Mabel holds my gaze, tears still clear to see.
“I- I came home, two weeks after I left,” I stutter out, the tears of panic now fully forming.
Please, don’t let me lose her again.
“When I came home, I saw him first and-,” I look down at the trash still unconscious on the floor. “He showed me picture’s,”.
“What pictures?” Mabel demands and I bow my head in shame, tears now streaming down my cheeks, matching the girl whose heart I pray this won’t break more than this secret already has done for all these years.
Thirteen years ago…
Holding onto the ring box that’s stored in my denim jean’s pocket, I rub my chest with my other hand to try and calm the nerves that’s pounding away at my heart.
The bus pulling into Springfield’s bus station finally, after what felt like the longest journey acrossAmerica. Two days travelling will be well worth it when I finally have my girl in my arms again.
Two weeks away from her was all I needed to know, I couldn’t be away from her anymore.
California isn’t my dream, she is.
Before I left, I submitted my transfer papers over to Tennessee State College, which hopefully should get approved before my visit here ends.
I left all my stuff in California. Except the bag full of clothes above me and the engagement ring sitting in my pocket.
At least when I go back to get it all, hopefully I’ll have my fiancé by my side when I come home, for good.
I wait for the driver to come to a full stop, before almost throwing myself out of my seat to get my small duffel bag out from the storage above me.
Holding onto my bag over my shoulder, I make my way down the aisle and step off the bus, being met with a slight September breeze, but the town still holding the heat.
Smelling the fresh air, I head towards the flower stall that stands alone in the station. Mrs Taylor always sells the freshest flowers in her stalls, which started here and soon became a well sort after business in the town.
“I’ll have the largest bunch you have please,” I ask the older lady working the stall. Pulling out my wallet, I hand her a hundred-dollar bill as she hands me the most beautiful bouquet of roses and lilies.
“She’s one lucky young lady,” she winks at me, handing me the flowers.
“That she sure is,” I blush back to her, placing the change handed back to me in her tips pot.
“Ma’am.” I nod, before turning on my heels, before almost body slamming into Jimmy Jones, who at the best of times always finds himself in my way.
“Apologies,” I say to him, making sure the flowers haven’t been ruined in the moment.
“Maverick, what are you doing here?” he asks, looking confused and slightly annoyed by my presence.
“Just coming back to see my girl,” I hold up the flowers, giving them a shake at the obvious explanation of why I’d be here.
He moves his tongue in between his teeth, whilst using his thumb to run across his bottom lip.
“She ain’t your girl no more.”He replies bluntly, his tone full of venom.
I rear back as if the boy before me had thrown an outstanding socker punch, in a way he just had, right in my gut.
“Excuse me?” I ask, more to clarify on why Mabel wouldn’t still be mine, I’d spoken to her on the phone not even twelve hours ago.
“You left man, she was free gain,” he laughs.
My head starts to spin; my palms turn clammy.
“What are you talking about, asshole?” I growl at him, willing my fists not to act.
