Chapter 6

I sit in the back seat, my hands gripping the door tightly. I am scared to face Andrew. I don’t know how our conversation will go, knowing I am still madly in love with him. I open my purse, staring at the two phones, the folded contract, and the key card to my unfortunate new home. The hotel room. I reached down and picked up my phone, and finally I text him, making inquiries about his whereabouts. Andrew does not bother to call me back or reply.

As I lay in the hotel room bed, the events of the past few days replay in my mind. Nathaniel has made an impact on me. I smile simply thinking about his face. I should know better by now. Men will always break your heart and yet I like him. I grow curious about the contract again, reaching for the dresser and grabbing it. I also grabbed a notebook and a pen, determined to make sense of it. I traced the words "pros and cons" onto an empty page. I finally fall asleep, with my decision made.

Going back to the house I once shared with Andrew feels hard. I can barely drag my legs through the front door. Everything feels unfamiliar to me. As I reflect on the last day I was here, my thoughts return to that fatal day. Matthew runs to me, eager to help. I can see the worry in his eyes.

"Hello, Miss Megra, you are back," he says happily.

"Hi Matthew, I am, but hopefully not for long.”

I nod at him and head upstairs.

My hand is trembling as I push open the door. I can feel how hard my heart is pounding. I have never been so scared or nervous. What awaits me on the other side?

“Andrew!” I call out my voice, which is audible. “Are you home?”

The silence answers my question. I hurriedly shuffle my legs, working to collect all my belongings before Andrew got back. As I pack my things, I start to notice new additions to the apartment. Someone was moving in. I find a few pairs of shoes that are definitely not mine. And my former closet is filled with women's clothes. My heart sinks. Andrew has already moved on. I can't believe this.

I had not even been gone for a week, and now he has already replaced me. How can he? I am startled when I hear the door opening. I walk into the living room, only to find Becca walking in. I can see a shift in her when she sees me. I still cannot believe this is my life. How can my best friend do this to me? Was it not enough that she was sleeping with my boyfriend; now she moves in with him?

“Megra, what are you doing here?” Her voice is soft and catchy. I can tell that she was not ready to see me.

“This was my home, Becca, and you were my friend.” I can hear the anger in my voice. I stare at her, waiting for an explanation. Becca looks at me; her face is blank. I can tell that I am not her concern.

“You need to leave Megra; this is no longer your home!”

I cannot believe what I am hearing. Is she serious? I can feel my anger rising. I don’t know how to respond to her. Why was she behaving like I was the one who was in the wrong? Why was she acting like I was the one hurting her?

I shake my head to indicate my disbelief.

“Leave Megra. This is no longer your house.” She is now angry at my presence.

“I am just here to pick up the rest of my things.”

I start collecting my things, muttering to myself. This is beyond what I was expecting. I am interrupted when the door opens, and Andrew stands there, looking at me. Is this why Becca was so adamant about my departure? Was she afraid of him finding me there?

“Megra, you are back.” Andrew states.

I am lost for words. I don’t know how to react to his clear enthusiasm. Clearly, he has already replaced me. What game is he playing? I ignore him and continue parking my things. I stop when I feel a hand on my shoulder. I slowly turn and look at him. He must know how much I still love him.

"Megra, we have to talk about things.”

Tears fill my eyes, and Andrew runs his hand to wipe them away. I want to kiss him; I want him to tell me that I was just dreaming and that he had not destroyed me. I want him to tell me the last couple of days never happened. I want him to wake me up so everything can go back to being perfect, but it can't. This was the new reality.

I pull his hand from my face. I wipe away my tears and point at Becca. “There's nothing to talk about, Andrew.”

I can see his face change. I can see the anger now. This is not the man who has loved me for so long. I pick up what I have packed and walk to the door.

“Goodbye Andrew.”