The Wrong Bride

Distances

Eddy's POV

I woke up and glanced at the clock. It was nine in the morning. I cursed and hurried off to the bathroom. I have to be at work in an hour. I work part time at the public library for weekends.

It's been a crazy week. With loads of assignment and assessment tests. I have been studying until five in the morning, I thought I'll wake up in three hours but I'm an hour late.

I went to the shower and started rubbing myself. My whole body was aching with exhaustion. With college and my job, I barely get time for myself. I know I should not work myself too hard but God I need the money for the rent.

It's very lonely too. Earlier with Maria and Elly at least I had someone to talk to. But now I have no one.

I remembered Elly's face, so cute and innocent. She barely calls me now. I know it's because of that Costas, he wouldn't let her call me.

That bloody Costas, he behaves as if he owns her. If only I would have told her of my feelings sooner.

I came out of the shower and wrapped a towel around my waist when I heard the door bell ring. I wondered who it must be at such an early hour.

I went to the main hall towards the door. I opened the door to find someone lunging towards me, hands around my neck. I found myself on the ground. I looked to find the owner of the hand and found none other than...

Costas

Why was I thinking about him this morning?

"Uh.. what are...you doing...get off me", I tried to manage as his hands were still choking me.

"Where. The. F-uck. Is. Elly?", he said in his menacing tone.

His hands loosened a bit around my neck. "Well I would be much more equipped to tell you anything when your body is not pressing against mine and your hands are not choking me."

He sighed and let go of my neck and got off me. I started getting up. Huh speak? Oh I'll speak and I'll start by telling him to get the hell out of my house.

When I got up, I saw two big bodyguards standing near the door. Well I guess Its probably better if I speak whatever he is asking.

I looked at Damianos. His eyes were red and have big bags under his eyes as if he hasn't slept in many days. He looked much older than his age. Huh, so much for being a billionaire.

"Where is Elly?", he pressed.

Suddenly I realized what he was asking. Where is Elly? How would I know? Last time I checked. He was her husband not me!

"What do you mean where is Elly, she should be with you".

"Don't talk round just answer the question. Where is she?"

"How the hell would I know? She's not here."

He turned towards his bodyguards and nodded. They all started towards the room, searching.

"Hey where are you going?" I yelled from behind, "she is not here", I said to Costas.

"She always runs to you. Don't think you can hide her", he barked.

"So, she left you? Finally, she got some sense in her", I grinned.

I barely finished my sentence when I felt a punch land on my face and I fell on the couch. I heard the voice from behind, "sir she's not here. Neither is her luggage".

"Where is she Eddy? Tell me, I'm losing my patience", his face close to me, his nostrils flaring.

"How the hell would I tell you that, when I don't know that she's even missing in the first place?", I cried feeling helpless at the situation.

When he heard what I said, his expression changed, from anger into a sad helplessness. Maybe because even he knows that she is not here.

He sat on the couch and put his hands on his head. But didn't say anything.

Okay I really don't care if he's upset. Hell, I couldn't be happier if he is upset. But right now, his mood is giving me warning signals. It could only mean...

Elly

"Elly is really gone?", I asked horrified.

He gave me a look. Of course, that's why he's here. What a stupid question.

I knew we don't see eye to eye with each other but to find Elly, I would do anything.

#*#*#*

Elly's POV

New York is expensive. Period.

When I came from home, I was so confident about how I would proceed. That was getting the job aunt Melissa told me about, and an apartment. Easy right?

Except it was anything but easy. Although the interview went well and I got the job. But getting an apartment was next to impossible. I might as well start finding God.

I've been staying at a hotel from the last two days but hotel was also proving to be very expensive.

Right now, I am on my way to see an apartment. This one was suggested by a colleague in my new office. She said the landlord could lent me today itself if everything went okay.

And I pray that everything goes okay. The last few apartments I have seen were either too expensive or not in a livable condition.

I went towards the building where the apartment was. The building was on the lesser affluent side of New York. I saw graffiti on the building, around the corner there was a group of teenagers smoking.

I made my way to the apartment. There I met the landlord. I was shown the apartment by the him.

It was a small studio apartment which had a small kitchen to one side. The rest of the space was empty. One side there was a small bathroom. The room only had one big window near the ceiling. It was far too high for me to reach.

But overall this apartment was nice. Much better than some of the apartments I have seen yesterday. Besides the owner is also not asking for any security deposit. For which I was glad as I did not have that much money. So, I decided that I'll take this apartment. I told him that I'll pay the rent and move in today.

I was walking back to the apartment. I was given the key the same day. I told him not to bother with cleaning it as I can do it on my own. Honestly, staying in hotel was so expensive that I didn't want to prolong my stay for even an hour.

I bought a burger and coke on the way and made my way to the apartment.

As I reached my apartment, I unlocked it and came inside. When I turned on the lights, I realized.

I've done it, I've really done it. I left Damianos and came to live here. I might never see him again, except maybe for the divorce. But these days you don't need to see each other face to face, that work can be easily done by the lawyers.

My heart went down. So, I'm all alone now. I have left everything in the past and came here. I sat down on the mattress, the landlord has given me. It's okay it's not like people don't leave their life and move on when they have bad experiences.

But the difference was, I loved my past life. The last two months were the best time of my life.

I remembered Damianos's face. The way he used to tease me, the way his eyes would form a crease when he laughs. Tears formed in my eyes.

Just now the reality of my life has dawned on me. These last two days I had been so preoccupied with settling in my new life that I barely had time to think of anything.

I looked around my room. It was dark and cold and surrounded by cobwebs. In the loneliness of this empty room I wondered how am I going to live like this forever. I'm just going to be miserable.

I looked at the burger in the packet. Thinking I should eat now although I was not hungry. I wondered why I bought a burger. I don't wish to eat meat today. But I'm far too tired to cook something.

I took out the burger. Its smell filled the entire room. I couldn't handle the smell. My stomach grumbled and I put the burger back in its pack and ran off to the bathroom.

I kept on throwing until my stomach hurt. After that I went to the sink and washed my hands four times to get the meat scent off my hands. I came outside and threw the burger in the dustbin. Maybe I've been eating takeouts from the last three days that's why my body is sick of it.

I wanted to eat something light like a cereal but I looked around the apartment. It was so dirty. Oh, why didn't I let the landlord clean it.

The next two hours were spent in cleaning the house. After I was done with it, I went to take a shower.

When I came out, I was thoroughly exhausted. I poured some milk into a bowl along with cereal. And sat down in the mattress.

When I went to sleep, my last thoughts were whether Damianos is thinking about me?

#*#*#*

Office was exhausting as usual. But today I was more tired. Maybe because of extensive cleaning I had to do last night. I don't want to walk a step more but I could see the graffiti building now knowing that my home is not far.

I don't remember when was the last time I was that tired. It was very difficult walking. I was counting one step, two step and soon I will reach my building. It still looked so far.

My head feels dizzy but I was determined, I kept on counting one step, two steps. Soon I reached my building. Now only thing left is climb the stairs to the second floor.

I tried walking inside but as I took one step but my legs started shaking, my hands were shaking too. My purse slipped from my hand and fell on the ground. I kept on wishing not now. Not on the streets. Let me go inside first. I looked down for my purse but all I saw was black. As I felt my body give away.

#*#*#*