“I do,” Leon replies, which makes my heart kick in my chest.
He wants to see me again, and that gives me a glimmer of hope.
I give him a small nod of acknowledgment, then scan the room, unable to make eye contact with everyone. “I’ll see you guys later, yeah?” I don’t wait for their responses and hurriedly leave, stealing one last glance at Leon.“Bye,” I say shyly, my heart crumbling.
Then I’m walking away from him, each step feeling heavier than the last, my body like a dead weight.
My footsteps become faster, turning into a run like the devil is chasing me, ignoring Lily calling my name. Then I’m bursting through the fire exit door, where I sob, shedding more tears, tears I didn’t think I had any left of.
My hand finds my stomach, sickness coiling around my gut like a viper’s nest.
He doesn’t remember me.
What did I do to deserve this?
For the first time in my life, I was happy with a man I loved and wanted to spend the rest of my life with.
But this, him not remembering me, this is not what I asked for.
Well, fuck you, universe.
Thanks for stealing my happily ever after and setting fire to it while I’m left sifting through the remnants of nothingness.
Because there is no me.
To him, I’m invisible.
I’m not even a ghost of a memory.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Erika
Lily:
You know where I am if you need to talk.
Me:
I don’t want to talk to anyone.
Lily:
Okay, but when you do, I am here for you. It’s not the question I want to ask, because I already know the answer, but are you okay?
Me:
I don’t know how to feel.
Lily:
It’s okay to be mad at the world and want to smash shit up. You and Leon got handed a bum deal, and if I were you, I would be mad too.
Me:
I think I should throw myself into work. To keep myself busy.
Lily:
