The headlights of Ray’s car lingered, casting long shadows even after I turned onto the next street. He hadn’t moved an inch. But I didn’t care. He clearly didn’t see me as a person, just something he could toy with.
When I got to the house, I realized the entrance gate was already closed. Frustrated, I called Jessica to get the security man to open it, but she hung up immediately and sent me a text.”Where are you? I can’t speak right now-I’m with your Dad, and he’s asking to talk to you,” the text read.”Oh, shoot,” I muttered, Ray slipping from my thoughts entirely.
I needed to get into the house one way or another. I tossed my shoes over the fence and tried to climb it, but I was too short. No matter how high I jumped, I couldn’t reach the top.
Spotting a nearby stone, I dragged it close to the fence. Standing on it gave me just enough height to grab onto the fence. I swung one leg over, straddling the top, but a new problem arose-getting down.
The drop was high enough to risk spraining my ankle. My phone beeped again. Jess, no doubt. Without further thought, I jumped, scraping my knee in the process. I winced but ignored the pain, quickly slipping on my shoes and sprinting to the main house.
“I’m outside,” I texted back.
“I left the back door open. You can get in through there.”
“Alright, thanks.”I sneaked around to the back, slipping inside as quietly as I could.
The moment I stepped in, I was confronted by my lovely sister, Emma.”And where do you think you’re sneaking to? Or rather, from?” she asked, arms crossed, a smug grin on her face.
“It’s none of your business,” I scoffed, trying to brush past her.”Oh, well, I’m sure it’ll be Dad’s business since it isn’t mine. Daaad…” she began to shout.
“Hush, hush!” I rushed toward her, trying to cover her mouth.
“Get your hands off me and stop trying to stop me,” she snapped, pushing me away before I could reach her.
“Fine, do as you please,” I said, walking away.
“Everyone, come look who’s sneaking into the house at 11 p. m.!” she called out behind me, but I didn’t bother to turn. What’s the worst that could happen? I’m already being sent to Paris, after all. What other punishment could be worse than that? I couldn’t think of anything else.
As I reached the top of the stairs, I saw my dad standing there, his expression as serious as ever.
“I recall telling you not to step out of this house just this morning, and you chose to do otherwise…” he began.
“I’m sorry, Dad. It’s my last day in town, and I wanted to see the city one last time before leaving.”
He stared at me, his eyes searching mine, likely trying to see through my lie. After a few seconds, he exhaled slowly.
“Everything I’m doing, Nora, is for your own good. As much as it hurts, and as much as I’d like to punish you, you’re my little princess. I can’t see you hurting and do nothing. That’s why it’s best for you to go through with all that I’ve planned.”
“I understand, Dad. I don’t intend to do otherwise.”
“Good,” he said, patting my shoulder as he walked down the stairs. When I got to my room, Jess was seated on the bed, looking at me with a mix of relief and exasperation.
“I think you’re making it a habit to get me worried all the time. Do you intend to give me a heart attack?” she scolded.
“It would be nice if you stopped shouting at me and helped me pack,” I replied, rolling my eyes.”Help you pack? Pack for where?”
“I’m going to Paris tomorrow.”
“What? Why Paris?” Jessica asked, her face a picture of confusion.
“My dad’s made all the arrangements. I’m leaving tomorrow. He says it’s for the best…”
“And I’m just finding out now?” she asked, clearly upset.
“I only found out this morning too. There’s not much I can say or do about it… I just want to face everything with a positive attitude,” I said, trying to muster a smile.
“This isn’t something you just ‘face with positivity,’ Nora! You can’t even speak French! Why Paris? Why not somewhere else where you can blend in?”
“I guess the French aspect is my punishment, and the going away is for my own good…” I said, laughing bitterly at the twisted logic my dad had used.
“I’m going to miss you a lot, Nora. When will you be back?””I have no idea…”
I shrugged, trying to act like it was no big deal. But deep down, all I wanted was to be alone, to cry my eyes out and hope it would ease the ache in my heart. Jessica scooted closer and pulled me into a tight hug.
“I’m going to miss you, Nora. You’re the strongest girl I know, and I’ll always love you. No matter what, I’ll always be your best friend.”
Tears welled up in my eyes as I hugged her back. “I love you too, Jess.”We stayed like that for what felt like forever until I finally pulled away.
“Alright, alright, these clothes aren’t going to pack themselves…” We both burst into laughter as we started packing my stuff.
I and Jessica packed till almost 4am, in every other situation I’ll be doing this in like two weeks before my departure, now I have to do all of these in one night.
“Alright, that will be all for tonight, we should go to bed, you have a long day ahead.” Jessica said.. And I nodded at her.
She’s right, tomorrow or rather today, is going to be a very long day and I have no idea what it holds for me, I’m sad for so many reasons, but reason number one remains the fact that Ray broke my trust, I had bet everything on him and didn’t realize how foolish I was.
I’m going to see this as a new chapter in my life, Paris can’t be all that bad, can it ?
There’s the Eiffel tower and so many nice restaurant, it could be the vacation I’ve always wanted.
All of these thoughts ran through my head as I lay to sleep, I believe only positivity can get me through all of these.
As for Raymond and Jake, well, they don’t exist to me anymore.