Done With My Ex, Moving To The Next

Chapter 11: Choosing Myself

Chapter 11: Choosing Myself

I was alive.

My eyes opened slowly in a dimly lit room, but it didn't take me long to register that it was my room. My signature scent filled the room as I squinted, trying to sit up.

“You're awake, ma'am," The man beside me said. He was old. His voice was nothing like the man who had approached me when I'd collapsed.

“Stella,"

Valerie!

I wrapped my arms around her, tears falling down my face without warning. This time, it wasn't pain or hurt. It was because I missed her and every part of me craved the bond we'd always shared.

“How did you find me?" I asked her, my eyes directly on hers as I pulled away from her hug.

“Someone called."

My brows pulled apart above my forehead as I pushed backwards in shock.

“Who?" I asked, my voice hoarse and unclear.

“A Good Samaritan who probably wanted to save you as much as I did"

“And who is he? Is it him? " I asked, turning to the man who was close to the window.

“No, I don't know him either. Besides, that’s Doctor Jamie, my family’s doctor" She said to me, our eyes lingering on the man who'd just stepped out to receive a phone call as her warm hand slowly wrapped around my cold fingers.

I heaved a sigh of exhaustion. I'd just woken but my head still ached.

I remembered —I was with a child. But I hadn't said a word to anyone, not even my best friend.

“And Dylan?" I asked but realized it was unnecessary. I shouldn't have asked at all—when I knew the answers.

“He's out of the country, he was the first I called last night," She responded, but I tried to avoid her gaze. I could feel it pierce through me but I didn't cry. I was strong enough.

“Hello, Mrs Stella,” The man, Doctor Jamie, walked in.

“Good morning, Doc Jamie" I leaned backwards, pulling the thick sheets over my legs that had obviously been bandaged —my feet had bled from walking.

“How're you doing?" He asked like every other doctor, but instead of saying something, I didn't f*****g know how I was doing.

Maybe I shouldn’t have lied.

“I'm alright," I nodded but his gaze held still that I almost curled up out of unease.

“What's with the bruises on your face, Mrs St—"

“Uh..about that," Valerie stepped into the conversation after minutes of caressing my aching fingers.

“About thattttttt..” Valerie prolonged her last word whenever she didn't know what to say. I wasn't ashamed of anything —if Jamie wanted, he could release the news about me being abused to the press.

Instead, I smiled.

Watching her cover up for me, it took me down the memory lane of when we were high school students. She'd always been my support system when everyone else turned their backs. Always showing up at the right time. Never minding before taking a hit for me. Would give up hers for me. Loved me like we were soulmates.

“Stella registered for boxing classes, and she'd been having solo trainings so……they haven't really been going easy on her,” She said the last part too fast for any human to grab, but it was only her lying habit.

Sometimes, she would begin panting and sweating profusely because she was lying.

I sat on the bed, admiring her with smiles I couldn't resist.

We waited till Jamie had left the room before we continued talking about private matters.

"He hit you, didn't he?” She questioned, piercing directly through my soul. I couldn't hide from what it was, do all, she was my best friend

“Fine." She sniffed in, drawing back the tears that had gathered in her own eyes.

“Why are you crying?" I held her by both shoulders.

“No, I'm not," She lied, but I didn't know when my own tears trickled down my face. Falling in drops on my sheets.

“Alright, no more tears for a bastard who isn't worth it….I'll get you out of here” She said, looking at me.

I nodded but wondered if telling her would only shatter her hopes as it did mine.

“Valerie," I threw my gaze elsewhere but unfortunately, it landed on my wedding ring. I was ashamed to look at her.

“What if…. this?” I revealed my bare stomach, exposing my little swollen baby bump.

It took her quite some minutes to register what I meant.

"What? Jesus. Are you pregnant? ”

She pulled away to slam her fist into her palm.

I was right. I was f****d up already and was nothing but disappointment.

"I thought we both had birth control, didn't we?"

“Yes but when I missed my period, I went for a check-up up and the doctor took tests and told me I was 12 weeks pregnant"

I couldn't catch my breath while I spoke, so I paused for a swallow, but speaking again became hard, especially when she wouldn't look at me—that was her habit whenever she was disappointed. She had different habits for different emotions.

"You're disappointed in me, right? I am too”

" No way, there's no way I'd ever be.” She held my hand again with one of hers, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear with the other.

“No, I'm not disappointed in you, Stella. You're my best friend, remember? And there's no way I'd ever judge you….it was a mistake but guess what?”

"What?”

"There's always a way around every mistake. We're keeping it” She rubbed my stomach. My eyes stung with tears that I had to bite down on my jaw to hold back.

“I should have married you instead, Val!’ I pulled her for a hug but instead, she pushed me off "Hey b***h, I'm straighttt”

We both laughed.

“No more sulking. He's out of town, let's use that to our advantage. For now, have this" She dropped a novel she pulled out of her bag in my hand.

“What's this for?"

“For escaping reality, my darling."

“No way! You know I'm not a novel lover" I blurted out, dropping it to the other side.

"Fine, we're helping you regain your old self. Don't tell me you're not a lover”

I didn't seem surprised. I didn't know how to feel.

Was I to jump? Was I to be excited?

"What difference would it make whether I'm back to being who I used to be?”

“You'll get him off guard and mess with his ego. You used to have confidence and that charm that'd send men's eyes around you always." I released a breath, holding tears back. No, I wouldn't cry. Not now.

“Just a date.”

Just how one day could feel like a real relief and escape was everything I'd ever wanted.

“Did you leave your place and come all the way down here?" I asked because I still couldn't take my mind away from what stood as a glaring fact.

“What kind of bestfriend would I be if I couldn't rush down to save my bestie's life?" She scoffed, waving the novel back in the air.

“My Father let me borrow his helicopter"

I was speechless that I'd began blinking back on my tears when she noticed so, she decided to start another conversation so I wouldn't cry again.

"You're choosing to read this novel,” She pointed her index on the novel, " or…a date" She pointed at my walk-in closet.

“Fine. Fine. A date" I gave in. My body wanted it—a change of environment.

"We're beginning a journey of self-love for Stella

" She held her phone camera, recording us both.

“You're not posting that, right?"

“No, ma'am. I'm not. Its for future" She smiled.

A knock sound came from the door.

“Come in" Valerie answered before I could.

“Ma'am, we found your phone smashed in your bathroom last night so I thought I should hear from you before throwing it out, ma'am” The house maid stretched my phone forward with a bow.

"No, leave it here.” Valerie said to her.

"I don't need it for anything, Val.."

“Well, I do.." She smiled, taking the phone that'd been packed up on an airtight back.

“Something about it's storage, I love piling storages” She smiled but for some odd reason, I felt she had an ulterior motive to what she'd said.

“Anyways, let's go on a dateee"