Prologue

 

They say it's typical for the female to make such a fuss over an anniversary... especially after a year. I agree with this opinion in a sense because here I am roaming the aisles of the supermarket looking for things I could cook for dinner. Tonight is my one year anniversary with the love of my life, Jake. I could only hope he'll be as excited as I am. Browsing the aisles with a light smile on my lips I pick up the ingredients to make Italian Meatballs and Sicilian Spaghetti. I aslo pick up a bottle of Momento DiVino red wine with a platter of diced cheese and olives. I figure why not leave the city life meals and fly away to Italy just for one night.

Moving quickly through the store I pay for my items and rush towards my car. I have to get a headstart on the cooking before Jake's classes are over. But first I need to swing to my loft and get my clothes for dinner. I leave the goods in my car and climb the elevator to my loft. It's located on the tenth floor overlooking the beautiful view of the skyline. At nights I'd sit in the living room and stare at the lights through the tall glass windows. I find the act to be quite peaceful. The inside of the loft is just as magnificent as the view. It's cabin like feel with hardwooden floors and plush brown furniture made my life living here soothing.

I hurry to my closet and pull out the shopping bags that contained the clothes I so carefully picked out for tonight. I throw them over my shoulders and travel back to my car. It doesn't take me long to reach Jake's condo. I park in my usual spot and grab the food bags first. At the top of the stairs I search the potted plant by his door for the spare key. As I put the key into keyhole my phone vibrates in my coat pocket. The call ID reads Jake's name.

"Hi baby." I chime twisting the key to the door.

"Hey, candy striper. Missed your patient?" A laughing voice sings into the phone. It's Jake's goofy yet strangely adorable friend, Malachi.

I giggle. "What do you need? I'm kinda in the middle of something?"

"Aren't you wondering why I have his phone?"

"I know he probably forgot it. I'm at his place now, I'll tell him you have it."

"Thanks doll, I'll see you later."

"Okay."

We hang up and I push open the door. Bringing in the goods I place them on the kitchen island and close the door softly behind of me. As I begin to pack out the goods on the floor I notice some of Jake's clothes. Clothes that I swore he was wearing today. He's such a slob at times. I follow the trail of clothes down the hall where I notice a single red stiletto, then another, then a short denim skirt. I quietly creep to his room. As I get closer my heart beats faster and I find my fingers has begun to tremble. I reach his bedroom door but before I open I place my ears against it. The soft familiar grunts and groans of Jake sound through the door. Not to mention the high pitched moans from an unknown female. My heart immediately rips into pieces when I know what awaits me behind these doors. Tears prick to my eyes and a sob get caught in my throat.

Slowly yet cautiously I open the door and the sight on the bed is ten times more horrible than I thought. Not one but two naked women surround Jake. Sandwiching him between their prespiring bodies they all engage in their sexual fantasies. A squeak escapes from my quivering mouth and the tears pour down my red heated cheeks. Jake's beautiful blue eyes meet my hazel ones. He immediately pushes the woman on top off of him. My feet feel stuck to the floor as he runs towards me.

"Dani, I.." He begins. I don't hear anything he says because my mind goes completely blank for a second. I can't believe he would hurt me like this. After I gave him everything my trust, my love, and my body. He murmurs something to me but I hear none of it. Then he touches my arm. On instinct I slap him.

"Don't you ever touch me again! Don't call me, don't text me!" I scream. I spin on my heels and storm to the kitchen. I grab the bags and head to the door. As I reach for the knob Jake grabs my hand and pins me to the door. He tries to force his tongue down my throat but I push him away.

"Daniella, it's not what it looks like. They're trash they mean nothing to me." He pleads. "Don't leave me."

I push him back harder and swing open the door. "Happy Anniversary." I mumble before climbing down to my car.

I don't dare look at him as I pull from the parking lot. I don't dare think of him on the drive home, although he forces his way into my mind. I don't dare look at his picture as I climb into bed with the bottle of wine in my hand. I tie my curly light brown hair into a messy bun, turn on the tv and drink myself to oblivion.

Chapter One

 The soothing jazz music warps its way to my ears as the band nonchalantly plays for the small crowd. The soft murmurs of the fans sound through the room as I watch from a dark table in the corner. I close my eyes and rest my forehead on the table as the first song comes to an end. The soft notes relax me. I listen for a bit before the screech from the microphone echos throughout the building.

"We'd like to dedicate this next song to a special little lady out there in the audience." A deep male voice says. The genre of the music changes as they begin to play 'I think I wanna marry you' by Bruno Mars.  I lift my head up and scan the room. A single white spolight shines on a stunned blonde in the middle of the room. Her hands are over her mouth and tears stream down her face. The attractive enough lead singer pulls the microphone from the stand and slowly decends the stairs. The girl begins to tremble as he kneels to one knee and produces a ring. His face glows as does hers.

"Will you marry me, Lily?" He asks. Before his sentence is finished she nods vigorously and mouths 'yes'. He stands, they kiss, and he places the ring onto her finger. How romantic.

A tired red headed waiter places my coffee in front of me.

"Are you okay, dear?" She asks politely, cocking her head to the side.

 I stare at her for a moment before nodding. "I'm fine, thanks." I reply.

"Are you sure? You seem a little pale." She persists.

The concern gives me warmth of some sort but for me to explain my problems to a complete stranger puts me on the edge. The pain I am trying to bury keeps coming back up, a place where no one needs to see them. Tears prick to my eyes and I curse myself. I turn my head from her.

"I said I'm fine." I say sharply.

"Okay, I understand." She says slowly with dissappointment in her voice. I didn't mean to snap on her I just want her to understand that I can't talk about my feelings just yet...well to her. I stand, almost knocking over the chair and push past the waitress. I can feel her caring green eyes at the back of my head as I make my way to the bathroom. At least I can get some privacy there.

Luckily the bathroom is empty as I make my way to a stall. I place my back against the door and look up, trying my best to hold back my tears. I try to recollect myself but the vision of Jake keeps flooding my thoughts. I sigh, knowing full well that I can't go on like this. I let the tears flow. I sink to floor and bring my hands to my eyes as I sob. I know I need to be stronger for my sake but I can't. I'm not used to this life.

I wipe my tears quickly and swallow back my sobs. I need to be strong. Standing, I wipe my hands into my jeans and head to the sink. As I wash my hands I asses my self. The waitress was right when she said I looked pale. I'm as white as a ghost. My once bright hazel eyes are now clouded, red and puffy with dark circles surrounding them and my long black lashes are clumped together from the tears. My long chestnut colored hair that was naturally curly and shiny is now straight and dull from my lack of enthusiasm to wash them. I look like a walking corpse or better yet...hell.

I wash my face before I look back at myself noticing a figure behind me. Startled, I spin around and face the woman. She wears a sympathetic smile as she inches towards me. 

"I didn't see you there." I say, wiping my eyes. I watch her. Her ocean blue eyes inspects me as she moves her slender body closer. She walks to the sink beside me and rests her hip against it. Her arms fold across her chest as she raises an eyebrow.

"I followed you in here. I didn't mean to scare you." She replies.

I pull my eyebrows together, "Why did you follow me in here?"

She picks at her nails. "You looked like you could use a friend."

"I have enough friends, thanks." I bark, rolling my eyes and turning back to the mirror. I know I should've walked out but for some reason she piqued my interest. 

"I know you must have plenty of friends. That's why they aren't here tonight right? Because you have too many?" She chuckles and it causes a smirk to play at my lips. "I'm Annabelle, by the way, but you can call me Annie." Her hands shoot out for me to shake.

"Daniella, but you can call me Daniella." I reply sarcastically, shaking her hand. I snatch my hand back when her eyes widen from my touch. Her warm soft skin meets my cold clammy hands.

"You're sick aren't you?" She asks, pressing her back hand to my forehead. I immediately jump back from her touch. I didn't like the fact that a complete stranger was touching me. "I'm sorry. I think you need to see a doctor."

"I said I'm fine. I'm not going to die. I'm not on drugs. I'm not an alcoholic. I just...need a minute." If only I could tell her of the heartbreaking sight I witnessed just two weeks ago. Tears once again force their way to my eyes. "Look, Annie, I'm thankful for your concern but I dont need a pity party."

"You need a friend, that's what you need and if you dont let someone in soon you're going to go insane." Annie explains. Funny how I just thought of her as being the insane one. I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear and begin to walk to the bathroom door. "That's why you're sad. I don't need to know you to know that you were hurt by someone you trusted. Now you're scared shit out of your mind to let anyone else in. You need to talk to someone Dani."

I sigh. Annie is right I do need to talk to someone.

"Thanks." I whisper. I leave.

Chapter Two

 In the safety of my car I sigh deeply. Everything has been moving too quickly for me to process. First I've been lied to by the one person I trusted and now a complete stranger gives me advice that I don't even need! Yet maybe I did need the advice. What she said was true. I do need to let someone in but if I do they might do the same thing Jake did. I'm pathetic to keep thinking of him. He's the one who should be miserable not me.

Tiny drops of rain pat on my windshield as I start the car. I pull from the parking lot and drive along the dark, deserted road. The feel of the scenery matches my mood. Thick black clouds roll across the evenly black sky. Not a single star is in sight, neither the moon. A sudden burst of lightning blinds me for a second as I flip my attention from the sky to the road. Moments later the roaring of thunder sounds.

The weather is getting pretty bad. I hope I make it home before it turns from bad to worse. I check the gas gauge. Empty. It should be enough to get me to the nearest gas station.

I turn on the radio to soothe my nerves but just my luck static fills the speakers. I sigh. What can be worse? Jinxing myself a loud pop sounds from the rear of the car. The engine grumbles as if in pain. I steer the car to the side of as it slows comes to a hault.

"Shit! Shit! Shit!" I scream pounding my fists on the steering wheel. I run my fingers through my hair irritatingly. Leaning over I fumble through my purse to find my cell phone. I can call for a tow truck.

My luck must be shitty because my phone runs straight to voicemail. "Damn..." I mumble again throwing my phone onto the passenger seat. Seems like I'll be stuck here for the night. I sink back into my seat and close my eyes. I'll have to wait.

 

It seems like only a couple of minutes before the passing of a truck wakes me up. Rubbing my eyes I glance around at my surroundings. The sun is up and shining, the roads are relatively dry and forest animals roam freely. I pick up my cell and dial my mom seeing that there are five missed calls from her. She answers immediately.

"Dani, sweetie are you ok?" She gushes. My moms kind, considerate voice puts a smile to my face.

"Yes, ma I'm fine. A part from camping in my car last night I'm fine." I reply.

"Why did you camp in your car?" Her tone suddenly becoming worried.

"I ran out of gas and there was an itty bitty storm around. I couldn't take the risk. I'm fine." I reassure her.

"Good enough, dear. I'll see you at La Claire's for dinner tonight though?"

"I'll try. I gotta go now mom. Love you."

"Love you to, honey. Be safe."

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 03.07.2013

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