The door swings open.Lana walks in with a tray of roast chicken, pasta, vegetables and orange juice. I turn on the other side of the bed and pull the sheets over my head."I don't want to wake up!" I groan."You've slept all day, babe. It's almost 5.00pm. Atleast have something to eat.""I don't want food! I just want to die!""I put a little poison in your food." She smiles. "Just eat it and you'll die. Simple."I manage a smile as I sit up on the bed. Lana sets the tray in the middle and sits on the edge of the bed. I grab the glass of orange juice as she bites on the piece of chicken."How are you feeling?" She asks quietly with sympathy-filled eyes."I feel like shìt." I mutter. "I've slept the whole night and the whole day. My head is spinning. My stomach is rumbling. I'm starving but I don't have an appetite.""Your body lost a lot of blood." She says. "And you're under strong medication. You should feel that way. The only way you'll feel better is if you eat. And eat a lot."I
I wake up to the smell of pancakes.I stretch and drag myself from bed. I don't remember sleeping in this big clean t-shirt. And I don't remember how I ended up in bed. Wait...Damien was here last night. And he took me from the couch. And he carried me in his arms. And I puked all over him. That's all I remember. The rest of it is just blank.I storm out of the room. Lana is in the kitchen making pancakes. Maybe she has answers. Maybe she can tell me what exactly happened. Maybe she can tell me if Damien is mad at me. Or maybe she can tell me if I just made him up. Maybe he wasn't even here. Maybe I was too horny and my mind just made him up...My jaw drops when I push the door open.Damien is standing there, flipping pancakes. One piece of the puzzle is solved. Now I'm sure that he was here last night. He's wearing the same sweatpants. He's wearing the same t-shirt I puked allover. It's clean as fùck. No stain of vomit."You look like you've seen a dead corpse cooking." He chuckles.
The cab stops at a catholic church in a wealthy part of town.We put on our black hats as we walk towards the black gates, the black dresses almost touching the ground. The exterior and interiors of the church scream of elegance and extravagance. Marble pillars. Marble floors. Huge windows. 16ft oak doors. Just excessive. For a famous writer like Rooney Lane, I'm shocked that the rows of pews are mostly empty. The only people in attendance are close friends and family. His family really managed to keep the suìcide a secret.A priest is standing at the altar, conducting a mass. The countable people turn to glance at us when we make an entrance. Lana grabs my hand as we take a seat on one of the empty pews."The woman scowling at me," she whispers. "That's Rooney's mom. I bet she's not happy to see me here.""Maybe because we're not supposed to be here.""He was my fiancé!" She hisses. "I deserve to mourn him. I deserve to say goodbye to him. But most of all, I deserve answers!"A bunc
BRANDONflashbackI sit up and stretch on the new bouncy bed.Wendy bought it for me. Said that we should throw the old bed and make new memories with the new one.I love this bed. And I love my new life.Life after Dani feels like a dream. She was a nuisance. She was lazy. She was a couch potato. She was always frowny and sulky. She wasn't doing anything productive with her life. The only thing she was good at was binging shows and finishing the food in the fridge. Meanwhile, I was breaking my back at work for her.And what thanks did I get? She fùcked my dorky boss and married him. Look, I'm not jealous. I fùcking dodged a bullet for the dork to catch it. The dummy doesn't know what the hell he just signed up for.Who would marry a woman that ditches her whole family for dìck? Who would marry a woman that pours all her money into someone's education instead of educating herself? Who would marry a woman that dumps her brainy boyfriend for a brainless brat? I don't know what Dani did
DANII'm standing from a distance, watching Brandon burst into tears..His face is buried in his hands. He's curled up in the couch. I think I'm witnessing his rock bottom. This is the first time that I've seen this man break down this badly in the eight years that I've dated him. "I want to fùcking die!" He cries. "I deserve to fùcking die. I know I'm a horrible man. And I know I've been a horrible boyfriend to you. But I never thought I'd be a horrible father! What kind of a dad kills their own child! I'm just like my father! Maybe even worse!"Brandon's parents were horrible but he particularly hated his father. He swore he would never be like that man. A man who forced him to work at a restaurant when he was twelve and then pocketed the peanuts he was making. A man who denied him food when he didn't a pass a paper. A man who slammed his head on the wall when he complained about a minor thing. A man who didn't allow him to spread butter or jam on bread because that's not a 'manly'
I snake my hands around Damien.His mouth dives deeper into mine. His lips are luscious and soft and wet. He digs his fingers in my hair as he pulls me closer, pressing his body against mine.The door bursts open, forcing us apart."Police! Police!" They bellow. "Everybody hands up!!!"Count on the police to come late. And definitely count on the police to poop on the party. Nate is standing at the door. His eyes moving from me to Damien to me to Damien and then finally to me. He looks pissed. He shakes his head and walks away.We both stand on our feet as a tall black officer approaches us. Damien is answering most of the questions. I'm still a little shaken from the whole ordeal. Or maybe I'm shaken from the passionate kiss that was rudely interrupted. And who even called the police?"One of the neighbours called the police." The officer says. "Are the two of you injured? Hurt? Ailing?"We shake our heads. Brandon is dragged away, his entire face bruised. He really got a good span
Zoe, Camille's assistant, is walking behind us when we get to the mall.We step into the elevator and stop at the tenth floor. Camille said that it was going to be a surprise. I think she wants to buy me some new clothes or maybe she wants to buy herself some new dresses."No." Camille laughs. "It's for the baby girl. We are shopping for the baby girl."My heart stops. Vomit clouds in my throat. I shouldn't have come here. I look around the mall, trying to avoid Camille's eyes. From a distance, I spot a familiar couple...The woman is blonde. She's wearing a hideous maternity dress. She has a couple of bags in her hand. The husband is carrying their cute little baby. That little cute baby is my niece. And that blonde woman is my sister. She looks so happy as she disappears with her little family to the other side of the mall... I miss her... I miss my family....Camille claps loudly to get my attention. She's looking up at me, seated from the wheelchair."Pregnant women are more activ
DAMIENVanessa is the first person I see when I get to the housewarming party.Her house doesn't look warm at all. So huge. So empty. Just huge framed photographs on the wall. This is a collection of her best works over the years. For a second, I'm a little jealous. This could've been me if the freaking accident had not happened. This could've been me if I followed her to Italy. A showcase of my best works in my living room for everyone to see. How magical. It almost feels like we are in a museum to worship her masterpieces. And I must say. Vanessa is the god of photography."Where's my wife?" I ask Vanessa."That's the first question your wife asked." She rolls her eyes. "Why are you late for my party?"I was in a meeting with my lawyers to make sure Brandon never tastes the joy of freedom. And they are doing a brilliant job. That man has caused Dani nothing but pain. I'll do anything in my power to make sure he wears that orange jumpsuit for a very long time. Forever, if it's possib
DAMIENtwenty years laterIt's our twentieth anniversary.For every anniversary, we celebrate it in Bali. In the same hotel we went for our first, second and third honeymoon. There's been a lot of changes and renovations in the hotel over the years but it still gives me a feeling of nostalgia every time I come here.I step out of the shower and start drying myself with the towel.Dani is busy typing on her laptop. I apply some lotion and slide into a pair of white shorts. My wife doesn't bother to look up."George filed for divorce." I huff. "Gina cheated on him again. This time, with a younger man.""Not surprised." I sigh. "Why can't he just leave her?""He's addicted to the toxicity."Dani doesn't respond. She's still busy on her laptop. Plus, she's so over George and Gina. And honestly, so am I. For years, I wanted to save George from that abusive marriage but he clearly doesn't want to be saved. He made the bed. I'll just let him lie in it. Even if it's a bed of thorns that makes
DANII stare at Nate in shock.But he's not staring at me. He's staring at Damien."When Dani's dad shot me, I was paralysed." Nate says. "I could see everything. I could hear everything. But I couldn't move. I couldn't even feel blood oozing from my body."Okay, where's this going?"Dani was in shock after her father shot himself infront of her." He continues. "She just sat there, staring at his lifeless body. She was in shock and despair. She had lost all hope for life. That's until you came out of nowhere and wrapped your arms around her, crying. She was relieved. She was hopeful again. I was relieved too. And I was hopeful. That's when I allowed myself to pass out. All that time, I'd been forcing myself to hold on a little longer for Dani. I didn't want to leave her all alone and scared. But when you showed up, I knew she was in safe hands. So l let myself pass out."Nate finally turns to look at me, a small smile forming on his face."Remember that double date with Richard and yo
DAMIENI ring the doorbell.Dani swings the door open, dressed in her pajamas. She stares at me in complete shock and confusion."What are you doing here?" She asks in concern. "Are you okay?"I don't reply to that. I just pull her in my arms and cling to her body. I know she's pregnant and I'm probably hurting her baby but the baby will have to forgive me. I need his mother now. He can wait.Dani escorts me to the livingroom. She sneaks to the kitchen and brings me coffee. Yes, I definitely need coffee this time. I'm shaking due to the cold. Or maybe I'm shaking due to the shock. It's been a night of horror and I can't wait for it to end."What's going on, Damien?" Dani asks softly. "Where's Vanessa?"Just hearing her name sends chills all over my body. I look up at the ticking clock.The images of the last three hours play vividly in my head.Vanessa screaming in terror. Vanessa's head being chopped off. Vanessa's head being tossed in a black plastic bag like garbage. The "bad guys
VANESSABe calm.Whatever happens in life, be calm. That's one of the greatest tricks to tackle every situation in life. Be calm. Take a deep breath. Don't lose it. You might be losing it inside, but don't show them. Act calm. Act confident.I turn to look at Damien.Ofcourse I'm shocked. And confused. He just jumped out of the kitchen. He was listening to the conversation this entire time. I should have listened to my gut when I entered the house.I got a whiff of his cologne when I entered the living room. Then I got a glance of his shoes at the door. But somehow, I convinced myself that they didn't belong to Damien. A bunch of shoes look the same. And there's no way they belonged to Damien. I mean, I left him home looking hungry and exhausted. There's no way he could drive back to the city for two hours instead of taking a rest. God, I was in for a shock!But I'm still calm. "Babe." I smile. "You know I hate surprises.""Don't babe me!" He snaps. "I heard everything you just said,
DAMIENI dash into the kitchen and pour all the coffee in the sink.I don't want coffee. I want something stronger. Something like scotch. Something that will make me forget about my dad. And Vanessa. And the pregnancy scam. And the whole drug dealing thing. And the way I just talked to Dani. And the way she looked at me. All I do is hurt her with my words and actions. And all she does is be kind and nice to me. After everything I did, she's letting me spend the night at her house. God, I don't deserve her...It's pouring heavily outside.I look outside, the rain beating down on the roof and sliding down the window. For a moment there, I wish that the rain could wash away all the pain. I wish that the rain could slide down my soul and wash away all the sadness and sorrow. The doorbell rings, pulling me away from the sea of sad thoughts."Good evening, Dani." I grit my teeth when I hear that familiar voice. Vanessa. What the fùck is she doing here? How the fùck did she know that I wa
DANIDamien is standing at my door when I get home from the hospital.The second he sees me, he runs to me and our bodies clash in a tight embrace. He starts crying in my arms. And I start crying in his arms. And now we're crying in each other's arms. I don't even know why I'm crying. But I definitely know why he's crying.He lost his father. A father that he deeply loved. And today he lay his father to rest. That's hard on anyone.The sky rumbles. We break apart and silently walk into the house before it starts raining. Damien takes off his shoes and sits on the couch. I take off my black coat and sneak to the kitchen. There, I make coffee and grab some cookies from the pantry. Damien looks like he needs something stronger than coffee but it's the best choice for now. "Thankyou." He smiles when I set the tray of coffee and cookies on the table.I sit across from him, creating some distance between us. I'm just from seeing Nate in the hospital and we even kissed when I left. I wou
DAMIENThe ride home was silent.Two hours on the road with Vanessa sulking and seething and staring at me, her eyes filled with fury.The second I stop the engine, she flies out of the car and storms into the house. I follow her quickly but I can't keep up with her pace. When I walk into the house, she's already flying up the stairs.Maria steps out of the kitchen with a bunch of sandwiches on the tray."Spill the tea." She giggles. "Why is she so mad this time? What happened at the funeral?""Nothing interesting." I shrug.That's my way of brushing Maria off. Although I like her, she can be a little nosy in a way that's annoying and steps on boundaries. Vanessa is still the mother of my child. She's just a surrogate. Sometimes I think that Maria forgets that. Vanessa can be a pain in the àss but she still deserves respect as the biological mother of my child."Want a sandwich?" She offers."Sure." I grab it. "I'm starving!"I run up the stairs, chewing on the sandwich as I head to o
DANICamille's mansion was the perfect pick for the reception after the funeral.The guests are waltzing around the large livingroom, cups of coffee clutched in their hands. A bunch of bowls are sitting at the dining table with cookies and biscuits and even chocolates.I'm sitting on the couch next to Camille, munching on the crunchy cookies. Her face is blank and void of emotion but I know that deep down, she's having an emotional crisis. A few hours ago, she broke down as her husband was put to the ground. I can't imagine what that felt like for her. Spending half of your life with someone and then having to watch their lifeless bodies being lowered to the ground. Tragic."Look at them!" Camille points to Damien and Vanessa. "She's always complaining about something. They should break up already."They seem like they are fighting. Vanessa is nagging about something. And Damien is glaring at her. They are obviously the unhappiest couple in the room. I get a little thrill watching the
DAMIENVanessa slides into her black heels and walks towards me.She stands so close, looking up at me. There's a blank look on her face and it's kinda creepy. She straightens my collar and starts fixing my black tie."I'm going to ask you something and I want you to be completely honest with me."The cold tone in her voice sends shivers down my spine. She's not been speaking to me the entire morning. I thought it was odd but chose not to overthink it. I thought it's because we were both busy getting ready for the funeral. I thought maybe she's giving me some space and silence because this is the day that I lay my dad to the ground. From the tone of her voice, that's clearly not the case. She's mad at me. And from the way she's playing with this tie, I might end up getting strangled if I don't provide the answer that she wants. And that makes my heart start racing."Have you been fùcking Dani?"I can't help but laugh. I thought it was something serious. Something that was going to be