Total pages in book: 20
Estimated words: 18480 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 92(@200wpm)___ 74(@250wpm)___ 62(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 18480 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 92(@200wpm)___ 74(@250wpm)___ 62(@300wpm)
7
Petal
“Ma’am?” the driver asks from the front seat. We’ve been driving in circles for the last thirty minutes. I was headed to my uncle’s to grab some of my things, but as we were pulling up, I saw Valen leaving. I asked the driver to keep going until I could figure out what to do.
I have to admit that seeing him was like a punch to the gut. It’s a harsh reminder of the circumstance I find myself in. Which only reinforces the fact that I need to make sure that I get my life in order before Valen finds out about the baby.
Valen has always been friendly with my uncle, but I know he doesn’t like him. There is only one reason he's there, and that’s Tia. I keep wanting to pretend the rumors were only that, but the reality keeps hitting me right in the face.
Why Tia of all people? The one girl that has always tried to make my life hell. Her snide remarks linger in my mind. The way she would always flirt with Valen. I suppose that might be why she disliked me so much. She knew I was in love with him and probably hated the attention he gave me. Tia has never done well with sharing anything. She loves being the center of attention.
“We can go now,” I tell the driver as I brush my finger over one of the faded scars on my upper arm. I push myself away from negative thoughts. Part of my healing had included going to therapy. I was reluctant at first, but over time I saw how much it helped. With the grief at least.
My self-image is something I still battle with to this day. At least the scars don’t pull me back to a sad place anymore. It might be shallow, but as I got older it was the thought of being undesirable that would bring me down. With a few words from Valen last Thanksgiving, those thoughts fluttered away. He pushed me to stop hiding myself, and I did. He made me start to feel comfortable in my own skin again. Something I hadn’t felt since the day of the accident. He gave me the confidence to wear the dress on New Year’s that hadn’t left much to the imagination.
Valen was insatiable. I believed him. He didn’t find my scars ugly. The more skin I showed had gotten him finally to act. But then he stopped. I swallow the lump that has formed in my throat. What if everything he did was out of pity? Valen always tried to do what he thought was right when it came to me whether it pissed me off or not. What if he had been acting in order to show me that other men could want me? I wouldn’t put it past him.
Was I a pity fuck? Ah, joke’s on me because it wasn’t even that. My phone vibrates in my hand. Against my better judgment, I glance at the screen.
Judith: Are you okay, honey?
Me: I’m fine.
I break and respond to Judith. The last thing I want is for her to worry. She should still think I’m at school.
Judith: Tia has a friend that’s doing an internship at Northland Women's Health Care
“Oh my God.”
Judith: Well, the girl had an internship.
Judith: I’m always here for you darling. You know you can talk to me about anything. I love you as though you were my own daughter.
Me: Does he know?
I don’t have to say who the he is.
Judith: Only that you got an appointment there with Dr. Eva.
Judith: He also knows you left school
I guess I’m coming clean sooner than I wanted. Of course this isn’t going how I planned. Nothing ever does. That seems to be the story of my life.
“I’ll be right back,” I tell the driver when he rolls to a stop in front of my uncle's home. It would be nice if for once I could have a bit of luck. I think maybe I do when I manage to make it to my bedroom without anyone but staff taking notice of me.
I grab a bag from my closet and put my books filled with family pictures inside before I snag a few other things that are irreplaceable to me.
“Why are you here?” Tia hisses. I spin around to see her standing in the doorway of my bedroom.
“I live here?” Well, I did, but I’m not getting into that with her right now. My eyes glance at her hands, not seeing a ring. He hasn’t popped the question yet.
“You never lived here, and you know it.” She steps into my room. “I’m guessing you heard the news and now you’re throwing a fit.” Tia smirks when she notices my bag. “Running away? I suppose that is for the best. It will make things less awkward. Valen and I have been worried how we’d handle your little crush.”