Ariana's POV
My heart skipped a beat as I stared blankly at my laptop screen. I had just read the most unromantic love message ever. Sounded more like a threat than the apology that it's supposed to be. A wave of migraine pierced through my skull, the sharp pain threatening to blow my head up.
It's the fifth year since we broke up and Ray had refused to move on! Over the years he had sent series of text messages and mails begging me to give him another chance. He had been consistently sending text messages, when I got them I did not even bother to read them anymore. The other time i decided to reply one of his numerous text messages and told him to move on, he sent a video record of him cursing and saying very mean things to me and then he sent a voice message few hours later apologizing about the video. A very psychopathic behavior if you ask me.
I pretended to forget the real reason why i broke up with Ray, the trauma buried deep down my heart threatening to cloud my thoughts. A nightmare that no one would ever believe or understand if I had decided to share that experience. To avoid being labeled as mentally imbalanced, I buried the details of the event of that particular night. The image of blood dripping from his hands flashed through my mind, the wicked smile plastered on his face and the worst of all ....
My phone beeped making me jump. I hissed as i glanced at the mail that popped up. Even on my days off, there was no escaping work. At least it was not a text from Ray. I got tired of changing my call ID , he would get a hold of it one way or the other.
"But it's been five years Ariana" a tiny voice in my head echoed. Yes! Five years of torture, five years of asking myself why i did not turn him over to the police, five years of going insane.
I let out a shaky sigh and got up to fix dinner when I heard a knock on the door. I stole a quick glance at my reflection in the mirror, my shorts hugged tightly and sexily to my ass and thighs and it made me smile despite feeling very shitty. My blonde hair stood on my head in a messy bun.
The knock came again , this time louder . I walked briskly to the door trying not to panic because it was a Sunday and I wasn't expecting a guest . I peeked in the peephole, I could see a man holding flowers! Wrong address I guess but I opened the door slightly.
"Hello" I whispered.
"Miss Ariana?" the average height handsome man asked with a smile plastered to his face , revealing a set of extremely white and perfect teeth.
"You are miss Ariana?" He asked again and I nodded feeling a little bit shy.
"I'm here to deliver these flowers" he said still smiling.
How the hell did Ray get my home address ? Now he has upgraded to sending flowers ?
I was beginning to protest when he said "they are from one Miss Laylah"
I flushed with embarrassment as I took the flowers from him "thank you"
"Thank you Miss" and with that he left.
The fresh fragrance of the rose flowers filled my apartment as I set them on the table.
I pinched myself for thinking Ray would send me flowers . Apparently Ray was the only functioning man in my life, even though he was the perfect definition of a crazy psychopath.
My step sister sent me flowers and it came with a note. That was really thoughtful of her. I didn't open the note, I wasn't ready.
I and my step sister started to grow apart after I moved out of the house, we used to be besties. I began to involve myself in more of work and just work alone. I haven't replied to any of her text messages over the months and she still sent flowers.
"I feel so bad" I muttered under my breathe "my life is in shambles….. I need help"
I felt so tired and frustrated and I could feel myself losing appetite. As a natural over thinker I tend to blow things out of proportion, I can't help myself.
Laylah is older than I am with few years and I do not see myself running to her anymore when I needed her the most unlike when we were much younger. Because deep down I had a feeling that nobody would understand me asides myself.
"It's work day tomorrow, when I'm at work I wouldn't have the time to think about any of these" I said to myself. Talking to myself is one thing that I'm really good at. For me it's a form of therapy.
The only thing that should be in my head is how to break the news of my resignation to my boss. My excuse would be I needed more time to myself which is actually the truth. I also needed time to work on my beauty brand that's yet to be launched.
I opened my laptop and tried to work but I shut it again and decided to go into town for few shots of tequila. Solo dates are my favorite.
I wore a small black dress and black fanciful sandals to match. I changed my mind about wearing heels, wasn't in that mood.
It's a fifteen minutes drive to town but it took me twenty five minutes to drive down because I like to take my time behind the wheel especially if I'm alone in the car and singing along to Rihanna hence making me drive through the longer route.
I stopped at my favorite spot , it was weekend so I wouldn't be surprised if the bar is filled with people. People that want to unwind before work starts the next day , people like me.
I smiled sheepishly as I made my way to my favorite corner. My face slowly transformed into a very deep frown as I stopped abruptly , ahead of me was Ray sitting, chatting happily with a girl that didn't look like any of his sisters or female friends that I know. Since I moved out of my parents' house , I haven't bumped into him until now, I made sure that did not happen. I avoided him like the plague that he is.
"Can today get any worse? It's been a long day already" I wanted to cry so bad.
He looked up and our gaze met , he froze and I could clearly see the shock on his face .
Not like I care that he was with some girl but the last person I wanted to see was this criminal.
I turned back and began to walk out of the bar before something embarrassing happened.
"Ariana!" I heard him call after me.
"Jesus No! hope he's not coming after me" I whispered. I could feel the sob well up in my throat . Instead of walking out of the bar , I took the right turn and headed straight into the rest room.
I allowed the tears flow freely as I walked into one of the toilet and shut the door hard enough to bring down the whole building.