Chapter 18
ASHLEY
Today marks three weeks since I returned to New York, and to be honest, I’m starting to feel restless.
I won’t be heading to the hospital today. Violet doesn’t go on Saturdays, and she’d called earlier to let me know that she didn’t need me to come over to her house. She said Ryan would be staying with her today. That’s a relief, I guess. She doesn’t like me fussing over her when Ryan’s around.
I tried to distract myself, diving into whatever I could find. First, I had a chat with Mochi, my cat who’s somehow become my silent therapist. He just stares at me with those big, wide eyes, as if she knows exactly what’s going through my head.
Then I tried reading one of Violet’s books. Wasted Days, it’s called. Her first novel after she graduated from university. It’s a beautiful mess of emotions, her words like raw, uncut diamonds. I’ve read it more times than I can count. There’s a part of me that admires her ability to express everything she’s feeling, something I’ve never been able to do. Since then, she’s written three more books, but Wasted Days has always been my favorite. Even so, reading it again didn’t help much–it didn’t do anything to fight the sense of boredom creeping in.
My eyes flicked to the invitation on my desk, the one I’d received two days ago. A reunion party from my university days. A bunch of people I hadn’t seen in years. The thought of going hadn’t been appealing at all. It felt like just another reminder of the life I once had before all this. But as the minutes ticked by and the boredom crept in, I couldn’t help but rethink it.
Fuck it.
I tossed the book aside and stood up from my bed, already regretting the thought of going. But as I glanced at the clock, I knew I needed something to fill the space. I needed a change of scenery, even if just for a few hours.
After a few moments of staring at the invitation, my mind racing with thoughts of what I was even doing, I shook it off. Just go, Ashley. What’s the worst that could happen? I didn’t want to spend another night alone, caught in my own head, wondering about things I couldn’t control.
I walked to my closet and pulled out a sleek red dress. It was bold, fitted, hugging my curves in all the right places–sexy, confident, a little daring. Exactly what I needed to feel like myself again. After slipping it on, I checked my reflection in the mirror, adding a swipe of red lipstick for the perfect finishing touch.
Perfect.
A slow smirk tugged at my lips as I grabbed my purse. Time to have some fun.
The party was already in full swing by the time I arrived. Music pulsed through the walls, vibrating in my chest as I stepped inside. The air was thick with laughter, the clinking of glasses, and the low murmur of conversations blending into the upbeat tempo of the music.
I scanned the room for a familiar face but came up empty. A strange feeling of awkwardness settled over me. I should’ve texted a few people first, I realized. Now, I was just standing there, alone, contemplating if turning around and heading home was the better choice.
“Ashley?”
A voice called from behind me. I turned, facing a tall blonde with a bright smile. Something about her seemed familiar, but I couldn’t quite place her.
“I thought it was you!” she beamed. Seeing my confusion, she laughed. “Oh, come on, you don’t recognize me?”
I tilted my head, trying to piece it together.
“We always sat together in… that course at university.”
And then it clicked.
“Claire! Oh my God, it’s been years!”
I hadn’t seen her since graduation, and the fact that she recognized me in this sea of people brought an unexpected wave of relief.
“Yeah, it’s me,” she grinned. “You look amazing!”
“So do you,” I replied, genuinely happy to see her.
“I’m here with some of our old friends. You should come join us!” She gestured toward a small group of people across the room.
1/2
04 AM d
Chapter 18
For a moment, I hesitated. But then I reminded myself–I was here to let loose. To have fun.
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