CHAPTER FIVE

DIANA

Snapping out of my thoughts, I pick up my bag and leave Daniel's house. I put the key under his mat, just as he instructed and I head for Lynn's house.

Lynn is my best friend. The absolute best. We've known each other for what feels like an eternity but is actually just 3 years, she works at the coffee shop just next to the Media company, not that she needs it. Her family is wealthy, so she doesn't lack. She just wants to feel like she has her hands on something, according to her. I grabbed her attention when I kept getting coffee consistently for 2 weeks due to some issues with my parents at home.

She was there to comfort me, and she's always been there since, so I find my way to the Hospital and take a cab to Lynn's from there.

I punch in the code and walk into her apartment when I get there, something smells fire, not literally though.

Lynn is cooking. She squeals in excitement on seeing me.

“Hey D!”

“Hey L!”

We both let out a vivacious laughter.

“I wasn't expecting you”. She says, meaning no harm.

“I know” I say.

My breath fails me, but I bring myself to finally let the words out.

“I'm on probation” I say, my eyes cloudy from the tears that have been accumulating all day.

“Oh, Dianaaaa”

Lynn wraps me in a comforting hug, only she knows how hard it's been working my ass off for a promotion.

“One month, I'm either fired or promoted like I wanted but only if I do really really better” I explain further.

“Well, let's try to look at the bright side. It's an open ticket to the promotion. Finally. I know it's hard, but you just have to work hard, at least you know the promotion is for sure if you do really good. Right?”

“Right. Thanks L”

“Oh anytime D, dinner?”

I smile,

“Yh”.

Lynn and I catch up on everything I've the course of dinner, apparently she has a new boyfriend. Lead. She excited that both their names have the same first letter. Which is weird, I'm not excited I and my siblings names all have the same first letters. But maybe it's different with love interests, so I'm happy for her regardless.

We talk about my love life and quite frankly it's a discussion I hoped to avoid, but Lynn has her ways.

“Common D, you won't be single your whole life”

“I've had one relationship” I say, standing up for myself.

“Had, it's in the past D. Wanna try one night stands?”

“Ew! noooooooooo”

“Well, suit yourself”

“Is that how you met Lead?” I ask in amusement.

She gives me the look that says a fierce yes, like it's a thing to be proud of. Sigh.

When we're done with dinner, I thank Lynn and she makes me promise to join dating apps and find myself a man.

I make it back home quite late, I don't have an ounce of strength to prop myself to the bedroom so I fall to the couch, staring up. And I begin to think of everything Lynn said.

Fear crawls into my mind just as the thoughts of dating come to my mind, I wash it off, and try to view the positive. But then I see my mother get hit, and then she looks like me, and I see my self get hit, and then I hear my father say I'm not good enough, and that I never will be, and I see my father as the man I'd later decide to date, to give my all to, to be vulnerable to, and it feels like a nightmare. A nightmare I never want to put myself through.

*********

When I wake up, I'm drooling on my couch, and still in my clothes from yesterday. I'm happy that I'm up early regardless, so I get ready for work, and make it in time.

I put in the extra work at the office today.

I proofread, research, edit. Proofread, research, edit. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

Until I clear all outstanding reports and files, and I feel good enough to close for the day.

Good enough to close, but hella tired.

I'm on my way home when I remember that Daniel had asked me to call mum.

I take in a shaky breath, and I dial her number. She picks up on the fifth ring.

“Hi ma”

“Dianaa, so good to hear from you. It's been few weeks”

Her voice is shaky, but I don't question her.

“Yes ma, I'm sorry. It's work. How're you faring, the divorce and all”

She sighs and there's an uneasiness in her voice,

“The lawyer is asking for too much D, I don't have it”

“What?”

“I might not go through with the divorce Diana”.

“Is there so much to it? I... I thought. I thought it was just... just signing papers” I say, confused and stammering.

“It's bit more Diana, he wants my business, he's claiming three quarters of it”

“Shit, we'll get you a new lawyer then mum, I'll talk to Daniel, we can afford a good lawyer. Expect my call”

“Thank you so much Diana”

I hang up and take a cab back to Daniel's apartment. Thankfully he's home.

I tell him mum called. I explain everything she said, and I realize I'm already sobbing.

“It's fine, Diana. It's not a hard one, I've got a good friend, good connections, we'll get her out of this”

He says, holding me tight to him.

“I just want her to be happy, I want her out of this” I say, unable to hold back my tears.

“She will. We'd make sure of it. You have to go home, rest and get ready for work tomorrow.”

“Okay”.