One Month Later
The sun peeked from the peak of the sky, shining through the thin black curtains split from Hayden's window. He laid in his bed, head on his pillow and phone over him, typing on the virtual keyboard.
@Hayden| You'd want to visit Paris? You do know I hate Paris, right?
@Ilene| That's only because I want to write there. It explains how you're so good at writing.
@Hayden| How insulting. You think my skill depends on continent?
@Ilene| I have to believe America sucks and not me.
@Hayden| Haha, you write really well, though. I'm impressed by your latest poem is well, it's really well-written too.
@Hayden| *as
@Hayden| Fucking autocorrect.
@Ilene| You know what would be a great inspiration?
@Hayden| Hm?
@Ilene| Sitting in a hotel room in the morning time, overlooking a big city. You're sleeping in bed, there's early morning bustle outside, activity always going around. And I'm just sitting at the window cell with my notepad, writing down my thoughts.
@Hayden| A beautiful scene. I could then wake up and hug you from behind.
@Ilene| Mm, that would be nice.
@Hayden| When do you want to meet up later, by the by?
"Yo!"
Slam!
Zach and AJ crashed into his room, drunkenly laughing as they fell against his chair and bed respectively, red plastic cups in hand.
"What's happening, little bro?" Zach croaked, half-smiling.
"Why do you continue to enter places you have not been invited?" Hayden replied, his eyes still glued to the screen.
"Bro, bro, I just messaged this check online and she's down for DP, bro," Zach said, downing the beer in his cup.
Hayden groaned. "I suppose you want me to use my car and drive you there."
"Or... if you'd like, you could offer me your car keys. I'd be happy with that as well."
"Sure. And you'd only crash my car like you did with your last one?"
"That's not-"
"Stone cold sober, too," AJ added.
"Dude!" Zach exclaimed.
"What's this?" AJ picked up a book, flipping through the pages.
"Don't mess with my stuff," Hayden said half-heartedly, scrolling through his phone. "Whatever you got, just put it down."
AJ shrugged, tossing it to the desk across from the bed. It hit the edge and fell to the floor.
"Ooh!" Zach said. "Score, bitch!"
"Shut the fuck up! I'm drunk as shit."
Hayden glanced up from his phone and saw his picture book on the floor. Nostrils flaring, he glared at AJ. "Get out. Now."
"Whoa, bro, calm down," he said. "You didn't even seem to care about it that much."
"Get out!"
"Come on, maybe we can guilt Penny to drive us," Zach said as they exited the room.
"Can she even drive, man? She's like four-five years younger than us, right? Like fifteen or some shit."
Hayden shut his door with an exasperated sigh. He walked over to the picture book and kneeled, picking it up from the ground.
Buzz!
As he glanced at the notification on his phone from Ilene, he set the book – with Kore on the page – face-down on his desk.
Ilene finished typing her message, sighing as she rose from her bed.
Buzz!
@Hayden| What do you think of having a house in Australia?
She stood in front of her mirror, leaning her forehead against it. Her reflection smiled without her motion. "Make him smile. Say, 'I'd love it, it'd be peaceful. It doesn't really matter where we go, so long as it's with you.'"
@Ilene| I'd love it, it'd be peaceful. It doesn't really matter where we go, so long as it's with you.
@Hayden| 😊 You're sweet, I'm lucky to have someone like you.
Ilene's reflection smiled wider. "He's grateful to you. He's happy."
@Hayden| I can't wait to have a family with you there. It'll be a perfect dream.
Ilene's reflection smiled widened until her cheeks split. "Good," the reflection said in a darker, warped voice. "Tell him now, 'It would be. Away from all the distractions over here.'"
@Ilene| It would be. Away from all the distractions over here.
She fell to her knees, head still against the glass. Her reflection fell with her, her hands rubbing against the screen.
@Hayden| Do you want to meet up for a bit in the park downtown?
"Say yes. Shh. Stop crying. Stupid bitch. Say yes."
@Ilene| Yes.
@Hayden| Is something wrong?
@Ilene| No, I'm fine. Can't wait to see you.
She shut off her phone and squeezed her eyes shut. "Aw," her reflection said, "are you wondering why it hurts so much? I know it's confusing. But it'll be okay. You made him happy. Stupid bitch. So, everything will be okay." She glanced up at her reflection: nothing but cracked glass and ruined fragments of herself.
Ilene exited her room in a white dress decorated with black roses. Her purse around her shoulder, she kept her eyes to the floor as she neared the door.
"Ilene."
Stopping, she slowly shut her eyes. "Please, Nana... Not now..."
"Where are you going?"
"Out."
"Out where?"
"Just out."
"Look at me when I'm talking to you!"
Ilene turned around with her arms crossed, a slight frown on her face. Her grandmother sat at the table, scowling at her.
"You're not allowed to see that damn boy anymore."
"What?!"
"You can't see clearly, baby. You've changed so much for him and you don't even know it."
"You don't-"
"-know everything. Yes, I've heard that bullshit before. But enough is enough. You live under this roof and you will do as I say. I'm going to protect you, whether you like it or not. Staying home all the time, never hanging out with friends – that shit's not healthy, Ilene!"
"I-I-" She shifted uncomfortably where she stood, raged echoes of Hayden shouting at her foreshadowing in her head. Pulse elevated, eyes watered. "I'm leaving, Nana!"
"Ilene-!"
Slam!
Ilene's panting increased as she sped down the street, passing by glass windows. She glimpsed at her phone, then dropped it with a gasp.
"...What?"
The building window beside her caught the corner of her vision. She turned and saw a girl with silky white skin, dark hair and dark eyes. She had a white gown on and she stood in a forest in front of a tree with a smiling old face.
Her breathing became short bursts, rapidly heightening until her eyes rolled back and she fell on the street.
"Ilene? Baby? Ilene?"
"Mm..."
Ilene opened her eyes, her sight meeting a white ceiling. Ears followed, inviting the beeping of machines beside her. She lied in a bed, wrapped in a hospital gown with an IV in her arm and Emilia bedside.
"Ilene, are you alright?"
"What... what happened?"
"Honey... you had an episode in the middle of the street. Someone called 911 and now, you're here. The doctor said you were dehydrated as well, not eating enough."
Ilene looked away, eyes squeezed shut. "...I just don't know what to do, Nana..."
"I know it's hard, Ilene. But you're suffering inside. You can't deny it – you're not happy. This is no way to live, to love, to be. You have to get out of this now, while you're still sane."
"I..."
"Ilene."
Knock, knock!
Hayden stood at the door, flowers in one hand and a folded paper in the other.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't mean to interrupt."
Emilia glanced at Ilene, nodding firmly at her. "I'll... let you two talk."
Ilene grimaced as her grandmother stood up and walked off, brushing past Hayden with a glare before leaving the room.
Hayden walked over to Ilene's bedside and laid the flowers on the table. "I wrote this for you," he said, handing her the paper.
She opened it, her eyes building tears before they met one word. "I... I can't do this..." she said, hunching over and dropping her arms.
Hayden embraced her, softly rubbing her back. "Hey, hey, it's okay. Listen, I'll go ahead and bring back the doctor to see what's wrong."
"No, Hayden!" She pushed him off with a deep-set scowl and a furious stare, cheeks stained with streams. "I can't do this anymore."
Hayden's brow tightened, lips slightly agape as his eyes searched hers. He shook his head slowly, face paling. "W... wh... I... No... you don't mean-"
"I love you, Hayden, I swear. At this point, I feel like I'd give my life for you. But... but that's a problem!"
"No, it's not!" he retorted. "That's what you're supposed to want to do when you love someone, why the fuck would you want to do anything else? I would do the same!"
Tears were hanging by their feet on her chin. "Please, just leave me alone... I can't see you anymore... I can't Hayden, I'm sorry. I love you, please... please just go..."
"NO!" He swiped at the table beside Ilene.
Crash!
The roses sat squashed under the bed, torn petals splayed across the floor. "YOU'RE MINE!"
Security guards burst into the room and restrained him, locking in his arms. Emilia reentered the room and interlocked fingers with Ilene as Hayden was dragged out.
"ILENE!"
She raised her hand and reached out for him. He was dragged out and around the corner, disappearing.
Her head fell, tears falling and shoulders shuddering. Emilia embraced her granddaughter to her chest, the girl sobbing louder.
"ILENE!!!" His voice reverberated in the halls. Reverberated in her head. Reverberated in her spine. Reverberated in its own reverberations, endlessly.
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