Boundaries

Lily Thompson 

Ryan whispered something into the ears of the security guy and he nodded and opened up the gate for the cars to pass. I came out of the cab and paid the driver before he left. Ryan flashed a smile my way but I didn’t smile back 

“So, how does this work? Do we stay on different floors orr…?” I asked him with no tint of emotion on my face 

“Oh, we are going to stay on the floor together” he said smiling and I rolled my eyes wondering why I didn’t just refuse this job offer 

Ryan was smiling as though we were besties. Nothing would ever make me forget what he did to me, not even his smiles. Taking a deep breath, I surveyed the penthouse, feeling a mix of awe and resentment. The sleek, modern design was a stark contrast to the humble surroundings I was accustomed to. It was a reminder of the vast divide between Ryan's world of privilege and my own 

I directed the relocation service men to offload my things into the building. It didn’t take them long to offload all my stuff and I was left alone to rearrange my things. 

There was a large, well-furnished living room with a wide tv screen. I went further to check and the penthouse had four rooms, thank God. Ryan, Isabella and I can sleep in different rooms  

I began unpacking my belongings, trying to make this extravagant space feel a little more like home. As I arranged my furniture and personal items, I couldn't shake the feeling of being out of place, like an intruder in someone else's domain. 

Ryan's presence loomed over me, a constant reminder of why I was here. Despite his attempts to act friendly, I couldn't forget the pain he had caused me. The wounds he had inflicted ran deep, and no amount of smiles or gestures could erase the past. 

Lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed when Ryan approached, offering to help with the unpacking. I bristled at the suggestion, unwilling to accept any kindness from him. But as he insisted, I begrudgingly allowed him to lend a hand, though my guard remained firmly in place. 

Each moment spent in Ryan's presence felt like a betrayal to myself, a compromise of my principles for the sake of a paycheck. 

"Uhm, you can pick any of the rooms you like better" he said as helped me   

I went back to examine the rooms and I noticed a room that was quite spacious but it wasn't the most spacious room. It also had a balcony with an incredibly view and the bathroom was heavenly, so I chose it  

"This one" I told Ryan and he helped me pack my things in  

I started filling up the wardrobes with my clothes and I noticed Ryan was standing by my room door and staring at me and I decided it that if I was going to live in this house with him, I had to set some boundaries   

"Ryan" I said turning around “If we are going to stay together, I have to set some boundaries. First of all, my room is off limits and we’re only going to talk to each other when it is necessary” 

“Lily, can we at least talk about it?” he asked 

I turned around and looked at him “Talk? Where were you when I needed to talk to you the most? Where were you when everyone rejected me? Where the fuck were you when I needed you the most? Now you want to talk? Get the hell out of my face” I said and slammed my door against him. I collapsed to the floor and hugged me knees, I couldn’t fight it, I just let my tears flow 

I had been strong all these years when he wasn’t here, I can also be strong now and not let his betrayal get to me. I picked myself up and stared in the mirror. I wiped my tears and decided I was going to act like Ryan didn’t exist. 

I continued to arrange my things into my new room till it became the way I desired it. I dropped a portrait my mom gave me years ago on my mirror stand. I still miss her but because of Ryan I lost the privilege. 

I went back and observed the room, and it looked good. I would have loved to choose one of the rooms for Isabella and arrange it before she comes back but Isabella would want to pick her room herself 

I looked at the time, I promised Isabella I would pick her from school early today. I better start going. I walked out of my room and headed towards the front door, determined to keep my composure despite the emotions swirling inside me. As I passed through the living room, I made a conscious effort to avoid Ryan's gaze, unwilling to engage with him any further. 

Just as I reached for the doorknob, Ryan's voice stopped me in my tracks. 

"Lily, wait," he called out, his tone filled with urgency. 

I hesitated, my hand frozen on the doorknob, unsure if I wanted to entertain any further interaction with him. But curiosity got the better of me, and I turned to face him, my expression guarded. 

"What is it, Ryan?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. 

"I know I messed up, Lily. I know I let you down," he began, "But please, give me a chance to make things right. I want to talk, to explain everything." 

For a moment, I wavered, torn between the desire to hear him out and the fear of reopening old wounds. But then, I remembered the pain he had caused me, the years of loneliness and heartache I had endured in his absence. I couldn't afford to let him back into my life, not when I had worked so hard to move on without him. 

"I'm sorry, Ryan, but I'm not interested in hearing your excuses," I replied, my tone firm. "I have a life to get back to, and it doesn't include you. You should respect my boundaries and only speak to me when necessary" 

With that, I turned away and pushed open the door, stepping out into the cool evening air. As I walked away from the penthouse, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders, a sense of liberation washing over me. 

I may have lost my mother and suffered heartbreak at Ryan's hands, but I refused to let their absence define me. I was stronger now, resilient in the face of adversity, and I wouldn't let anyone, especially Ryan, hold me back.