~Felicia~
FEW HOURS EARLIER...
The lump sat deep in my throat which wouldn't go away. I put the last photo frame in the storage box and stared at the emptiness of the wall. The nails lasted longer than these photos, I thought to myself. It's okay, it's alright. I'm worth more than this humiliation. Once I get back home, I can feel loved and belong again.
My tears turned into hard crystals that rolled down my chin as I stared at the empty closet. Half of them were his gifts, top labelled fashion brands filled my walk-in closet and I had a new outfit for every day of the year.
I thought I'd make more memories here, bear his kids and watch them create havoc in this little room, this mansion. But my dreams were crushed too soon.
"Get ahold of yourself, Felicia. You're stronger than this." I spoke to myself in loneliness.
I was hallways across the country on a train when my phone buzzed with the ringtone; I sleepily clicked the green button and didn't even see the contact.
"Hello?"
"Hello, Felicia. Please think this over. You're leaving him at his worst state and walking out of his life when he did so much for you." My eyebrows furrowed.
"I'm walking out of his life, Neil? How ironic. I thought he did that before I could. So I'm going my own way too." I reasoned with assertion.
"Just because he couldn't attend the party, you're punishing him for a lifetime."
"JUST a party?" I emphasized, "Do you even realize how embarrassed I was consoling my own colleagues of HIS absence? Meanwhile, he was grooming his PA in the hospital for her fake injury." I hissed in anger.
"If you're taking his side and pushing me under the bus, forget about contacting me ever again. Goodnight." Saying, I hung up and switched my phone off. I dreamed of a perfect life with Leo Herring. I didn't even love him for his money or looks. I fell in love with his kind, generous and sweet personality.
"To hell with them!" I grunted under my breath and went back to sleep uncomfortably.
I reached back to my hometown, walking into the crappy old apartment I grew up in. My parents died seven years ago in a car crash. As I looked at the empty walls, sadness wallowed my heart and I broke down. Finally. The catharsis felt liberating and I didn't feel numbness in my heart any longer. I started unpacking after a nice shower and resolved to clean the apartment. It would be a nice distraction against thinking about Leo and our past life. Which I'm over with.
After everything was done, I was setting up my cheap ramen from a cup and cheese strings when my phone vibrated again. I anticipated Maya or Neil trying to change my mind about Leo again. I rolled my eyes and saw the name displayed, my eyes widened at the surprise.
It was Leo himself.
-I need to see you, Felicia. Baby, please don't punish me like this...-
I stared at the screen with my heart on my sleeves. Did he really think persuading me like a maniac would fix things between us?
My hands were trembling. As much as I didn't want to admit, I still cared for Leo.
-Not after you ditched me and disregarded my feelings like that. Goodbye.-
I tried to end the conversation desperately. But soon after, he was dialling me. I didn't want to pick it up, letting the rings go off about three times. I stared at the red button hard on the fourth ring and my finger betrayed me by sliding the green one.
"Felicia, hey. Where are you? Send me your location, I'm coming to get you."
"I'm far out of your reach. Now you know how it feels like to stay apart, to be ignored."
"Felicia...please. Your punishments are unreasonable. I know that I hurt you. But I assure you it's not because of Maya. I'm her boss, I ought to help her out. Just like all my employees, im responsible for her wellbeing too!"
I laughed at his explanation.
"Leo, she's always injured herself in convenient times. Like your birthday and other events that should bring us together. Don't you find it petty and planned?"
"Oh come on! You're being delusional! Accidents happen all the time, alright! You know that pretty well. I saved you countless times too." He exclaimed as I scoffed in disbelief.
"Countless times!? Stop talking to me!" I growled out.
"That's a bit childish of you. I don't expect you to understand my stance but you're taking this too far. Send me your location or I'll pull strings and get you myself." I scoffed again. This man's head was too high in the clouds!
"Did you just call me childish? I hid my disdain with your friendship with Maya and didn't utter a single word against your past with her. And now you rub it on my face that I'm childish. Well played, boss!"
"Stop it, Felicia. It's getting annoying. I'm stumped with work and consoling you should be the last thing on my list. I do care about you. There's no other reason I cried when I saw your empty room and am calling you right now." He said and I felt my lower lip wobble.
"Don't contact me ever again. We're over." I repeated the words from yesterday and did the same. Cut the call and went on about my day.
