Realism Fan Fiction / Romance Fan Fiction / Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Destiny ❯ A Fresh Start ( Chapter 8 )

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A/N: This is my first creative story and I appreciate any comments and constructive criticism. Thanks for reading!

 

 

A Fresh Start

 

With each step I took inside my apartment complex, the more I felt myself losing my composure. I wanted to run away and never look back, but I knew that would be the weaker me inside breaking free. That side was one that I didn't want to expose to the world. I couldn't let them find out the secret that I have held inside for my entire life. The secret that promoted my false appearance of self-assuredness; my mask of sunshine and happiness. Right now I wanted to rip the mask off and expose the real me, but the fake me needed to keep up with appearances. So I proceeded onward to the door of my apartment. I stepped inside not knowing what to expect, whether or not I would see and hear more of what happened the night before.

 

Silence encased the apartment. “Drake?” I enquired shakily.

 

No answer. I then sighed in relief since I still had time to think up what I would say to him once he did arrive. I decided to pack a few things since I was sure that things were not going to completely end well. I already knew that I didn't want to stay here that evening and I was sure Drake wasn't going to let me stay here alone. I began to pack a night bag of some clothes including some work scrubs and also called a nearby hotel making a reservation for that night.

 

After my plans were made I made my way back into the bedroom I once shared with the love of my life. It felt different. It was darker and was filled with much disgust. The only imagines that come to mind when I think of this room is the sight of my beloved in bed with someone else that wasn't me. Those sights and sounds will haunt me for some time. I then started to walk back out to the living room and stopped suddenly.

 

I never heard the door open and was surprised to see Drake standing a few feet in front of me. He looked quite shocked at seeing me back that he dropped his keys on the floor.

 

“You came back to me,” he said with a slight questioning tone. “I knew you would come to your senses and believe that I never meant to hurt you,” he started to come towards me presenting his arms to embrace me. I stepped back a few steps, which caused him to come to a halt.

 

“What's wrong? Aren't you here to work things out, to at least hear me out so we can get past this? I love you Gwendolyn, you have to believe me. My love for you will never change. Please don't let this one incident change us,” he said pleading.

 

I felt fury at him for the words he was saying; throwing our love in my face like I was the one that forgot. I decided to maintain my cool; the last thing I wanted was to provoke him in any way. I didn't know what he was capable of anymore, let alone knowing him at all.

 

“What you said is partly true. I am here to listen to your reasoning of what had happened, but that is it. I cant promise you that it will change any of my decisions or how I am feeling right now, but I will at least give you the chance to explain to me why you cheated,” I told him giving him an emotionless stare.

 

I could sense rage starting to brew deep within him at the accusation. He didn't like being made out to be the party at fault.

 

“Ok, please have a seat,” he indicated the couch as he went to sit in his chair. I decided I might need to sit while listening to whatever bull story he was about to spit out of his mouth, so I decided to get comfortable on the couch.

 

“So who was she?” I blurted out unintentionally, yet deep down I wanted to know who the women was that messed with my life.

 

“She is my secretary,” he responded not being able to look me square in the eye. He at least somewhat admitted that there was another party involved in this. “I think I will start at the beginning.”

 

“Oh yes, please do,” I said in a snappy tone, which he noted by giving me a serious glare.

 

“Please try to hold any comments till I'm done.” I nodded in response.

 

“It started a few months ago, when you started to work afternoons. I hardly got to see you at all, besides the once in awhile morning. My attitude started to change at work and Hilary, my secretary, noticed it. She approached me about my current change in mood and I decided to confide in her my feelings. I was feeling quite lonely and put out at the way you were taking our engagement. It seemed to me, at the time, that you didn't even really want to get married. Normal fiancés would be jumping off the walls with anticipation and excitement with planning their wedding, but you, you were just into your work and that was it for you.”

 

My eyes widened with each word that left his lips. My face became heated as he went on as if he was the victim in the situation and I was the one that drove him to commit an act of sin. I decided to bite my tongue and listen further at his ridiculous line of reasoning.

 

“I then started to feel like my needs were not met and Hilary was the one to offer to help ease the sorrow inside me. It first happened back at the office. She came to my office during one of the nights I had to work late. She was already off duty and was questioning me about the true reason I was staying there to work instead of going home. I told her that I didn't want to go back to an empty house for another night of loneliness. She then approached me and started kissing and touching me. All thought and sanity seemed to jump out of my body as I took her again and again on the desk. I was finally feeling something again instead of the emptiness. After that night we met a few more times for pleasure in my office but it was the start of busy season for the company so more people were staying late. I didn't want us to get caught in the act at work so I decided to start bring her here, knowing that you were never home in the afternoons, at least that's what I had thought would be the case until that night you caught us.” He paused and then gave me a look of regret. Regret of getting caught or regret at throwing our life away for pleasure, I was not fully sure about which it was.

 

“The moment I saw your face and the tears that were forming in your eyes, my mind leapt back into my head and I realized the wrong that I had been committing. I hated myself in that moment and the words I said to you as you ran out. I wish I could take everything back from the moment that I even confided in Hilary. I know I should have come to you about the way I was feeling, so we could work it out together. I'm hoping that we will be able to work things out right now,” he glanced at me for reassurance which I gave no hint of in my face. “Do you think you can ever forgive me?”

 

He almost had me, but my mind kept replaying that night over and over again. My mind won even though my heart was screaming out to forgive him and go back to the way it was.

 

I finally replied after a long moment of unnerving silence. “I don't think I can ever get over what you did to me; to us. Things won't be able to just instantly go back to normal. I will always feel like you might be having an affair. I can't trust that you won't and I don't want to put myself through the agony of being with someone that I can't trust. That would not be fair to our relationship if I was to continue this act with you.”

 

“What if I were to get rid of Hilary and any temptation that might interfere with our life? Could you find yourself able to be with me then?” He was now scrounging for any way to keep me from leaving him.

 

“How will I know that there won't ever be another Hilary later on? We are tempted each day of our lives and it's our responsibility not to take the bait; it's a little thing called will power, something that you just don't seem to possess.” With that he snapped revealing his true feelings.

 

“So due to one small mistake and misjudgment on my part I have lost your trust and you can't even find it within you to forgive me once. It was one mistake. It's not like you were there to give me what I needed anyways so I found another source to satisfy my needs. Maybe if you were a little more into our relationship and less into your work this might not have had to happen.” That was my last straw. I decided then and there that what I was seeing was the true Drake. The man I thought I knew was only a façade. It hurt me to realize that the past couple of years were a lie and it almost caused the tears that were dieing to get out to get their wish. I silently got up and grabbed my bag and started for the door. I was done with the whole thing. As of that moment I was officially free of any ties to the man in my apartment.

 

“Where do you think you are going,” Drake said with anger and he grabbed my arm and threw me against the wall. He then lifted me up and smacked me across the face. “What gives you the right to leave me, we are not done here by a long shot. You better get over this because you will be marrying me even if I have to drag you down that aisle. I didn't sacrifice two years for some self-righteous bitch to make me the laughing stalk of the city. Everyone is awaiting our marriage and it will happen.” I started to struggle and scream for help. He then covered my face and I took that opportunity to bite his hand and kick him in the gut. This gave me the brief moment to grab my bags and dash out the door. I soon heard running behind me and knew that I was in trouble if I didn't get away. I had released the demon that was disguised as Drake all along. I guess I was not the only one hiding my true image. I ran out into the street and was able to grab a taxi which I quickly jumped into and locked the door. I told him to drive quickly, which he thankfully did as Drake punched at the door's window. I looked at him in fright; his face will forever be engraved in my head. As the taxi drove off and the image of Drake begun to fade, I could finally sigh in relief.

 

The taxi finally reached the hotel that I had booked that night. I decided to cancel that reservation and go somewhere else that was cheaper so I could pay cash. I didn't want to leave any trail behind just in case Drake were to find me and finish what he started. I walked into the beat up old motel and threw my bag on the floor. I went to the bathroom and glanced at my face. Drake definitely did a number on it with his fist as a nice bruise was developing under my eye. I walked back out into the main room and crashed on my bed. As I looked up at the ceiling I finally allowed myself to be let loose. Tears began to stream from my eyes and wet the pillow and my hair.

 

I ended up crying myself to sleep that night. That night would be the night that signified the ending of my old self and the release of the true me.