WEIGHT OF FREEDOM
1222 Words
CHAPTER FOUR
Isabella’s POV
Vanessa turned on the car's engine and we drove through the quiet street in silence , she didn’t say a word, and neither did I.
The only sound we could hear was the rain beating the windshield and the windshield wipers moving back and forth.
Things just kept happening so fast,this morning I was still Ethan’s wife now I don’t know if I am a divorcee or someone who will live to see the next day,my life felt like a gamble in the moment, just as I had become a game to Ethan.
On the busy streets, people just went on about their day, I viewed the world through the window as we drove through the city of Chicago,life was teaching me a really hard lesson. One moment you are the happiest person alive, the next anything can literally happen. These people walking along the sidewalks, everyone was probably fighting a hidden battle.
Vanessa broke the silence “Bella” with a worried look.
I turned around to her,I had a blank look and was too exhausted to hide what I was feeling.
”Are you really sure?” with her inquisitive and confused voice.
I knew exactly what she meant by that.
“You think I would make up something like that?” I said rather irritated.
She shook her head immediately.”No, I’m asking because you know this is Ethan we are talking about. He could be many things but not a murderer…”
I let out a bitter laugh that didn’t leave my lips” You know, I thought I knew him too”.
Silence filled the car and Vanessa spoke again “Tell me everything exactly how it happened again “
“Really?” I asked but I understood,it was hard to believe even I myself didn’t fully believe what my ears had heard. I So I narrated everything exactly how it happened from the beginning, how dismissive Ethan has been, the divorce papers, how I ran outside, my not wanting to give up but fight to preserve my home, the phone call and the woman’s voice, every single thing.
She tightened her hands around the steering wheel .“Did he mention your name?”
I paused to recall but no he didn’t.
“No” I said
“How about the woman ?”
“No”
“Then how are you so sure he was actually talking about you?” she asked with so much confusion in her voice.
I turned around to look at her and I even wondered For real” How was I sure he was talking about me?”
“Well, if I calculated right, he just handed me divorce papers I hadn’t signed yet, and then which other woman was in the house ?”
She didn’t answer, like she was really evaluating every other possible situation.
I rolled my eyes “Oh maybe he was referring to you then”.
We both burst out in laughter for a split second then Vanessa’s smile slowly disappeared.
“Did he see you taking the documents?” she asked.
My mind went blank,I tried replaying everything “I … I don’t know “.
“What do you mean by you don’t know Bella?”
“I never saw him leave the room “. I responded with uncertainty.
Vanessa sighed quietly “ That means he probably saw you “.
“No I don’t think he did , please don’t say that “.I said trying not to accept that it was a possibility.
“If he knew or saw me then he knew exactly what I had taken out of that safe , he wouldn’t have let me go right?” I added and turned to Vanessa.
“Right “she answered uncertainly nodding her head.
“Where’s your phone?” she said as her eyes wandered looking for it.
“Right here “I picked it up and showed it to her.
“Turn it off!!! You know better than this girl”. She blurted scolding me.
“You can’t blame me was not in my right senses at the moment “ I replied.
She was right , Ethan can track me down and all my running would be in vain ,if he was really out to get me,my phone being on wouldn’t be helping me in any way.
Just before I switched it off my eyes landed on the message I got earlier.
Marry me.
Vanessa noticed my expression “What is it?”
I handed my phone to her ,her expression showed that she was just as confused as me, she frowned at the message.
“Now I know why you wouldn’t be in your right senses “she said looking at me and handing the phone back over.
“What’s going on?”, “Who sent this?” she asked.
“ I don’t know, it just came in this morning “. I muttered with exhaustion in my voice.
“That’s strange “she murmured.
“ I know “I said faintly.
“For now don’t reply”
“ I wasn’t even planning to at all” I responded rolling my eyes with a sigh.
I turned off the phone and kept it aside.
She drove for a few minutes before speaking again “Where are your bank cards,are they with you?”
I panicked as I quickly searched through my bag and everything was there with me, my wallet, cards, and passport.
“I have everything “I said with a sigh of relief.
“Tomorrow morning we will have to go to the bank “.
“Why?”
“Why? Did you just ask me why?, Why are you acting like a child? Well just in case Ethan tries to play funny”.
“Honestly, I don’t know what Ethan is capable of anymore”. I said with a sigh
“Neither do I” Vanessa replied.
“For the first time in so long, I have no home to go to.”I thought out loud.
“What do you mean by you have no home ?” She looked at me annoyed.
“My home is yours too, don’t forget that”.she added.
Immediately she said that I leaned my head on the window, I almost forgot, if there was one person in the world I believed would always be by my side it was my best friend Vanessa.
“But you know, I can’t go to your place what if Ethan finds me there?”
She kept her eyes on the road “Trust me, Ethan won’t think I’d hide you and you know it, he never looks where he should “.
And we both laughed, because that was so true about Ethan.
We were finally home, and I took a warm bath.
Changed into Vanessa’s loungewear and closed my eyes hoping that sleep that night would help me forget everything.
Instead, I heard them again
“End her life “
I opened my eyes and stared into the darkness ahead.
I ran out of my own home believing I had escaped death, but I had no idea I was heading straight into a much bigger nightmare.
- Writer
