Unfollowing My Ex

Day 2

No matter what is going in my life, I sleep when I go to bed. The firm kept us working at all times of the day and night trying to meet deadlines, but when I finally get ready to sleep, I sleep. So, regardless of the heartache I was feeling due to the breakup with Reed, I slept. I had trained my body to sleep for the few hours that it would get, so heartache aside, I got the rest I needed.

Then morning came.

The pain was there. It felt like I was a beauty queen who had achieved top scores in every category but one, and that one kept me from getting the crown. You know, I lost by one-one hundredth of a point to someone with just the “thing” the judges did not even know they were looking for, but she had it.

I rolled out of bed, said “Thank you for this day”, washed my face, and strolled to the kitchen to fix some tea. While fixing my morning wake-up elixir, the

doorbell rang. I wondered who would be at my door at that time—okay, it wasn’t that early—of the morning, I attempted to fix the hair that was pressed on my head like a Chia Pet that got mixed up on the planned growth pattern.

Looking out the window, I saw another delivery guy with a huge bouquet of flowers. Resigned, I opened the door.

“Good morning. May I help you?” “Delivery for Ms. Aubrey Sanders, please.” “I’m Aubrey.”

“These are for you. It’s rather heavy, Ms. Sanders. Would you like to put them inside and then sign?”

“Sure. I guess…” I had an idea of who had sent these as Reed had sent flowers many times during the months we dated.

I returned to sign the delivery slip.

“Thank you, Ma’am. Enjoy the flowers, and have

a great day!” he said.

“Well, you do the same,” I replied

unenthusiastically.

I closed the door and walked past the flowers. I didn’t need to see who they were from. I knew. And, I did not want to know what he had to say. I didn’t care. That was the lie I told myself as the scent of the bouquet filled the foyer with its sweet scent. Tulips, roses, carnations, lilies, peonies…really, the bouquet was completely over the top in a Reed kind of way. The man

had an unexpected flair for the dramatic and extravagant.

I sipped my tea and ate a croissant with jam while the picture of the bouquet ran through my mind like a movie reel. My phone pinged. Really!

Reed: Aubrey, good morning. I hope you are well. Me: Reed. You really shouldn’t have sent the flowers. Reed: Yes, I should have.

Me: What do you want, Reed? Reed: I want to see you, Aubrey.

Me: There is nothing to say. You’re still going back to the

East Coast, right?

Reed: Yes. It’s my career.

Me: I know. I understand that. I’ve no problem with that.

That is not the issue.

Reed: Aubrey, may I come see you?

Me: I don’t think that is best for either of us.

Reed: Aubrey, I’m leaving in two weeks. I need to see

you before I leave.

Me: Reed, I think a clean break is best.

Reed: So, you just decided to break us up with no input from me?

Me: Really?

Reed: Aubrey, grown people discuss things. They don’t just end relationships without talking to the other person— especially, good relationships.

Me: Reed, don’t make me tell you something that I might

regret later.

Reed: Aubrey. Don’t do this. Don’t do this to us.

Me: Bye, Reed.

That exchange completely rattled me. I reclined

on the couch for rest of the day, flipping through channels, crying, unfollowing more of Reed’s family and friends. His cousin Janet was as bold as his Aunt Celeste. “Aubrey!” she yelled through the phone after I

answered her call.

“What, Janet? Why are you yelling?”

“I don’t have time to beat around the bush. Are you really going to not let Reed explain?” she exclaimed. “Explain what? How he decided that it made

sense to not say a word about the possibility of him moving back to the DMV? How he kept that information to himself for over a month?”

“I know it sounds bad, Aubrey. But, he didn’t know how to tell you. He loves you, Aubrey.”

“He didn’t know how? How about “Aubrey, there’s a chance I may be moving back to the East Coast. I’m up for a promotion.””

“Well, yeah, he could’ve said that. I think he should’ve, but he didn’t, so give him a chance to explain.”

“Reed has had the chances he’s going to get. I can’t do this, Janet. I will not do this with Reed.”

“Don’t shut him out, Aubrey. He needs you.” “No, I don’t think so.”

“You’re going to toss what you had away—just like that? You two love each other. Don’t do this.”

“Funny. That’s what he said this morning. “Don’t do this.” You Reeds stick together. Your Aunt Celeste called me yesterday.”

“We Reeds do stick together, but we gave him the

business for being so stupid, too.”

“Well, no argument from me on that.”

“Aubrey,” Janet begged. “Give him a chance.” “Janet. No. Bye.”

I tapped the red off button on my phone, disconnecting the call and myself from her pleas for second chances. What is it with his family?