When Forever Calls

Chapter 1

"YOU LYING, DECEITFUL b***h!… SO YOU'VE BEEN CHEATING ON ME?" Ben slammed his fist at the reading lamp on my table, his voice trembling in rage, his teeth clenched.

I froze in my apartment, too stunned to speak; my eyes widened in fear. "Ben," I stuttered.

"How could you do this to me after all I have done for you?" His face was covered with sweat.

Tears streamed down my face as I quickly dropped the phone in my hand. He had been standing there, eavesdropping on my conversation with Marcus on the phone, unknown to me.

"I never want to see you again, Mia!" He said, pointing at me.

"Ben… please!" I pleaded on my knees.

"You're nothing but a fraud. You have the nerve to cheat on me, and then you went ahead and told him that you're only with me for my money?" He slammed his fist on the table again, shattering the reading lamp on the floor, storming out of my room, and disappearing.

I cried helplessly on my bathroom floor, letting the cold, freezing water from the shower wash down the overwhelming sadness that consumed me. The fear of Ben breaking up with me traumatized me, considering how my mother abandoned me after my dad died to marry her new husband just because he didn't want me around.

I lay on my bathroom floor until I heard my phone buzz. Then I got up, allowing myself to breathe again. My swollen eyes made fun of the smile that crept in. I felt a sense of relief once again as I made my way to my phone.

It's Marcus. I smiled and read his text aloud: "Hi, love, I'm sorry about what happened. Are you hurt? Please reply!"

"No, he didn't!" I texted back.

"Okay, I was worried sick about you. I want to let you know that everything will be alright. I'll see you by the weekend."

My heart melted; he always knew what to say to me and when to tell them to me. I never considered loving Marcus as cheating on my boyfriend, Ben. The inexplicable connection between us felt like a spark, as if the universe had brought us together but, firstly, had decided to test our stand.

I ought to have sent something about how I couldn't be happier to see him, but instead, I played my favorite Hanks song and danced myself to sleep.

I woke up the next morning around 8 am, even though I didn't feel like getting up. The thought of being late for work ensured that I was ready to head out by 8:22. It was about a six-minute drive to the bakery where I worked. The scent of flour mixed with butter filled my nostrils, and right there, I realized how hungry I was. I had forgotten to take cereal before leaving home. Quickly, I grabbed some baked cookies and filled myself up with tea.

As someone who works in a bakery and has to deal with the same smell of flour and butter every day, Monday through Friday, I should be repulsed by it, but instead, I could eat them all day. My love for bread and cookies has inspired me to study in France, a dream I'm saving up for, currently.

As I stood there, my closest friend, Anne, approached me with papers in hand, smiling radiantly. At first, I thought I was getting a promotion, but then, I wondered why l would be. Despite consistently defying the manager, James, since I started working here and was given a warning due to my excessive lateness, I've been treading on thin ice.

"Hey Mia," She yelled. "Guess what?"

A paper and a happy face? It better be something good, or what else could I think of?

"You've been…" I hesitated.

"I got a raise, Mia," she jumped in ecstatically.

"What?… wow" I reached for the papers and saw the $35 boldly written.

"Congratulations," I cheered.

"Come on, or they'll think you didn't come today at all," she laughed.

"Who?" I inquired.

"James!" she replied, "He's been asking about you. You can't get fired, and you can't leave me here either."

"I know," I giggled, knowing James couldn't fire me, or at least, he was made not to by Ben, My boyfriend. They've been friends since high school.

"He seemed angry this morning, Mia," Anne whispered as we cleared the oven, pans, and tables to make way for the next batch of freshly baked goods. It's a crucial part of our job, ensuring everything is spotless for the new arrivals.

"Who?" I asked.

"James, who else?" she muttered.

"Oh… why so? Did anything happen?" I asked.

"…I think it has something to do with the supplier… another delay!" she continued. "No, Mia, take this one instead," she said, handing me the saucepans.

"Anne… He found out," I exclaimed, confident enough that she'd know who I was referring to.

"Ben?… How?" She inquired.

"He overheard me on the phone yesterday; I couldn't deny any of it," I said.

"What a scandal! Are you okay? why didn't you call me?" She asked, her voice filled with empathy.

"I did, Anne, and you weren't responding."

"Right! I'm so sorry, and my phone died before I got home. My mom took me to the seamstress, I told you."

"Yes, you did!" I calmly said, letting her know that I wasn't mad at her as I stood, putting the saucepans away in the cupboard.

"So what happened afterward?" she asked, her sudden proximity almost frightening me. For the rest of the day, I felt suffocated by her presence.

"He broke up with me," I said softly.

"No, he can't, I'll go talk to him. Don't worry about it!" She placed her hand on my shoulder, nodding in reassurance.

"It's fine, Anne; I cried in my bathroom," I smiled.

"Awwn… come here," she said, enveloping me in a warm and comforting embrace, as if she had seen my shield and was holding me together when I needed it most and a sense of calmness washed over me.