My war
828 Words
I drove without thinking.
I just needed to get to him.
The road blurred beneath me, headlights streaking past like ghosts. My hands gripped the steering wheel too tightly, my knuckles paling as my thoughts spiraled.
How was I supposed to tell him?
How do you look the man you love in the eye and tell him you're about to marry his worst enemy?
My chest tightened.
My breathing hitched.
I barely registered the blaring horns behind me.
"f*****g b***h!" someone yelled as they sped past, but the words barely reached me.
Everything felt distant.
Muted.
Wrong.
I couldn't do this.
I swerved to the side and pulled over, the car jerking to a halt. I pushed the door open and stumbled out.
My chest constricted.
Air.
I needed air.
But it wouldn't come.
My breaths came out short and broken, each one more useless than the last. My hands pressed against my chest as if I could force my lungs to work.
It didn't help.
It never did.
My vision blurred. My knees gave out beneath me as I collapsed onto the pavement.
Cold.
Rough.
Real.
I stayed there, gasping, trembling, unraveling, until slowly, painfully, my breathing began to steady.
By the time I reached Edward's place, everything felt dull, like something inside me had gone quiet.
I checked the time.
A little past ten.
Please be home.
I stepped out of the car, my movements slower now. My clothes were rumpled, my hair a mess. I must have looked like I had just crawled out of a nightmare.
Maybe I had.
I made my way inside.
He wasn't in his study.
So his room.
On my way upstairs, I ran into Miss Greg. She stared at me, her expression caught between concern and confusion.
I gave her a small smile.
She didn't return it.
I didn't blame her.
I stepped into his room quietly.
Empty.
The sound of running water came from the bathroom.
He was inside.
Good.
That gave me time.
I sat on the edge of the bed, my hands clasped tightly together.
Say it.
Just say it.
The words formed in my head again and again.
Edward… I'm getting married.
My throat tightened.
No.
That sounded wrong. Too blunt. Too cruel.
Maybe if I explained it properly…
Maybe if I told him everything…
My thoughts stopped.
Sebastian.
If I could just reach him… talk to him… make him understand…
"Ruthless bastard," I muttered.
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
I didn't feel guilty.
We were nothing to each other. No history. No connection. Just two people tied together by a decision neither of us made.
At least, I hoped so.
There had to be a reason for all this. Something big enough to make my father this desperate.
But whatever it was,
I would find a way out.
I had to.
No one was coming to save me.
Not even Edward.
The bathroom door opened.
My heart stopped.
He stepped out, a towel wrapped around his waist, water trailing down his skin. His hair was damp, his expression relaxed.
Until he saw me.
"Ari?"
Concern replaced everything instantly.
"What's wrong?"
He crossed the room quickly, his hands cupping my face, warm and steady.
And just like that,
I almost broke.
Say it.
The words burned in my throat.
I'm getting married.
Say it.
His eyes searched mine, filled with worry, so painfully genuine it made my chest ache.
I opened my mouth.
Nothing came out.
I just stared at him.
At those eyes.
Those same eyes that had become my safe place.
And all I could think was…
How will they look at me after I tell you?
"Ari…" his voice softened.
He pulled me into his arms, holding me close, one hand resting against the back of my head as he stroked my hair gently.
"It's okay," he murmured.
And that was it.
The dam broke.
Tears spilled over as I clung to him, my body shaking with quiet sobs.
Maybe he was the only thing keeping me from falling apart completely.
Minutes passed.
Or maybe longer.
I didn't know.
At some point, exhaustion took over.
My thoughts slowed.
My body went still.
And without realizing it,
I fell asleep in his arms.
When I woke up, nothing had changed.
The contract still existed.
The wedding was still happening.
And I still hadn't told him.
I stared at the ceiling, my chest heavy.
Telling him now wouldn't change anything.
It would only make things worse.
He would be furious.
He would try to stop it.
And if he did,
Someone would get hurt.
Maybe Sebastian.
Maybe Edward.
Maybe… me.
My fingers curled into the sheets.
No.
This wasn't his fight.
It was mine.
Only I could get myself out of this.
Only I could face what was coming.
I exhaled slowly, forcing the weight down.
This is my war.
And for the first time,
I wasn't going to run.
- Writer
