weakness, it is an admittance that you need help you may not be able to provide yourself. Mental health issues are not a joke and deserve audience. Some of us have been through traumatic experiences, loss of loved ones, accidents, bullying, harassmen
THIRD PERSON'S POVLeah looked different. There was something about her, like a light that surrounded her and her eyes looked burdenless. Maybe it was the Norway air, but she seemed ... better. Both she and Jared did."Mr Deric?" The secretary had her head cocked to the side, wondering why her guest was awe-struck, standing in the doorway."Sorry." Jared shook his head and walked in. Leah had a smile on her face as she watched him walk in. She recognised that air of confidence that usually surrounded him and couldn't stop watching him.Her attention was called by the men that surrounded her, as she spoke, she seemed to put everyone in a trance. Jared didn't hear a word she said, only observing how comfortable and right at home she felt."I have called this meeting here today because of a different kind of alliance about to be brokered between Norway and the US. Miss Leah Thomas has come as a financial representative of the BridgeStone Foundation, a company spearheaded by the governmen
Jared’s POVLetting Leah go was one of the hardest things I had ever had to do but I did it for her and myself. I was wrong to assume she’d come running back to my arms because I saved her. I smiled wryly to myself.I hadn’t seen her in quite a long while and our paths never crossed again. Aly was beyond pissed that she tried to leave without telling her but she quickly forgave her when she saw her condition. They talked all the time too and that was why I knew what she was up to most of the time.“Do you regret it?” I looked at the lady before me, she was seated behind her desk, peering down at me with curiosity. “What?” I’d zoned out for a minute and didn’t hear her.“Do you regret it? Letting her go.” I inhaled sharply. I’d been coming here for months. When Aarav asked me why I thought I needed a therapist, my reply was ‘who doesn’t?’“Not really. It was her decision but I got to understand much later. It would have been selfish of me to ask her to stay when she needed to go.” I f
I waited for him to clear his bed and offer me a seat before I sat. I shook my head internally. How did it get to this? I asked myself.‘You did it.’ I exhaled loudly and watched him perch himself on his work chair. He turned to me and rose his brows as if to say ‘what did you want to talk about?’ I cleared my throat and rubbed my clammy hands against my gown. I’d resorted to wearing gowns due to the fact that it was less constricting than most and easier to pull off, I just had to undo the zip and let the dress fall to my legs.“Yeah… uhm…” He continued looking at me and I couldn’t bear it anymore, so I found interest in the bedsheet. It was a fine looking colour, regal and plush looking. It felt so soft to touch, almost like you’d sink into it and be enveloped in a word of threads and fabrics.“Leah?” I hitched a breath when I heard his voice. No matter how many years I’d known him, no matter how many times he called me, I’d always feel the fluttering in my stomach whenever my name l
“I injured my spleen, not my legs. I can walk for myself.” I smacked Jack’s hands away from me. “It’s so you don’t try to run away again.” I rolled my eyes at him even though I felt a stabbing pain in my chest.“Pretty sure I can’t move past this house without falling over.” I’d been recuperating for the past week and Jack was coming over once in a while to check on me. Let’s just say he is more overbearing than most, and I thought Jared was worse.Speaking of Jared, he’d been avoiding me. The only reason I was sure he was even around the house was the fact that food and my pills were always made available. The pills I took made me drowsy for most of the day, so I spent most of it sleeping.“Have you seen Jared today?” I asked Jack as I swallowed my pills and washed them down with water.“Nope.” Jack said and turned the T.V on. If I was being honest, I feared speaking to him. No doubt, my accident had changed the dynamics of our relationship and I wasn’t sure if it had become worse o
Most of the time, situations arise, things happen and we are inclined to judge of the situation. It is easier that way because, sometimes, it makes us feel better about ourselves.When the tides turn and we become recipients of judgment, we understand the situation better. It takes a human to realise his mistake, but it takes a humble human to admit it. How many times have we judged a situation wrongly and admitted our error?We’re all guilty of hurting someone, friend, foe, lover… not intentionally but we seek forgiveness. Forgiveness isn’t just feeling sorry, it’s also a way of cleansing our souls, freeing ourselves from the guilt.Jared never told Leah that he forgave her and she couldn’t forgive herself, she couldn't free herself from the guilt.***JARED’S POV “What’s going on?” I asked the doctor who’d just come out of the operating room Leah had been moved to. 14 hours was the longest time I’d had to wait for a report from a doctor and the expression on his face wasn’t looking
I ran my fingers through my hair, walking to and fro like a sojourner who had lost his compass, I’d probably lost mine. The ambulance had arrived shortly after but the Leah was already… I shook my head. ‘No, she can’t be.’ I couldn’t focus on any other thing than the fact that there were many doctors running with Leah’s gurney, one was on top of her, doing chest compressions. The sweat beaded on the doctor’s face told me they’d been doing it since she was in the ambulance.I was slowly losing my mind and Aarav wasn’t here. He was busy trying to sort everything out while I went with Leah. I didn’t want to leave her side, if only I could have followed her into the OR.“She has lost too much blood, especially with the damage to her spleen and hypothermia already seeped in…” I didn’t want to know all the negatives, I didn’t want to know what was wrong.“Can someone tell me, is she going to be okay?” I yelled at the people who had brought Leah in, who seemed to be conversing with a doctor
JARED’S POV“What are you going to do?” I flipped the documents that Leah had sent. I hadn’t had the chance to look at it because I didn’t want to, not initially. Anything involving her work place kind of pissed me off but when I finally did, I could stop the fear that ran through my bones that Leah could be in danger because of it and I needed to act fast.I looked up at Aarav whose facial expression mirrored mine. He too was very conflicted and while he trusted Leah, it would be a big move to change banks, disastrous if it was the wrong move. We had been using Marque and Co. for so long and the previous leadership had proved capable of handling our assets.This new guy, this Ryan Fisher, from the moment I first saw him, I knew something wasn’t right with him. What Leah had sent hadn’t pointed to him as the culprit but with just enough evidence to let us know that something shady was going on and we needed to act fast or we’d lose more than just money.“We should involve the cops.” I
I felt a kick to my head and I groaned, my head feeling like it was split open. I blinked my eyes to get accustomed to the light before trying to sit up, something I found difficult and almost impossible to do.I tried to move my body and realised I was bound hand and feet. This slowly entered my consciousness and my drug-induced haze cleared up, I was face to face with a horrid looking mask and I scrambled backwards, bumping into something that felt horribly cold to my skin, metal.The person in front of me moved back, giving me room to at least breathe.“What the hell is going on?” I looked around to see not one, like I had imagined, but four people, armed with guns. My heart started to beat faster than normal at gauging my situation and my throat felt dry. It was dark outside and I realised I must’ve been asleep for hours.I was going to miss my flight, if I even made it out alive in the first place. No one replied me and I couldn’t even make out anything with the ridiculous outfit