Chapter Four: Starting Over
1184 Words
Eliana’s POV
“Eliana, are you okay?”
Dee rushed after me as the security guards pushed me through the entrance of the gallery.
I stumbled forward, barely catching myself before I hit the pavement.
“Ma’am,” one of the guards said coldly, dusting off his hands, “we don’t want to see you on these premises again. You’ve caused enough trouble already.”
Before I could respond, they turned and disappeared back inside, shutting the doors behind them.
The muffled music started playing again as though nothing had happened.
As though my entire world hadn’t just fallen apart.
I sank onto the curb, my chest rising and falling with shaky breaths.
Tears burned behind my eyes.
They wanted to fall.
But somehow…
My anger burned hotter.
“I can’t believe he did that,” I whispered, staring at the brightly lit building.
“I can’t believe he embarrassed me like that… after everything I did for him.”
Dee crouched beside me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders.
“He’s not worth it, El.”
“He is,” I snapped before catching myself.
I shook my head.
“No…”
I wiped roughly at my face.
“He was.”
Dee helped me to my feet.
“Come on.”
I took one last look at the building.
One last look at the place where Jeremy had humiliated me in front of everyone.
“I’ll make him regret this,” I said quietly.
Dee looked at me but said nothing.
*****
The ride back to Dee’s apartment was painfully quiet.
Neither of us spoke.
When we arrived, Dee unlocked the door and stepped aside.
“Come in.”
Dee disappeared into the kitchen before returning with two mugs of hot chocolate.
She handed me one.
“You need this.”
I wrapped both hands around the mug.
The warmth seeped into my frozen fingers.
“I need to get my life together, Dee.”
“You will.”
“I need a job.”
“You’ll get one.”
“I need my life back.”
“You will.”
She sat beside me on the couch.
“But first…”
“You need somewhere to stay.”
She smiled softly.
“You can stay here for as long as you need.”
I looked at her.
“You mean that?”
“I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t.”
My throat tightened.
“Thank you.”
She nudged my shoulder.
“Tomorrow we’ll go get your things from your apartment .”
I laughed bitterly.
“His apartment.”
“You don’t have to do this alone,” Dee said.
“I know.”
“I’ll come with you.”
I smiled faintly.
“I don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”
“You would’ve survived.”
She reached over and squeezed my hand.
“You’re stronger than you think.”
I wasn’t so sure.
For five years…
My whole world had revolved around Jeremy.
Every interview. Every paycheck. Every sacrifice. Every dream.
Everything had been for us.
Only now…
I realized there had never really been an us.
There had only been me.
Me sacrificing. Me believing. Me loving enough for both of us.
Never again.
*****
A few minutes later, Dee disappeared into her bedroom before returning with a small notebook and a blue pen.
She placed them on my lap.
“What’s this?”
“A fresh start.”
I frowned.
“I don’t understand.”
“Write.”
“What?”
“Anything.”
I looked down at the blank page.
Then slowly…
I began writing.
Things I Need To Do
I stared at the title for a second before adding the first line.
✓ Get my things.
Then another.
✓ Find a job.
Another.
✓ Save money.
I hesitated.
Then smiled to myself before writing the last one.
✓ Become the woman Jeremy can never have again.
Dee leaned over to read it.
A slow grin spread across her face.
“I like that one.”
“I almost wrote something else.”
“Something about revenge?”
I shrugged.
“Maybe.”
She laughed.
“I know you too well.”
“I still want him to regret it.”
“He will.”
“How do you know?”
“Because one day he’ll realize exactly what he lost.”
I closed the notebook.
“I’m done crying over him.”
“You sure?”
“No.”
I smiled sadly.
“But I’m done letting him see me cry.”
*****
I reached into my handbag and pulled out my phone.
Thirty-two missed calls.
Every single one…
Jeremy.
Three unread messages.
Baby, let me explain.
Answer your phone.
You’re making this harder than it has to be.
A laugh escaped me.
Not because it was funny.
Because it was unbelievable.
Harder?
He cheated.
He lied.
He watched another woman humiliate me.
Then he called me pathetic.
And somehow…
I was the difficult one?
Without another thought, I blocked his number.
Then I opened every social media app.
Instagram.
Blocked.
WhatsApp.
Blocked.
Facebook.
Blocked.
Everywhere.
Blocked.
I switched my phone off and dropped it onto the couch.
“I think that’s the first healthy decision you’ve made in two days,” Dee teased.
“It’s the first healthy decision I’ve made in five years.”
She smiled proudly.
“Now that’s the Eliana I know.”
*****
The next morning…
I barely slept.
Every time I closed my eyes, I heard Jeremy’s voice.
You were never enough.
By seven, I was already dressed.
A pair of jeans.
A white T-shirt.
Dee walked out of her room, grabbing her car keys.
“Ready?”
I nodded.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
The drive to the apartment felt longer than it usually felt.
Every street reminded me of him.
The café where we’d had our first date.
The bookstore where he’d surprised me with my favorite novel.
The park where he promised we’d spend forever together.
Funny…
Forever had lasted exactly five years.
When Dee parked outside the apartment building, my stomach twisted.
“You don’t have to do this today,” she said gently.
“Yes, I do.”
I stepped out of the car.
One foot after another.
Determined.
Until I reached the front of the building.
Then I stopped.
Cold.
Frozen.
Black garbage bags were piled across the sidewalk.
Some had burst open.
Clothes spilled onto the pavement.
Shoes.
Books.
Picture frames.
My favorite coffee mug.
The knitted blanket my mother had given me before she died.
Everything…
Everything I owned…
Had been thrown outside like garbage.
My breathing became uneven.
People walked past.
Some stared.
Some whispered.
None of them helped.
I slowly walked toward the nearest bag.
Sitting on top was a framed picture of Jeremy and me.
The glass had been smashed.
A yellow sticky note was taped across it.
With trembling fingers, I peeled it off.
Three words.
Don’t come back.
My vision blurred.
Behind me…
The apartment door clicked open.
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