Thank you loves for the constant support. You're the reason I keep writing. I love you guys! Always Writing, T. C. SARAH
“Wuuuuuuuuuu.” “Deep breaths, deep breaths.” “Oh my God!” “Stop worrying. You’ll be fine.” “I don’t know if I can.” “Lee!” I sucked in my breath too fast and started coughing. “I should be the one having a panic attack. Not you.” She was right. It was 6am and the wedding ceremony wouldn’t start till past 11am. The last two days had been the Ganesh Puja and Sathak ceremony. I’d stuffed myself with so much food that I could not breathe. Indian weddings were awesome. There was no shortage of anything and everyone was welcome, much to Aly’s dismay who’d wanted something small. Today was the third and last day, the wedding celebration and I was panicking for a lot of reasons. Number one being the fact that I’d seen a post on Murphy’s law before sleeping and I’d been hunted by his words; ‘anything that can go wrong will go wrong.’ I hadn’t been able to sleep since I woke from a nightmare that the wedding had crashed. A lot of effort had been put into Aly’s wedding and I wanted not
“I thought you said you couldn’t make it.” “I could never miss my friend’s wedding but I was tied up with work. Turns out presidents don’t also sleep that much.” I tightened my hold on Jared as we spoke. The wedding celebrations were on going with the reception and that was when I was finally able to get a hold of him. “I missed you so much.” He moved pieces of my hair away from my face as I looked up at him. “I missed you too.” Aly tapped Jared’s shoulders, calling our attention “If you’re done hogging my best friend, I’ll love to dance with her.” She grinned at me. Having the president at your wedding was the highest honour and he’d graced the wedding with his presence and enormous gifts. If I was being honest with myself, I didn’t want to go back to school. I was currently living a life that most only dreamed of. I pouted at Jared as he let me go. “He’s not going anywhere.” Aly whispered in my ears and I scowled at her. “I know. I just haven’t seen him in days. I’m Jared de
I did not wish to fight but I couldn’t help the feeling that I was going to see less and less of Jared of time went on.Even as we danced, I said nothing, wanting to enjoy the moment one last time.“You’re not saying anything.” I moved my head from Jared’s chest and stared at him.“What do you want me to say? That you shouldn’t go?” He looked tortured and I couldn’t say anything that would ease his mind. I was already upset that he had to leave so soon but it was his job. I couldn’t hold him back simply because I missed him. It was a sacrifice I was willing to make but it didn’t mean I was happy about it.“You’re mad.” I pulled back from him. My mood was already ruined as it was and dancing didn’t seem so romantic anymore.“I’m not.”“I just… you could’ve waited till after to tell me you’re leaving. I mean, you just got back.”“There’s just so much to do and I didn’t think you’d be awake by the time I left. I didn’t want you to wake up to an empty bed, wondering where I’ve gone.” I fr
I hadn’t planned on spending more than a day or two there. I also needed a little time to myself. My grades so far had been perfect, to anyone else, but to me, my performance had dropped a bit and I could blame it on almost dying but that meant I had no excuses from hence forth.I rubbed my palms against my thighs and looked around. I wasn’t in Becka’s place too often but it was clear that there were a lot of changes.The colours of the interior were no longer gold and white. They were now khaki and green. It was a nice combo but very different from the former décor.There also seemed to be more pictures of the whole family together.I watched as Becka and her parents bickered back and forth. They seemed happy and it made me relax somewhat.“Sorry to keep you waiting.” She placed a bowl of mashed potatoes and gravy with meat by the side. The smell wafted to my nose and my mouth watered. I waited for everyone else to have a plate before digging in.“Mum, this is so good.” Becka beamed
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
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