Run away with me
1133 Words
He was still wearing the ash shirt from the previous day, his tie and coat were tossed carelessly on the sofa, his handsome face was pale now and clouded and his eyes had eye bags.
It seemed like he had been waiting here all night.
Ariel glanced at the ashtray on the dining table and it was filled with cigarette butts, her heart twisted for a moment, something tender almost surfaced then she shoved it down. Why was she still having a soft spot for him?
Without a word, she bent to change her shoes, pretending he wasn’t there.
“Where were you last night? Why didn't you take my calls?” Mason’s voice boomed.
Ariel’s lips curved into something that wasn’t quite a smile. “Where do you think a young, drunk woman would go after a heart break?”
The edge in her tone made his jaw tighten. “Ariel!” His voice rose, almost breaking.
She yawned deliberately, keeping her expression lazy. “I need to sleep please. If you don’t have anything useful to say, leave. I need rest.”
That pushed him over. He shot up, striding forward, and held her arm. His grip was tight, almost trembling with restraint. Her eyes bored into his, and for a split second, all the years they had shared together came rushing in. All their childhood summers, ten stolen years of secret love.
It almost felt like yesterday had been a bad dream.
But reality was merciless. Ariel's expression changed into something blank. “Mason,” she whispered, “the moment you proposed to Brittany, everything between us ended. You are nothing more than my ex-fiance now. So tell me what you are doing here, what exactly do you want?”
The word ‘EX’ made Mason free her arms.
His gaze swept her face, searching for a sign that she didn’t mean it. Then suddenly, he leaned in, his lips crashing toward hers.
She pulled away, spitting like he disgusted her. As much as she wanted it, he wasn't hers anymore.
“Are you insane? What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“I miss you,” he said hoarsely, refusing to let go. He sneaked his hands round her waist, his mouth brushing closer, relentlessly.
Her voice trembled with fury, pulling herself away from him. “Leave my house now!”
He ignored her. He caught her wrists and pinned them, his eyes blazing with something dark. “Ariel, you are mine. Always mine. No one else can have you. Do you understand that.”
Laughter broke from her mouth. You're really miserable. She spat. “You bastard, you cheated on me and now I'm yours?”
He pulled her into another embrace, his voice cracking this time. “Please. Let me explain. Just once.”
Ariel’s strength faltered. Ten years, ten whole years of love didn’t dissolve easily. Her chest burned as tears pricked her eyes, but she tore herself free with everything she had.
Her fists clenched at her sides. She bit her lip hard, holding back the sob threatening to break loose.
And still he leaned forward, kissing her with a softness that broke her heart all over again. His breath brushed her lips as he murmured, “I still love you.”
The tears slipped free. Ariel closed her eyes. If only love was enough.
Her voice came out raw. “Mason, I’m not a child. Don’t coddle me. Don’t make this harder. We’re adults. Let’s end this with dignity.”
“We shouldn't Ariel.” He pleaded.
she stared at him, her eyes filled with pain. “Do you really expect me to watch the man I’ve loved for ten years marry someone else, and then settle for being his mistress? Is that what you want from me?”
He said nothing. He just stared at her like he never want to let her go.
She pushed him away, harder this time, as if pushing her own heart out of her chest. She turned, grabbed a bottle of water, and swallowed hard against the sob clawing its way up her throat.
“Ariel,” Mason said softly, almost pleading, “you don’t mean it. You won’t leave me right?”
His blind confidence tore something inside her. She chuckled shaking her head. “If you love me, don’t marry Brittany. Otherwise, you’ve lost me. I will never forgive you and I will never be your mistress.”
The words burned her tongue, but she meant every syllable.
Mason’s eyes darkened. His voice dropped. “You don’t understand. I have to marry her. Just give me two years. Two years, and I’ll come back to you. I’ll marry you then. You’ll have your rightful place.”
Her chest caved in. “Two years? Another Two years” she whispered. “And what about Brittany? She’s innocent, Mason. She doesn’t deserve to be dragged into this.”
She stepped closer, desperate, her voice breaking. “Run away with me Mason, Let’s leave this place. Just the two of us. We can start over somewhere no one knows us. Mason, don’t marry her. Please.”
But he only shook his head, anguish tightening his features. “Ariel, you more than anyone should know how hard I’ve fought for this. If I don’t marry Brittany, I lose everything. My father’s company, the future I’ve worked for, it all goes to my step brother. You should be standing beside me, supporting me, not against me.”
His words shot a bullet into her heart, he chose his father's company over her once again. She had admired his ambition but now it disgusted her.
Her heart hardened. Without another word, she turned and walked to her bedroom. Mason followed, but she spun on him, her eyes like ice.
“Don’t push me.” Her voice was sharp and final. “Get out. I don’t want to see you again.”
The door slammed shut in his face.
Mason stood in the hallway, his fists clenching and unclenching.
Inside, Ariel staggered into the bathroom. She twisted the shower knob, let the icy water pour down her body, numbing her skin, drowning her sobs. She didn’t know how long she stood there, whether the wetness on her face was more water or more tears.
It felt like her heart was being crushed in a stranger’s hand.
By the time she finally pulled herself together and changed clothes, the living room was empty. Mason was gone.
All that remained was the stale smoke in the ashtray, the mess he left behind, and the wreckage of her heart.
Her phone rang suddenly, startling her. For a fleeting second, her chest leapt, Mason but when she answered, disappointment flooded her all over again.
- Writer
