OLD FLAME
1182 Words
TEN YEARS AGO
“Gianna.”
“Yes, Mum?”
“You’ve been sitting by the window for an hour now. Are you waiting for someone?”
“No, Mum. I’m just watching the rain.”
My mother smiled, her cherry-red lips drawing tight against her pearly white teeth. “It’s a cold, beautiful morning, isn’t it?”
“It is,” I said softly and meekly before turning my eyes back to the road.
He would be here any moment, he promised.
My mum didn’t press further. Not yet. But I felt the tension in the air. Her keen eyes were watching.
Then her voice came again, sweet and chilling. “Gia darling, Someone is here to see you.”
And just like that, my blood turned cold, I turned to face her slowly.
No. He wasn’t supposed to come through the front door. We had a plan.
“A boy,” she added with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. She was eerily happy, too happy.
He was supposed to give the signal. One pebble on the roof and a whistle. I’d grab my bag and slip out the back, down the garden path, toward forever with him.
But I was still sitting.
Frozen.
“Come, honey. You don’t want to keep him waiting,” she said, extending her hand towards me.
Numb, I stood taking her hand. and like a marionette, let her lead me to the door.
When she opened it, my world caved in.
There he was.
My Rio.
He looked… defeated, sad. His usual mischievous spark and smile dulled into something lifeless.
“Hi” I tried to force a smile which he didn’t return.
“Gigi, I…”
He glanced at my mother, then back at me. His shoulders slumped. “I’m breaking up with you.”
Time stopped.
The sound of rain, the soft wind, my heartbeat, it all paused.
“What?” My voice was barely a whisper. “But… why? I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I don’t love you anymore.” He said coldly.
A lie, It had to be.
I knew his love for me ran deeper than he’d always let on. And while in each other's arms, thinking I was asleep, he’d always whisper it softly.
“Rio…” I reached for him, trembling. But he stepped back like I was poison.
“I’m leaving. For good.”
“Why are you doing this?” My voice cracked.
“Goodbye.”
He turned and walked away into the rain.
I stood, paralyzed, shame swallowing me whole as a tear broke free.
Maybe this was a dream… it couldn’t be real.
“RIO!!!” I screamed his name, clawing with hope that he’d turn back.
He didn’t.
He never did.
When his figure disappeared down the road, my mother’s hand clamped on my arm, pulled me back into the house and slammed the door shut. I collapsed into sobs, choking on grief and disbelief.
She stared down at me, arms folded and without sympathy. “You trusted a man,” she said, a soft laugh bubbling under her words. “Big mistake.”
Her heels clinked ominously as she stepped closer.
“I love him…” I cried, barely audible.
“And look at you now, weepy and pathetic, like a baby,” she sneered, leaning towards me.
She brushed a strand of hair from my tear streaked face with a mockingly gentle hand. “I can’t believe you planned to run away with the Chanel bag I bought you,” she said, almost amused.
“That cost me ten thousand dollars!” she shoved my head back harshly. “Stupid little child, after everything I’ve done for you” she sneered.
“If you’re going to elope next time, leave without luxury.” With a swift turn, she walked away.
And I stayed, drowning in tears and heartbreak.
Everyday I waited by the window.
Waited for him to call, to say he was sorry and it was all a mistake, to say he loved me and wanted me back.
He never did.
*************************
Ten years later, I was sitting by the same window, staring at the snow.
I’ve moved on, but in the first few years whenever it rained, I thought of us, of what could have been if that morning never happened.
The last I saw him, I had snooped too far and stumbled on his f*******: profile.
He had graduated college, smiling and holding his valedictorian badges, arms of his friends around him, he looked… fulfilled.
I stared too long, with hate before I had clicked on the block button and slammed my laptop shut.
And never saw him again, I hope he was happy.
It’s been years, and I never went back to that window, not until now.
The view hadn’t changed.
“Fancy of you to come see your mother after ten years” came her voice and my body tensed instinctively.
I turned and forced a smile. “Hello mum”
Her frown vanished, and she beamed with open arms. “Hey, baby, give me a hug will you?.”
I stepped into her embrace. Her warmth and expensive perfume was overwhelming—just like always.
“I missed you so much,” she whispered, kissing my hair.
“I missed you too.”
We pulled apart with a big smile, my mum looked like she hadn’t aged a day in the last ten years.
“I love you, baby,” she said, long fingers caressing my hair and cheek.
“I love you too.”
Her brow lifted sharply. “Not enough to invite me to your graduation? Or call me on my birthdays?”
“Mum, I—”
“Don’t get me wrong” she smiled “I loved all the gifts you sent. But I missed my baby”
“I’ll do better,” I said and she grinned, satisfied.
“Come. The party’s just getting hot and I have a surprise for you.”
And with that, she whisked me away, through a whirlwind of introductions, clinking glasses, forced smiles, and parading her accomplished daughter.
Classic Celeste.
Hours passed and I was exhausted.
I finally got a break when she pulled me to a corner and said, “I prepared your room, you’ll love the new decor. So tell me, is there a man in your life?”
How ironic.
“Not really” I said
“Wait here, I’ll go get us a bottle of something very special. We have all night to catch up”
Oh no.
“Mum, I really don’t want to—”
“It’s a rare alcoholic wine. Expensive and one of a kind. Don’t move.” She disappeared before I could protest again.
I palmed my forehead, how do I reject the drink without her suspecting a thing?
This was bad for my baby.
“Stupid f*****g… fuck.” I muttered under my breath.
“Gigi?”
My breath caught and I froze.
Only one person called me that.
- Writer
