It has to be you.
I stared at the card I had received about two weeks ago after I had gotten home from work. No matter how many times I looked at it, I just couldn't connect it with the other one. Even with that in mind, I still couldn't stop myself from thinking that it was from Alex just like the first one.
It had to be from him.
Who else would send me something like this?
The sound of my stomach growling pulled me out of my thoughts, causing me to stand up from where I was sitting on the floor and walking towards my bag where it lay on my bed before leaving.
I walked out of my apartment, determined to find a good place to eat. But I stopped outside the door and looked down as I felt something soft touch my leg. I bent down and picked up the small stuffed bear with a card resting on its feet.
I opened the card and read the message:
I love you.
Only you.
I wasn't expecting to receive another gift, but the immense joy which filled me caused me to smile. I sighed happily as I walked back inside and placed the bear on a table before adding the card to my small collection and leaving.
As I drove around looking for a place, pictures of Alex and me when we were happily married, drifted across my mind, bringing with it the warm feeling of love and nostalgia.
I wanted things to go back to the way they were and these messages were obviously a sign that he wanted the same.
So what was taking so long?
We had to get back together. Without a doubt, that was something that we both wanted.
With that thought in mind, I pressed the accelerator harder, driving towards his dad's restaurant. I didn't think that he would be there but I was hungry and that was one of the best places I had ever eaten at.
But if he was there, then maybe we could finally talk everything out. And continue the life we had started.
I arrived there shortly and entered immediately, feeling my stomach begin to growl again.
A smiling waiter stood at the front and greeted me. I greeted him back before following him to a seat and thanking him.
I was looking through the menu when he returned with a drink. As I was about to thank him, a loud bang surrounded everyone at the restaurant.
"You're not listening to me! It's like you don't even care!" I turned around to see Alex walking out of his father's office with a large frown. He was walking towards me.
"Calm down Alex. You're causing a scene," his father said calmly.
"This wouldn't happen if you just stopped to listen to me. I don't want this business. You can give it to Mike, your other son. Remember him?" he barked at him.
"I don't want to give it to h─"
"I'm already doing something I enjoy. Why would I stop that to do something that I've never had an interest in doing?!"
"Because this is something for the family, I can't just give it to anyone."
"Come back inside and let's talk about it," he continued, walking closer to Alex. His son held out his hand to stop him.
"Forget it."
He started walking again and as he got closer, I couldn't decide whether I should stop him and try to comfort him. I wanted to do that so badly, but maybe it wasn't a good idea.
But before I could stop myself, I grabbed onto his arm when he was close enough.
"Alex," I called out his name.
"What?!" he turned around angrily, causing me to drop my hand from his instantaneously. His eyes widened as they connected with mine, almost as if he had regretted yelling at me. But shortly after, it returned to anger before he walked away, without saying another word.
I watched him as he stalked outside, feeling as if I had been a nuisance when I had stopped him. Upon hearing an audible sigh, I turned around to face his father to find him smiling sympathetically at me.
I smiled slightly before I turned around as the waiter returned to take my order.
~~♡~~♡~~♡~~
As I entered the lobby of the building, the sound of laughter caused me to turn around. Two people who appeared to look like a couple were laughing at something. I felt my lips turn into a small smile as I observed how happy they were; it reminded me of the good times I had shared with─
"Alex," I whispered as I saw the face of the man while they hugged.
I hid behind a plant as I watched them say their goodbyes.
"See you later," I heard Fae say before Alex nodded his head and left the building. She stood there for a few moments, watching him leave, a visible smile on her face. I used that time to walk to the elevator, hoping that I wouldn't have to face her as I felt my eyes begin to sting.
"Come on," I said to no one in particular, tapping my foot on the floor impatiently.
What was taking so long?
"Victoria?" I heard the voice of the woman I was trying to avoid. I wiped away a few tears which had began to fall before facing her.
"Hey," I replied, forcing my lips to form a smile.
"Are you just coming back from work?"
The elevator finally arrived, sending a loud ding throughout the lobby. We both entered our floor numbers, me pressing the number four and her pressing six.
"No."
I didn't want to say much because the scene of her with Alex was continually playing in my mind, making me feel as if all I could do was sit and cry, cry my heart out.
Within a few moments, the elevator arrived at my floor and the doors opened. I didn't wait another second before I stepped out. I could hear Fae behind me yelling a goodbye but her voice sounded far away.
The only thing I could see as I made my way to my door was Alex as he had hugged Fae. I knew that it was just a hug but from the way it looked, it wasn't just a hug.
It looked like it was the same way that he used to hug me.
I jammed the key to open the door and slammed it shut when I stepped inside. Angrily, I threw my bag on the floor, filling the room with my scream.
Why did the world hate me?
Why couldn't I just be with Alex already?
A light brown color caught my eye and I looked up to find the teddy bear I had seen as I was leaving earlier. I stalked towards it and picked it up, looking into its beady eyes. I couldn't help the increase in my anger which caused me to rip off its head. I threw it behind me as hard as I could.
Someone might have thought that I was overreacting over such a simple thing, a hug no less. But I had made myself believe that he wanted to get back together.
I was such an idiot.
After seeing this, I couldn't help but to think that continuing to believe that would be a childish act.
I love you. Only you.
As soon as I remembered that, I walked to the counter where I had placed that card with the rest. I picked all of them up and ripped them all, deciding in that moment to forget it all.
Just forget that he exists.
Forget that any of this happened.
After all, that was why I moved here.
ns 15.158.61.8da2
