Irrevocably Mine

Chapter Five - Twenty-Four Hours Asleep

Eden

Surprisingly, I slept. I didn't think I would. When I laid my head on the arm of the couch, I thought I would lie awake thinking of my crapy life, crying and panicking about where or how to begin again. I imagine I would have slept longer if there wasn't a loud, persistent pound on my door.

Who the hell could it be? I came at night when everyone was asleep. For a fraction of a second, I was afraid Luke's people—for I knew he had hired a private investigator— might have found out where I was.

The knocking continued.

I swore as I sat up, running my hands through my still neat braids, groaning when I felt dizzy, maybe from promptly standing. I held my head with both hands, closing my eyes while standing in the same spot, waiting for the feeling to stop.

The knocker was a persistent bastard because he did not pause to think, perhaps to give me some time to walk to the door.

Once I stopped feeling like falling over my feet, I quickly walked to the door, twisted the lock, and pulled it open, an annoyed scowl on my face to give whoever it was a piece of my mind.

But it wasn't a man or Luke; it was my soulmate—Angelina Mancini. She is my best friend, my shoulder to cry on, the one who is always on my side no matter what. I leaped into her arms, making us almost fall over the front of the house. I cried my heart out. I didn't care that a few of my neighbors were outside in their pajamas, staring at us like we were free entertainment. I had cried since leaving Luke, but crying on Angelina's shoulder felt different. Like I was no longer alone.

"It's okay, honey. Let's get into the house." I allowed her to pull me back inside, remaining so close as if I worried she might be a figment of my imagination.

She pushed me into the couch that I had slept on and then walked to open the curtains.

Sunlight filled the room. It looked beautiful, shining with a promise, lifting the forlorn from my head, albeit temporarily.

"How did you know I was here? I asked after I had watched the sunshine inside the dirty living room.

" Luke called me."

Panic rolled inside my body. "Does he know I'm here?" I asked in a small, terrified voice, tucking my legs underneath.

"I don't think he does. He called me fuming, accusing me of hiding you."

She rolled her eyes dramatically.

"I told him I wasn't even aware you left him. I was so shocked and angry that you hadn't told me, worried I couldn't reach you. "

"I'm sorry. It was so sudden. My world turned upside down in less than a minute. I still haven't processed it."

Angelina gave me a sympathetic look. I would have hated it if it was from someone else. I didn't mind her, though.

"Tell me what happened while we clean up this dump."

"Heh, I said, feeling affronted that she would call this house a dump."

"It is, honey, don't argue a fact. But once we clean it up, it will look like a safe haven which is what you require right now. "

She was right. Although she was younger than I was, Angelina was meticulous, responsible, and ordered. Sometimes it felt as if she were older than I was. She had a way of protecting me, taking care of me when I needed it.

"When did he call you?" I asked, dragging myself from the couch, hitting my toe on my suitcase.

"Yesterday, around mid-morning," Angelina replied, passing by me, and looking through the house, probably trying to work out a plan for where to begin.

"What do you mean yesterday around mid-morning? I left him in the evening."

She turned, squinting her eyes, a furrow on her forehead as if she was trying to see something hard to find on my face.

"What?" I asked in a weak tone, almost fidgeting at the intensity of her stare.

"You have been asleep for more than twenty-four hours?"

My eyes widened. Of course not. That couldn't be true; I just came in yesterday night. No way I would have slept on that couch for that long without waking up, stretching my neck from straining.

"No, I haven't. I came in yesterday around three in the morning. " I argued, walking to stand beside her, my head on the wall.

She didn't say anything at first; she just placed the back of her hand on my forehead.

"No fever. Are you sick? Feel any pain?

I shook my head. " Just heartbreak." My voice broke when I said that.

"What did he do?" I guess she'd changed her mind. We would talk first instead of cleaning.

"He cheated on me with his secretary." Tears streamed down my face again. I was getting tired of crying over a cheating bastard. He didn't deserve my tears.

"Did someone tell you?"

"No, I saw them," I replied while shaking my head incessantly.

"Son of a b***h!" She spurts out, anger marring her beautiful face. I found it endearing how angry she got on my behalf.

"He sounded so exasperated on the phone. Like he was the victim."

I shrugged, knowing exactly how he would sound. I left him. He was no longer part of my life.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Although her voice was soft, I noticed hurt. I would have told her, though, I had planned to.

"I wanted to tell you when I woke up today morning."

"You mean yesterday morning."

I let out a soft laugh.

"I can't believe I slept for two days, especially on that dirty couch."

"I guess you were exhausted." She sighed, pulling me into her arms.

She is right. I was tired, physically and emotionally; even my spirit must have been exhausted.

I burrowed into her shoulders, allowing myself to accept comfort and support.