We were lounging in my room, laughing and talking, enjoying each other’s company. Rome was teasing me about my favorite TV show, and I was playfully defending my obsession. It was a carefree moment, one that I cherished.
But suddenly, Rome’s expression changed. He looked serious, his eyes distant. “I’ll be right back,” he said, standing up. “I need to get something.”
I raised an eyebrow, curious. “What is it?”
He hesitated, then smiled. “Just something I forgot. I’ll be back in a minute.”
I nodded, standing up as well. “I’ll come with you. I need to get some water anyway.”
Rome nodded, and we both exited my room, walking side by side down the hallway. I noticed that Rome seemed lost in thought, his eyes fixed on some point ahead. I wondered what was bothering him, but I didn’t press the issue.
As we reached the kitchen, Rome stopped abruptly. “Actually, I’ll meet you back in your room. I need to… take care of something.”
I frowned, feeling a sense of unease. “Okay… sure.”
Rome nodded and turned away, leaving me standing alone in the kitchen. I shrugged, thinking maybe he needed some privacy. I filled a glass with water and headed back to my room, wondering what Rome was up to.
I waited in my room, sipping my water and checking my phone for what felt like the hundredth time. Rome had said he’d be right back, but that was ages ago. I began to feel a nagging sense of unease, wondering what was taking him so long.
At first, I thought maybe he’d gotten caught up in a phone call or was dealing with an emergency. But as the minutes ticked by, I started to feel a growing sense of anxiety. Where was he? Why was he taking so long?
I paced back and forth in my room, trying to shake off the feeling of unease. I told myself I was being silly, that Rome would walk through the door any moment with a smile on his face. But as the silence stretched on, my mind started to wander.
Was he okay? Had something happened to him? And why had he been so secretive about what he needed to take care of?
I tried to push aside the thoughts, focusing on the TV show I’d been watching earlier. But my eyes kept drifting to the clock, my mind calculating the minutes since Rome had left.
Twenty minutes. Thirty minutes. Forty-five minutes.
Where was he?
I felt a knot forming in my stomach, a sense of unease that I couldn’t shake. Something didn’t feel right.
I couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was off. Rome had been gone for too long, and my mind was racing with worst-case scenarios. I decided to take matters into my own hands and go looking for him.
I knew he had said he needed to take care of something, but he hadn’t specified what or where. But I had a hunch. I remembered the way he had looked, lost in thought, and the way he had hesitated before leaving my room. It was as if he was drawn to something, or someone.
I made my way through the darkened hallways, my heart pounding in my chest. I was trying to push aside the feeling of unease, telling myself I was being silly, but my instincts were screaming at me to keep going.
I turned a corner, and suddenly I knew where I was. This was the part of the house that Rome had avoided, the part that seemed frozen in time. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I approached the door to the room.
It was slightly ajar, and I pushed it open slowly, my eyes adjusting to the dim light inside. And then I saw him. Rome was standing in the center of the room, his eyes closed, his face tilted upwards as if he was savoring a memory.
My heart skipped a beat as I took in the scene before me. The room was a shrine to his late wife, every surface covered in photos, mementos, and memories. And Rome was standing there, lost in the past, holding onto something that was long gone.
I felt a pang of sadness, mixed with a sense of betrayal. Why had he come here, to this place, Why was he still holding onto the past, when we had a future to build together? I know he had the right to think about his late wife but it’s been a year now. And he was with me…
I took a step forward, my foot creaking on the floorboard, and Rome’s eyes snapped open. He looked at me, his expression puzzled.
I couldn’t bear to stay in that room a moment longer. I turned and ran, my feet pounding the floor as I fled back to the safety of my own room. I slammed the door shut behind me, leaning against it as if to barricade myself from the pain and confusion that threatened to overwhelm me.
I didn’t know how long I stood there, trying to catch my breath and process what I had just seen. But eventually, I heard the door open behind me. I didn’t turn around, knowing it was Rome.
He didn’t say a word. He just stood there, his presence filling the room. I could feel his eyes on me, but I refused to turn around. I couldn’t bear to look at him right now.
After what felt like an eternity, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving me alone once again. I collapsed onto my bed, feeling like I’d been punched in the gut.
Moments later, I heard the sound of his car starting in the garage. He was leaving. Without a word, without an explanation. Just like that, he was gone.
I lay there, feeling numb and alone, wondering what the future held for us. Had I been blind to his lingering feelings for his late wife? Was our relationship doomed from the start?
The questions swirled in my head, but I had no answers. All I knew was that Rome was gone, and I was left to pick up the pieces of my shattered heart.
~~
As the doorbell chimed, interrupting the silence that hung heavy in the air, I hesitated before answering, unsure if I was ready to face the world outside. But when I saw Camilla’s familiar face through the peephole, concern etched into her features, I knew I couldn’t keep hiding.
I opened the door to find Camilla standing there, her usual vibrant energy slightly subdued as she took in my disheveled appearance. “Hey, Phoenix. Are you alright?” she asked, her voice filled with genuine concern.
I managed a weak smile, trying to mask the turmoil raging within me. “Hey, Camilla. Yeah, I’m… I’m okay,” I lied, knowing she could see right through me.
But Camilla wasn’t fooled. She stepped inside, her gaze never leaving mine as she silently assessed the situation. “You don’t have to pretend with me, Phoenix,” she said gently. “I can see that something’s wrong.”
As we settled down in the living room, Camilla’s presence offered a glimmer of solace in the midst of my inner turmoil. I knew I had to tell her what happened, to finally release the weight of my burden and share it with someone who cared.
“Camilla,” I began, my voice trembling with the raw emotion that threatened to spill over, “I need to tell you what happened with Rome.”
Camilla listened attentively as I recounted the events of Rome’s sudden departure without explanation, my words stumbling over each other in my haste to get them out. Tears welled up in my eyes as I relived the pain of his abandonment, the betrayal still fresh in my mind.
“I thought we had something special, Camilla,” I confessed, my voice barely above a whisper. “But now… I don’t know what to think. Did I do something wrong? Was I not enough?”
Camilla’s eyes softened with empathy as she reached out to take my hand in hers, offering silent comfort and understanding. “Oh, Phoenix,” she murmured, her voice filled with compassion. “You did nothing wrong. Rome’s actions are his own, and whatever his reasons are, it’s not fair to leave you in the dark like this.”
I nodded, grateful for her support as I struggled to make sense of the chaos swirling within me. “I just don’t understand why he couldn’t give me an explanation,” I confessed, my voice trembling with frustration. “I thought he cared about me, but … now… I’m not so sure.”
Camilla squeezed my hand gently, her touch a reassuring anchor amidst the storm of my emotions. “Sometimes, people have their own struggles that they don’t know how to deal with,” she said softly. “But that doesn’t excuse them from hurting others in the process.”
Her words resonated with me, offering a sliver of clarity amidst the confusion that clouded my mind.
“You’re right,” I admitted, wiping away the tears that stained my cheeks. “I deserve better than someone who can’t even give me the decency of an explanation.”
With Camilla by my side, I felt a sense of strength and resilience wash over me. Though the pain of Rome’s departure still gnawed at my heart, I knew that with her support, I would find the courage to face whatever lay ahead.
“Thank you, Camilla,” I whispered, gratitude swelling within me. “Thank you for listening to my problems.”
She smiled softly, her eyes filled with unwavering loyalty. “You don’t have to worry Phoenix. You are like my sister now!!”
I smiled warmly before wrapping her in a hug, knowing she was one of the nicest people I knew.
“How long until you have this baby?” she asked, breaking the embrace.
“Next week, why?” I replied, curious about her question.
“You’re becoming so biggggg,” she teased, letting out a laugh.
“Well, I can’t wait for you to be pregnant so I can laugh at you,” I joked, playfully rolling my eyes.
“Me? No, I won’t. I’ll be independent forever,” she declared, a hint of determination in her tone, making me chuckle.
“You’re so funny,” I remarked, smiling at her infectious humor.
“Let’s go have some fun and forget about that chipmunk,” she suggested, earning another laugh from me.
“A chipmunk?” I questioned, still amused by her choice of words.
“Of course. He is,” she affirmed, and we both laughed again, the tension of the moment dissipating.
“Let’s go eat,” I suggested, standing up, and she followed suit.
“Wait,” she said, causing me to turn back to her.
“What?” I asked, curious about her sudden pause.
“I think you peed on yourself,” she pointed out, her finger directed towards the couch.
What? I peed?
“Oh lord. I am so embarrassed right now,” I exclaimed, feeling a flush of embarrassment creeping up my cheeks as I approached the chair to inspect the damage.
“Damn, this is one of the reasons why I don’t want to get pregnant,” she remarked with a grin, and we both shared another round of laughter, grateful for the lighthearted moment amidst the embarrassment.
As we laughed off the mishap, I tried to shake off the embarrassment, but suddenly, a sharp pressure on my abdomen caught me off guard.
“Camilla,” I gasped, my voice strained with discomfort, “what… what’s happening?”
Camilla’s eyes widened in alarm as she rushed to my side. “I don’t know, Phoenix. Are you okay? Do you feel anything?”
I shook my head, confusion and panic swirling inside me. “I… I don’t know. It hurts, Camilla. My stomach really hurts.”
Camilla’s brow furrowed with concern as she tried to assess the situation. “Okay, okay, let’s just take a deep breath. Maybe it’s just… maybe it’s just a cramp or something.”
But before we could process what was happening, another wave of pressure washed over me, stronger this time, accompanied by an unmistakable sensation of pushing from within.
“Camilla,” I exclaimed, my voice tinged with panic, “I think… I think I’m in labor.”
Camilla’s eyes widened in disbelief, her own panic mirroring mine. “What? But… but it’s too soon, isn’t it?”
I nodded, the reality of the situation sinking in as the contractions continued to intensify. “I… I think so. But I can’t… I can’t ignore this, Camilla. We need to get help, I need Rome” I screamed.
TBC