“Wait, Charlotte… you are not thinking straight right now, are you sure this is what you want?” Olivia queried as she tried to stop her best friend who was all over the room grabbing items.
“Yes Ollie, I can’t stay in this city. I need to be away from everything that reminds me of him or I might just lose my mind before the year is over.” Charlotte replied as she packed the clothes into her traveling bag.
From her voice alone, anyone would be able to tell that she had cried a lot in the past few hours, her eyes were all red and swollen up, even the mascara and eye shadow she had applied wasn’t enough to hide it.
She was still in shock of how her life had gone south in just a few minutes, how a moment of joy turned into sadness and threw her into an emotional dungeon. She couldn’t believe that Josh would really do that to her, it all felt like a joke till six hours ago when it dawned on her that he wasn’t fooling around, he meant every word that he said.
She felt completely broken and so she paid for a ticket immediately, the first place that came to her mind was Rovaniemi in Lapland, Finland. She had heard a lot about that place and since she had never been there before, she thought it was the best Christmas destination.
Not like she intended to celebrate Christmas this year. No, it was already ruined for her, she just wanted to get away from the toxicity of her present environment. Everything about this city reminded her of Josh, she knew spending the Christmas here in Australia would be torture.
Olivia had tried to convince her to stay over at her place but she didn’t want to. She knew she would spend the next few days crying and falling sick and she didn’t want to put that burden on her best friend, this was her cross to carry. Moreover, she didn’t even want to smell this city, she needed somewhere fresh that she had no memories or attachments to.
Rovaniemi was just the perfect destination for her, not only was it far from home but also isolated from any friends or relatives, anyone or anything that would remind her of Josh. She had just the Christmas break to heal mentally and emotionally before she is forced to resume work, and if she resumes while suffering from a heartbreak, her job could be the next thing she loses.
She walked for the accounting section in an I.C.T firm and her boss was someone who didn’t believe in stupid feelings and emotions, he wouldn’t take her break up as an excuse if she lets it get in the way of her job when she resumes in January, it was better to clear her mind off it with the next few days and what better way than crying her eyes out.
Yes, crying she believed was all part of the healing process. She needed to let it all out, she needed to acknowledge that what had happened has happened and there was nothing she could do to change it, in order to heal, she needed to admit to herself that Josh was her past and it was time to move on. She no longer has to cling on to those painful memories, nor her dreams.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t as easy as it sounds. Moving past a break-up was just as difficult as outrunning a cheater, literally. As of right now, she was broken and she believed she might probably never love again. She just had to focus on herself and build herself to be a strong independent woman with no emotions as it was the only way to avoid breakdowns like this.
It was the 22nd day of December, three days before Christmas. The good news was that she already had her papers cleared, including her Visa as she had originally been planning to visit the country over the new year, but now she might have to fast forward to that. All she needed to do was get a plane ticket, and that didn’t need days of processing, it was available in hours.
It was evening already and she knew the flight would last for around eighteen hours. Yes, a very long flight which means more time to cry and sleep while listening to songs from Justin Bieber and her favorite artist, Tatiana Manaois
“Come on girl, give this a final thought. Are you sure you would be fine over there, all by yourself?” Olivia asked for the umpteenth time.
Charlotte sighed as she locked the luggage box. “Yes Ollie, this is exactly what I need, space from everything and everyone. Don’t worry, I will try not to commit suicide, at least for you. Now will you stop trying to change my mind and help me pack because my mind is made up, the plane would be leaving in an hour, I need to be at the airport by then.” She pleaded.
Olivia growled with clenched fist. “I know… That is exactly why I have been trying to stall you, so that you miss the flight and I change your mind before the next flight is ready. I am going to miss you a lot, babes.” She confessed and hugged charlotte
Yeah, Olivia was definitely the hugger. It probably runs in the family, because her family is one of the sweetest people that Charlotte had met in her life, they had more than enough love for everyone, and it was passed on to their daughter.
“I will miss you too, girl… and honestly, I wish I didn’t have to go, at least not without you. But no worries, when your papers are available, we will go spend a holiday there together. As for today, it is just me,” Charlotte said sadly.
She was trying to sound okay so that her best friend would let her go, but she was definitely not okay. She felt a gap in her heart, a pain that wouldn’t go away. She knew she was broken, she had lost her taste buds and all she wanted to do was cry; that is if she still had any tears left in her eyes. She was dehydrated and weak, her pupils dilated and cry marks all over her face.
“Fine, I will book you a cab immediately, but promise me you will take care of yourself. That is the only condition for which I will let you leave, remember that you can’t break a bestie promise,” Olivia whined like a child.
Charlotte forced a smile and then nodded. “Alright, you have my word… I won’t commit suicide and I would try my best not to get hurt, I will eat and take my medications on time, is that enough?” she asked.
“Hmm,” Olivia hummed with a wrinkled forehead. “Fine, you can go then, bring me goodies from Rovaniemi, and have the best Christmas of your life, sister.” She said with caring eyes, and then she embraced her again. Yeah, another Olivia hug, it is quite popular at their workplace.
