It had been over three weeks since the news of my divorce became public, and my entire social life went out of the window. Clara had advised me to stay out of the papers, and the only thing I could do was to hide in my apartment and binge watch ‘Friends‘ and ‘Lost‘. It was frustrating, but I trusted her advice.
In the meantime, I began to plan out my future. I couldn’t stay in New York anymore once the divorce was finalised. I couldn’t stay in the city when there was a risk of running into Marcus at every turn. Besides, I needed some space, and the further away I got from my past, the easier it would be to start rebuilding my life all over again.
I had dusted off my CV already, something I hadn’t even glanced at in several years. It was funny how easily T threw away my life, belleving that Marcus and I would be together for the rest of our lives. I never even imagined that my life would be over if we ever separated. But now, I was starting from scratch once again. And now, there was the extra baggage of being a celebrity who everyone would know on sight. I already knew it was going to be difficult getting a job here, so I had to figure out somewhere else to move.
Preferably on the west coast.
I groaned at the thought of all this, rolling over on the couch and staring blankly at the TV. I’d been watching Friends for over four hours straight, and I was exhausted. After my attempt at getting some milk from the store
this
morning and being ambushed by a mob of photographers and angry pedestrians who thought it was their divine right to call me a hoe and accuse me of breaking my husband’s heart, I wasn’t so keen on getting some fresh air again. I had to eat dry cereal this morning, and listen to Ciara yelling at me for fifteen minutes straight because I disobeyed her instructions and showed my face outside.
Like anyone could be expected to stay cooped up inside for an entire week.
During the COVID lockdown, the only reason I was able to handle it was because I was trapped inside with Marcus, We did nothing all day except watch TV, cook together and make love whenever we felt like it. He helped me maintain my sanity, and if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have been able to handle it.
I should find a way to sneak out later tonight. I could go to a bar, have some drinks with random strangers and just feel like a real person again. I could go for a walk through Central Park, and maybe even meet a handsome stockbroker who was looking to let off some steam. I could bring him back here, and we could fool around for a while before I kicked him out in the morning tomorrow.
I wanted to feel like myself again. I wanted to feel young, alive and wild like I used to be. I missed the old Olivia, who seemed to have her whole life figured out. Either that, or she just didn’t care about the consequences of her own actions. All of that stopped after I met Marcus. But why should I be the one to suffer all by myself? Why couldn’t I go out and be reckless? Why couldn’t I live again?
The intercom suddenly
Brenda. We brought and I sat up as David’s voice suddenly came through: “Olivia, it’s David and
