Chapter 1 - Leaving
930 Words
I woke up to the sound of dreadful silence. Pain struck my spine as I try to stretch away from my sleep. I checked the clock hanging from the wall near the stairway, it says four in the morning. I just slept an hour.
It's been six months since it happened. Loneliness has been creeping up on me like a disease I can't shake off. The house has been as it is. I only climb up the stairs to the bedroom if I need to shower and change. Minutes turn into hours staring into nothing if I stayed long enough in there. I have been cooped in the living room for a month now. I cannot fathom the idea of staying in the bedroom after everything.
I started to lift myself up from the floor, twisting to my sides to relieve myself from the physical pain of sleeping on the floor. I didn't mind the hardness of it. I'd prefer it more than the bedroom or any part of the house in that matter.
The floor creaks as I rise up. I went to the kitchen for a glass of water and hurried to the bathroom for a quick prep on my morning run.
After hours of sweat and thinking, I checked on my phone for the time. It's already 9:15am. Surely the diner is now open. I went there for a quick bite purposely dodging everyone's stare and whispers. I grab onto my phone desperately hoping for someone to call me or text me so I could talk to somebody, but I know at the back of my head that no one will.
I ask for the check and Dolores arrives with a pitiful smile on her face. I forced a smile as she approached my booth. "Rachelle, dear, how have you been?"
Is that even a logical question to ask me right now? I thought to myself. "Can't say I'm better. Well, your guess is as good as mine.", I said handing her my payment. She grabs my shoulder for a quick squeeze, still with her pity-filled smile and heads back to the counter.
I left the diner feeling heavier. Why does everyone have to ask me how I've been doing, how I'm coping up, or just how am I? Don't they know it's hard thinking about it? How it f*****g breaks my heart to relive that day over and over in my twisted shattered mind. People pitied me, if not they blame me, and it just keeps eating at me.
Tears started pooling in my eyes, yet again. I slammed the front door and burst into shattered screams feeling angry at everyone but mostly at me. Why am I here? Why am I still here?
My phone rang interrupting me from my thoughts. I grabbed it from my back pocket and answered. "Hello?"
"Miss Ambrose, this is Linda, we have some clients who would like to check on your property." Linda is the real estate broker I hired to sell all of our properties since it's up to no use anymore.
"Sure! When?", I said as I sniffed.
"Oh, are you all right? How you holdin' up?", there they go again. I scrunched up my nose controlling my temper.
"Yah I'm cool, just caught a cold" I reasoned. "When will they come by?" I asked again getting us back to what we really are supposed to be talking about.
I hear her ruffle in some paper "They are scheduled on Friday that's two days from now" she informs me. "We can help in setting things up Miss Ambrose."
"That would be great! I'll contact you soon then. Thanks" we bid each other goodbye and I slid my phone across the counter.
Looking around the house, I can't help but realize that this is not for me anymore. I panned my fingers across the wooden shelves feeling the dust settled in its smooth finish and feel that this is no longer home.
Linda's clients are bound to check my parent's house a few towns from here but I called her again to add up on her property list. She answered immediately after the first ring. "Miss Ambrose,-"
"Yah just call me Rachelle. Anyway, I'd like to add one more property for sale." I announced holding my shaking hand up to my forehead knowing this is a big decision I'm making "It's the house here on Conway Street."
"But Rachelle, that's your home." she replies quickly.
"Not anymore Linda. I just.... it just" my voice starts to shake as I blew out a breath to steady myself and prevent from crying yet again. "Just put it up Linda, please! I'll come by your office this afternoon to hand over the keys, papers and everything you need."
Linda speaks eagerly, "Okay Rachelle. I'll be here."
Not too long ago she's giving me the pitying tone and now she's just excited. Wow, these salespeople really are quite something. But I quickly agreed and hung up.
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Three straight hours have passed and four pieces of luggage full, I think I'm all set. I walked around the house one last time inhaling the crisp smell of old wood, closing my eyes as I reminisce good memories this house has given me. Yes, memories, memories that will no longer happen again. I snapped my eyes open and shook my head to contain my tears.
I pulled out the key and held my hand on the door as I sighed. A big and heavy sigh. "I will love you forever" I utter to myself.
- Writer
