Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 69610 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 348(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69610 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 348(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
He hasn’t allowed me to come around, but finally he let me in.
He’s staying with his parents, in a house that’s far too big, but they’re providing the care he needs, which is more important than anything else. He needs help that they can afford, and they’ll make sure he gets the best of the best.
“What do you think?” he spits at me, glaring right through me. “Of course we’re over. I can’t stand you, Amalie.”
That hurts.
I don’t love Caiden, but seeing him like this splits my heart wide open, because it isn’t his fault, and he has every right to feel raw anger. I wouldn’t wish something like this on my worst enemy, let alone a man, that once, I did love.
“I’m sorry, Caiden. I know that doesn’t mean anything, but-”
“Of course it doesn’t mean anything,” he barks. “It means nothing to me. Nothing at fucking all. Don’t you come in here acting like you care about me, we both know you’re only here out of guilt...”
“I do care about you, Caiden...I do...”
“Bullshit!” he bellows. “You only changed your tune because of the accident, if it never happened, you’d be on your way to start your new life right now.”
He’s right, and that only makes it all hurt that much more.
“Caiden,” I whisper, tears in my eyes. “I’m sorry.”
“Stop saying you’re sorry!” he barks. “That means fucking nothing to me now.”
I flinch.
I don’t know what else I can say, or do.
I’m helpless right now.
I don’t know what the right thing is anymore.
“I’ll be here every day, I’ll help you in any way I can. I’ll do anything.”
“I don’t want you here every day,” he screams. “I want you out of my house, and out of my life.”
He lunges forward without realising, and falls from his wheelchair. He lands on the ground with a thump. I lean down quickly, trying to help him, heart racing. “Let me go,” he screams, pushing up with his hands. “Let me go you fucking bitch!”
There is a coldness in his eyes that penetrates deep into my soul.
He really does hate me.
His mother runs in, kneeling down, calling out to his carer.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, tears rolling down my cheeks.
“Get out!” he screams. “Get out!”
I turn and run out of the house, eyes blurred, not paying any attention. I caught a bus here, so I run out onto the street and without thought, onto the road. I forgot I can’t hear, that happens sometimes, especially when I’m upset, and I do stupid things that I’d usually rely on my hearing for. A horn blares, and I scream, falling onto the road, pressing my hands over my face to try and make the sound stop.
The horns keep blaring.
Someone gets out of a car and comes over to me, a man. He leans down and carefully touches my shoulder. I look up at him, and the cars whizzing past, beeping wildly at us, and he smiles warmly. “Come now,” he says. “Let’s get you up.”
He helps me up and off the road, and when we reach the side, I point to my ears. His eyes widen and he nods. I’ve started learning sign language, and a few people have started using it with me, but mostly I prefer to read lips. I find it easier. The man looks at me, and asks, “Can you understand me?”
I nod.
“Are you hurt?”
I shake my head.
“I was just waiting for a bus, I didn’t think and ran out onto the road...”
“That’s okay. Do you need a ride?”
I shake my head. “No,” I whisper. “I’m okay here. The bus will arrive soon. Thank you, for helping me.”
He makes sure I’m okay, and then gets back in his car and drives off. When I’m alone again, I press my hands over my ears and cry.
God dammit.
Why did my world take such an ugly turn?
Surely I didn’t deserve this...did I?
~*~*~*~
NOW - AMALIE
“Where do I start?” I say, as we walk.
I glance quickly at Scarlett and she gives me a warm look. “From the beginning, I’ll be listening.”
She keeps hold of me, and I start talking.
“We were together for the time he told the reporters. We weren’t close, like he made out. He had a flair for the dramatic, and we weren’t the best match. I tried, I did love him, but it was dragging me down. He was so serious. So controlled. Every time I’d try to leave, he wouldn’t accept it. He’d make me feel so guilty and convince me I was wrong, so I’d end up staying.”
Scarlett squeezes me softly to let me know she’s still listening.
“I finally decided that it wasn’t fair for me to keep staying with him, when I wasn’t truly happy, so I told him it was over. My fault was that I did do it in the car, just like he said. He got angry, wouldn’t take it, and then told me to pull over so we could talk. I said we’d wait until we got home and he pulled on the wheel, screaming at me to pull over. The car lost control.”