The Last Time We Loved

Chapter 4

Elara

“Elara,” Aria called out as she came over to me while I cleared out my desk.

I put the last file in the box and turned to her. “I don’t want to hear it, Aria.” I said, picking the box up as I stared at my empty desk.

I had put my heart into this company and my work. I had worked here for five years, done my best while expecting a promotion, but each time it got turned down, and I thought it was because I wasn’t putting in much effort, only to find out I was sleeping with the devil.

“I am not going to talk about Jacob, Elara, I just wanted to say it was reckless what you did at the lobby earlier, kissing that stranger, it was stupid.” Aria told me as I walked toward the exit.

I could see people staring at me, the words must have spread already, how Jacob dumped me, they could even rewrite the script and say I cheated on him so he had to leave me, but I don’t care what story they spread, I was done dealing with Jacob’s bullshit.

“I know, but I don’t regret it.” I answered.

I met Aria on the day we were recruited to join the company, and ever since then, we have put in so much effort together, and she was doing well in her field, she had warned me about Jacob, but I didn’t listen because I was blinded by love, she had received a promotion, while I battled to get one, and now I was fired, I should have listened to her, I messed up.

“I will try talking to Ms. Jane again, this is so unfair…”

I halted and turned to her. “No, don’t.” I met her gaze. “You can’t put your job at risk for me, Aria, if you bring it up, you might get fired as well, so please, just don’t.”

“Aria…”

“Promise me, please.” I told her and she let out a soft sigh.

“I have to go now.” I took my eyes away from her face, I didn’t want her to look at me like that, I don’t want to be pitied, I don’t want sympathy.

It was better acting like it doesn’t hurt me, than acting pathetic.

I walked down the lobby trying not to think about Jacob, we have come a long way together, seven years wasn’t seven days, but they were all the same.

They act like saint when I wasn’t watching, but cheat behind my back, I saw through all his excuses, the mocking smile behind those crocodile tears whenever he promised he wouldn’t flirt with other girls anymore, I forgave him each time even when I caught him in the act.

I should have known better, better not to go with this flow, it hurt me, but what can I say, it wasn’t the first, and that is the reason I won’t give my whole heart away anymore. My inner goddess screamed at me.

I wasn’t ready to be like my mother, she had loved my father all her life, but it all ended with a divorce paper thrown at her face. He had cheated on her, and was still the one who ended it after calling her crazy.

I won’t let myself get hurt like her.

I stepped out through the exit and halted, my gaze fixed at the pouring rain. Great, just what I needed. I groaned in frustration.

I held the box over my head and made a run for the bus station. I was the only one getting off work so early today. It was barely noon and I don’t know how I would face my mother and sister, but I refused to cry.

All life had taught me was to be strong. I was ten when my parent divorced, I had to stay with my mom, watched her get wasted, and took care of my sister, I had aspired to change our life, and make our father regret leaving us, but right now, I was back to square one.

I was drenched when I got home, I stood at the door for a long time, contemplating what to tell my mother, how to explain to her what had just happened.

A sharp cry from inside snapped me out of my thought and I rushed in, pushing the door open. My eyes dilated to see Nora next to my mother who was unconscious on the floor.

I box I held slipped from my hand, hitting my toe, but it didn’t hurt as much as seeing my mother there, barely breathing, I rushed toward her, falling to my knees.

“Elara,” Nora looked at me with white eyes. “Mom isn’t breathing.” She trembled.

“Mom, wake up, mom!” I cried out, as I shook her. “Nora, what’s wrong with her?” I asked and Nora looked at me, she was too stunned to answer.

I fumbled for my phone quickly and called for an ambulance. Fifteen minutes later, I was running down the hospital with the nurses and doctor as they wheeled my mother to the emergency room.

“You have to wait here.” The nurse told me when they approached the emergency room entrance and I turned to Nora who was sobbing, I quickly pulled her into my arms and embraced her as she trembled.

“She just collapsed. I got home from school and… she told me she felt dizzy… then she just fainted.” Nora sobbed. “Elara, mom will be alright right?”

I squeezed my eyes shut. Nora had never experienced fatherly love, she was two when our father left and I had taken care of her more than mom did, and I had tried my best not to let her see mom in her sorry state, but today I was too late, and I could feel all her body tremble as I embraced her.

“She is going to be alright, the doctors will do their best.” I assured her, even when I wasn’t sure, even when I fell like all hell had just broken loose.

The door opened and I rushed over to the doctors who had just stepped out. “How is she?” I could barely recognize my own voice.

“May we speak with you alone?” the male doctor said, settling his eye on me.

“Alone? But I…” Nora stuttered.

“It’s just procedure,” the doctor answered. “We need to speak with the person listed on her primary decision maker, her guardian.”

“That’s me.” I answer, fear hit every nerve of my body, I’m sure this wasn’t good.

Nora squeezed my arms anxiously, but then stepped back as I followed the doctors to the quiet corner of the corridor. “Just tell me how my mother is.” I searched the doctor’s eyes and my whole body froze when they broke the news to me, tears rolled down my cheek, I staggered backward, placing both hands over my lips.