Chapter 2
1049 Words
As Charlie walked down the staircase, silent-minded, her legs could no longer carry the weight of her wounded heart.
She knew she had made a hasty decision. How on earth could she have trusted a stranger that much with her heart? But she didn't expect this tragic turn of events.
A final goodbye is very painful to behold when it sounds more like a deliberate betrayal.
She tried to brush it off. “Moreover, it isn’t my first heartbreak,” she said as her heart pounded hastily.
But her self-assurance didn’t help her ease the tension.
As she walked down the streets of Paris, depression fell on her like the morning dew.
The city buzzed with fun, and everyone seemed to feel the energy except Charlie, who was already a shadow of herself.
Suddenly, her phone rang, and she woke up from her absentmindedness. She pulled it out, expecting an apology from Gabriel.
Instead, it was a short message from her close friend Mabel.
“I’ve been trying to reach you, Charlie. Are you okay? Call me when you get this.”
Charlie knew Mabel cared for her, but the last thing she wanted to discuss with anyone at that moment was her encounter with Gabriel.
But she knew Mabel so well that she would notice no matter how hard she tried to sweep it under the carpet.
With a sigh, Charlie quickly typed a reply. “I’m fine!" I just had a bad night with someone.
After 20 minutes, Mabel replied, "what happened? Did he hurt you?"
Charlie stared at her phone. Confusion was written all over her face.
She wanted to tell Mabel everything that happened. But she hesitated for a while.
Is this not foolishness? She wondered. How could she tell her best friend that she was foolish enough to trust her stranger and allow him to explore her heart one night?
It’s nothing serious. I just want to have some rest. I’ll be fine! I’ll call you later!!” She replied quickly.
But she knew Mabel too well. She wouldn’t forget in haste.
As she walked through the city, the noise was deafening to her. Although vehicles drove past her in seconds and people seemed to be cheerful around her. But she was too broken to notice anything.
The thought of the past night filled her wounded heart. She remembered the passionate kiss and how he swept her off her feet.
She couldn’t imagine that all these were now sad memories that she would forcefully erase from her fragile heart too soon.
Suddenly, the buzz from her phone jerked her from her thoughts. She took it out of her bag as she expected another reply from Mabel.
Instead, it was an anonymous message. "Charlie, I’m sorry." We need to talk. I didn't mean to hurt you.
The words sent shivers down her spine. She didn’t know whether to be angry or excited. The two emotions fought for attention in her fragile heart.
She suspected it to be Gabriel. But something was off. The message seemed rehearsed and cold.
She knew this wasn't an apology. He was just trying hard to cover his tracks and hurt her even further.
She heaved a sigh of regret as she read the message over and over again. Was he expecting her to forgive him all of a sudden?
Just as she was battling with her thoughts. She jerked from another buzz. "Charlie, please, I can explain." I don't want you to feel it was deliberate. Can we meet to discuss this?”
Charlie was confused. A part of her wanted to believe him, while the other part was screaming for vengeance.
But what if he was telling the truth? What if he was truly sorry for the hurt and pain he inflicted on her?
The silent voice of revenge and rage in her heart became louder this time. No! The voice screamed. Don't believe him. He is a liar. If you fall for this, you will regret it again.
But that wasn’t enough to quench the fire of love that took deep roots in her heart. She tried deleting the message, but her guts were strong enough. Her thoughts were like a warzone.
Suddenly, her phone rang.
When she saw the name on the screen, her heart nearly jumped out of her mouth.
Gabriel.
Her heart froze as she stared at the screen. She wanted to end the call without answering. But on a second thought, she summoned the courage to pick.
“Charlie. Gabriel uttered slowly. “Please hear me out.” Don’t end the call on me.
Charlie was silent for a few seconds. A part of her wanted to yell at him and warn him to stay away from her.
But she couldn’t. The other part wanted to give him a second chance. But this time, without the power to hurt her fragile heart again.
Her voice came as a whisper. “What do you want from me?”
“I’m sorry,” he whispered again, his words still seemed practiced and cold. “I don't want us to end it this way,” Gabriel whispered again.
“But you ended it,” she yelled without knowing.
“You are sorry for what exactly?” Charlie yelled again. Her voice shook from intense anger and bitterness.
There was a long silence from both ends.
“Charlie, please, can we meet?” Gabriel whispered again.
She was silent again. A part of her wanted to agree and fix a time immediately. But she was too scared of the future.
“I don't want to ever see you again, get lost,” she yelled amidst tears.
There was a longer silence this time.
Charlie heaved a sigh of pain. She wanted to tell him how hurt she felt. She swallowed hard. And before Gabriel could utter a word, she ended the call with her final words, “Goodbye, Gabriel.”
Charlie held her phone tightly in her hands. She wished she had believed him. But she was still careless about how he felt. Once again, anger and regret began fighting for attention in her fragile heart.
She realized how much she wanted to believe him. But now, all she is left with are echoes of his faint whispers.
- Writer
