When Aria's eyes shot open, it occurred to her that she did not sleep at her own house, because she did have her sleeping eye mask on. She would remember the details later, but first, she had to yawn; she felt weak. Her head ached her like a war was happening inside of it, and pain seared through her body, mostly between her legs. Aria's eyes scanned through her view. Two milk chairs were placed by the sides of a black shiny table, the curtains were drawn apart, revealing a wide view of the glass window. The room looked different; it wasn't the room she and Lily, her best friend, had booked yesterday. With a sense of urgency, she attempted to roll over, but her body stilled like a rock when a firm mascular hand gripped her waist. Aria gasped, her eyes bulged with terror, when she noticed that he wasn't Ivan, her boyfriend of three years. She was in bed with a stranger whose name she didn't even know. Her heart raced faster and she felt like screaming even though she knew it was
When is all these going to end? "Mr Donovan, take pity on us. We will pay up our rent soon." Her sister, Anna, was on her knees, rubbing her palms together in a pleady gesture. She knelt in front of the house, poking her head to get a view of the landlord inside the house. Aria stood next to her, careful not to draw her attention. She immersed herself in deep thoughts. What was she going to do? She was tired of the whole situation. Now that she had just finished college, she had started thinking about how to go about paying her student loans but she couldn't even pay her house rent. The money she had been saving to repay her student loan was what she used to pay her mother's last hospital bills. Since then, any money she had tried to gather up in order to replace it was used to settle another bill or the other. "Oh you're back." Anna stated, drawing Aria from her thoughts. Just then, Mr Donovan emerged from the house with this thug, carrying their refrigerator. The hefty thug marc
Aria's heart thumped faster as she stood in front of Mr Mark's office. She tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ears as she inhaled and exhaled. For some reason, she was unsettled. She sensed foul play within his offer, but she was already at his door, considered it too late to turn back. Additionally, she needed every money she could get. Pushing her thoughts aside, she knocked softly. "Come in," he answered. She stepped in and walked towards him. "Good evening," she greeted. "You showed up quite early." He noted with a smile. He took off his glasses and leaned into his seat, observing her. She felt uncomfortable under his intense gaze. Aria wondered whether she was supposed to respond to his previous statement, then she spoke. "Yeah, you sounded urgent." "That's correct. You see, I knew you were the perfect person for this job and I could always count on you." Perfect person for a night delivery? Isn't any other person able to do that efficiently? She thought to he
He flung his phone on the mahogany desk, leaned into this high backed chair and groaned. When he had asked her for his number amidst drinks, she boldly took his phone, punched numbers into it and saved it with her name and then called the line. When her phone vibrated, she chuckled and said, "I'll save your number later." That was how he got her name and her number after minutes of talking and drinking over the loud music. Robert wasn't expecting Aria to call that soon and from the look of things, he was right. He knew the call wasn't intentional from the way she said another name and how she was quick to say 'wrong number' when she heard his voice. He was worried about Aria, she sounded like she was on the verge of tears. After she hung up on him, he had been unable to focus on the stark of documents that crowded his desk. He had stayed late at the office today, he was filling up for the previous day where he had achieved little to nothing because he spent the whole day thinking a
While Aria was dressing up for the job interview, Anna barged into the room and hugged her. Aria was taken back, her brows creased with confusion."What's the problem?" Aria asked her sister."You've replaced our fridge and television. Isn't that enough reason for me to be happy?"Aria thought she hadn't heard hee propely. "hm? replace what?""Our fridge and television!" Anna squealed. "The delivery man brought it this morning, he said you, Aria Spencer, ordered it.""But I didn't."Anna was finally convinced that her sister was unaware of the purchase. She folded her arms below her chest and they both stare at each other for while. "Anna I'm running late for my interview, I guess we'll have to talk about this later."-When Aria walked into the office, the chilly air greeted her. She took deep breaths and threaded towards the reception desk. She tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her desk and smoothen non existent rough edges of her pencil skirt. Since birth, she had not been
Lily placed her palm on her jaw staring into the milk coloured curtain in front of her, lost in thoughts. Her phone beeped and she anxiously reached for it, but her chest deflected when she saw the content of the message. It wasn't what she wanted to see. It was a text message from her mum asking her if she was going to come downstairs for breakfast. Although she had heard her mum's soft voice calling out to her earlier on, but she chose to remain silent. She woke up with a heavy weight on her heart. She wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone. She thought about Aria, and how she had sabotaged her relationship with her, over Ivan that had grown cold and distant towards her without an explanation. How does the dynamics of a relationship change overnight? She knew whenever they chatted, he would disappear for hours, and then he'd return with a silly excuse. But she did not think that soon he'd start taking days before responding to her messages. It made her heart ache. And whenever she'
Aria could already envision her financial problems coming to an end.It was a refreshing feeling, a breath of fresh air. For a long time now, she had been in a state of panick, constantly thinking of different means to solve one problem or the other. As much as she could feel the wave of uncertainty blowing past her due to the contract she had signed with Robert, she chose to bask in the new feeling of lightness. Tons of congratulatory messages flooded her phone When she had posted about her new job on her status. It filled her heart with joy. For once, people were not sympathizing with her nor texting her to offer her favours out of pity. She took a deep breath, muttering a short prayer of thanks. She picked up her phone, about to text her sister. Her phone buzzed with a new messge, distracting her from her course of action. Her eyes darted upwards to check the sender of the mesage, it was Ivan. He hadn't texted since she found out he had been cheating on her. Her heart pounded as
It was her first day of work. The moment she got to the door, she pinched herself just to confirm that she wasn't dreaming. It felt good, excitement bubbled within her. She smiled liked a child that had been handed her favourite candy as she checked the time on her wristwatch. The last time she had been here was for her interview and she had arrived late. Attempting to correct that mistake, she had said she would try as much as possible to be punctual now that she had been given the time. It was 7:50 am, five minutes before her stipulated time of resumption. Now that was a good start to her.She pushed the door open, and as expected, she saw the nice receptionist behind her desk, head bent over, scribbling on a note set before her. Her braids were packed in neat bun, edges properly laid, floral chiffon top perfectly ironed. Aria could perceive her perfume from a few distance away; it was soft, feminine and flowery. She walked up to her, feeling obliged to appreciate for the act of k
Aria tried to memorize all she had learnt for her final exams while she texted Robert who was keen on distracting her. She had herself to blame though, she was the one who kept on texting him like she wouldn't see him later when he came home.A: Can you let me study?R: Can you let yourself study? You keep responding to my text when you know you shouldn't.A: that's because I can't help it and I always want to talk to you.R: That sounds cute but I'm going to have to stop responding to you. Meaning I'm not going to reply to your texts if you send another one after this.Robert kept his word. The next messages she said afterwards to him were left unanswered as she brought her mind back to her books so she could study. When she finished studying, she texted him back that she was done and she was heading to the shelter where she now volunteered. The shelter was a safe place for people who suffered abusive relationships and grief who needed other people who could understand them. It also
Aria had been looking forward to this dinner just like her husband. She noticed how happier her husband seemed after his meeting with Harry. Robert didn't give her the details, he just told her they got to discuss at length and they were now on good terms. Aria asked Anna if she wanted to come alone with them but she refused, saying she wanted to watch cartoons at home. Aria sighed and nodded.Now she and Robert were prepared for the dinner. Robert was dressed casually but since hadn't gone out in a while, she took this as an opportunity to scan through her outfits and combine them aesthetically. She finally settled for a short chiffon, a piece of jewelry and silver heels."Now look at how I look like your bodyguard standing beside you," Robert joked while he held her waist from the side and kissed her hair. "You look beautiful my queen." He complimented."So do you so, my love." She blushed. His muscular arm was evident under the shirt he wore and his biceps rippled. Aria imagined ta
Harry couldn't bear the guilt of what he did and he kept thinking about whether to tell Robert about it or not. They've been getting along just fine and they've recently been texting online and it's been amazing. They mostly spoke about their father's health, work and just random stuff. It felt like they were in a talking stage, they were starting to know each other very well, something they would have done years ago, but it took this long to achieve which wasn't really bad. Lauren and her husband loved this new change and they supported it more by inviting Aria and Robert for dinner. They conveyed the information through Harry and Robert loved the idea and agreed to show up with his wife.Harry's mind kept bugging him, he couldn't act all friendly with Robert when in the past he had previously tried to sabotage his career. Now they were getting along, he didn't want anything to come between this new found friendship. He was going to tell Robert about all of it, he'd soon go back to s
Anna was getting better and she no longer cried about the death. She was starting to carry on without her life. She now ate, watched cartoons and giggled about funny things like she used to do before she heard about the news. Aria loved the change, it brought a smile to her lips that her sister had successfully escaped the confinement of grief.Aria felt like her life was worth more and she hadn't explored as she should have. She was too carried away with external factors and had forgotten to be the main character of her life. This was what her mother would have wanted for her, now that she was gone, she had the strong urge to pick up her life. Not that she hadn't been living before but he was ready to live as her capacity would allow. She wanted to go to therapy and then go back to school. Therapy first, because she wanted to unpack all that happened to her in the past month, heal and understand better in what direction her life should take. Aria realized she wasn't really okay and s
Harry had already resigned to his fate as soon as his mother told him about everything. He knew that one day, this would happen, now in the moment, he felt nothing at all. He just keenly watched the scene unfold. The only thing that troubled him was that the internal turmoil his mother felt was visible and he felt sorry for her."I said go on," his father said, growing impatient.Matteo stared at Lauren, hoping she would change her mind but he just looked scared without saying a word."Say whatever you have to say, you heard my dad." Harry added, looking at Matteo with disdain. The reaction Matteo got was different from what he expected. He smiled nervously, staring at all of them. Harry knew he was finding it difficult to comprehend with the way no one seemed to be grovelling at his feet not to spill like he expected. His face hardened again, "So your wife here lied to you.""About what?" His father instinctively touched Lauren and his eyes darted between her and Matteo."About a lo
As Robert drove them home, he felt a sense of relief that his father didn't have to stay at the hospital for more than a day. Robert hated the hospital, not in the strong sense of aversion kind of way, but he felt like the hospital wasn't really a place a sick person needed to be. He couldn't place a finger on why he thought that but he didn't think a sick person deserved to hear about more people dying and inhaling the weird antiseptic that dominated the air. And most people he knew who stayed in the hospital for months due to one illness or the other didn't make it alive, for example his mom and Aria's mom. So for that reason he was happy that his father didn't have to stay there longer than the day he was brought in.His father coughed and he briefly glanced back. Lauren was sitting next to him, holding his hands which moved to rub his arm.Harry who was near Robert stretched the water he held to his father. "I hope you're okay." He asked.His father nodded and for the rest of thei
"Dad!" Robert kept screaming as his father held his neck almost like he was getting constricted.He continued coughing as Robert tried to offer him the water. His hands become shaky as he contemplated running out to tell Lauren about what was happening to her husband. He blinked his eyes as he watched his father fight for air and then he sprang out of the room to inform Lauren."Lauren, the ambulance! Dad is dying," he said breathlessly. Her eyes widened in horror as she placed a call to the ambulance with shaky hands. "My husband -"Robert zone out, his mind conjuring the worst scenarios. Soon the ambulance arrived and lauren and Bryan accompanied his father while he was wheeled away. He grabbed his carkeys as he made his way to enter his when he saw Harry scratching his hair as walked closer to him."Can i go come along?" Robert watched him stutter before he nodded."Thank you," he said shyly before they both entered the car. They drove in silence before Robert's curiosity got the
Robert told him he couldn't continue thinking about his father without making the necessary move therefore he had to go to his house and have the conversation. He didn't even know he loved his father this much. The past months without hearing his voice made him feel like something was missing and he was tired of feeling that way. It was kind of feeling he had to end because it ruined him. Yeah, he didn't care nor think about the consequences or aftermath of the action he was going to take as he drove down there. He had told Bryan to inform him if Dad was at home and the little boy did it as soon as he could because he wanted his big family back. When Bryan told him he was now on talking terms with his mother, Lauren, a big smile spread across his face and he remembered how he wasn't talking to his own father and he knew he had to fix that as well.Robert got to the house bracing himself for the conversation they were going to have.He saw Lauren sitting in the sitting room like the pre
Anna has been moody since Aria told her about her mother's death. She had to tell her though, she couldn't stall it any longer. She wasn't crying anymore but she barely spoke nor showed excitement about anything as she would have before. Anna took that as a sign, she was grieving silently, which was okay. She had to express herself in whichever way she deem fit. As much as she wished Anna didn't have to feel this way, it was necessary and had to happen. Aria glanced across where Anna was lying on the sofa, covering herself with a duvet as her eyes darted between the TV where her favourite cartoon was flickering and her phone in her hands."You sure you're not hungry?" Aria asked again for the third time.She raised her gaze and shook her head."Why? Food is important." Aria asked, worried. "At this point, I'll have to force you to eat something even if you claim not to be hungry."Anna adjusted her lying posture to a sitting one, putting her foot on the floor. "Trust me, I'll eat when