Written august 19th, 2020
Posted sept. 3rd, 2020
I heard Cherry tell Blake at his house that she was going home.
Against all rationality, I decided after my shift at the EOP that I would go home to see if she would be there.
I pulled up in my AirCar to the house. It dropped at the base of the beige rocky staircase, and I walked it all the way up as my nerves were working themselves up. I didn't know what to expect.
I also didn't know what I would do if I saw her.
At the door, the AI recognized me and opened the door. As the sliding door stopped in a whoosh I realized it was as silent as it had always been. Was she really there? Or did she come earlier and leave?
I wanted to confront her. Sigh. I just wanted the truth for once. Where had she been all this time? With whom? And why?
I walked past the big living room, and a few seconds later, the kitchen and dining area. When I passed her reading room, that's when I heard them. I walked back, and peeked inside. I instantly met Ken's curious eyes. He was sitting with Cherry, facing him, only. Wasn't he married to Nora? Wouldn't she hate the sight if she saw them? They looked very intimate and cozy.
I walked inside under ken's curious and dilated pupils. Cherry turned around when she heard my black boots resonate on the floor. From her frown, I could tell she wasn't fond of me being there.
Good. Because I was.
I sat down beside Ken, ad made a robot bring extra plates, and utensils to eat. We were eating sautéed vegetables, red meat cooked in the oven, with a Greek salad. I didn't plan on confronting her in front of Ken but her hypocrisy made me seen.
Especially since Ken was falling for her lies.
"I didn't know you were coming." Cherry said, touching slowly her jaw.
I smiled. "I didn't know too." I looked up, spatula in hand for mixing the salad. "why are you not happy?"
"no-" she said fast, making her deception even louder. She brought her hands together. "I'm super happy!"
I looked up a second time at her strained and very anxious face. Yeah not convincing.
When I was done serving myself, I realized there was a long silence, one that prolonged itself since I came. At first, their conversation was mundane. I knew that her new husband who was also my enemy was coming to her at eight. It was seven ten. And she hadn't had time to talk to Ken because he barely got home from work when I got there.
She would have to talk to him about her evil plans.
When there were thirty minutes left, she gave in.
"why did you marry her?"
"I told you to wait for me!"
"I was stuck somehwre and coulnt help it."
"you're such a crappy person for replacing me."
She was insulting him so much, she was saying so many dirty words. With each nasty one out in the air, I grabbed my fork harder, and tried to focus on basic things: grab a spoonful, put it in your mouth, chew it, swallow it.
But I started to get dizzy, and the words that made me sick started floating around my head. Whenever I looked, I would see them. On my plate. On her reading desk. On her frames.
"stop." I yelled, pusing my chair on the floor with my outburst.
Cherry was looking at me curiously.
"will you stop lying for once and say the truth?" I asked.
She stayed silent. "don't play the innocent. I know about your husband, I know about the home, I know about you! You're a hypocrite! Why don't you say thayt?"
At last, I got a reaction. She brought her hands on her knees, and sighed.
"husband?" Ken said, and looked at her. She dropped he gaze.
"The cat ate your tongue now?" I turned to her side, kneeled in front of her, and gently grabbed her face. "no matter how little of respect I had for you, it's gone now. We're tired of being stuck in your web of lies. Tired od the abandonment and treasons. Just leave us the heck alone."
Her hazel eyes were watery. Mine probably were.
Ken stood up. "autumn's right." He said loud, like he was giving a speech. From his tense back, I could tell he was deeply hurt by the news. "I moved on from my teary past. Apparently, you moved a while ago. Leave, Cherry. We are done. We have been done with each other for years."
The tears she had been holding dropped. And she went on full-on sobbing. Without a single glance at her, he walked out. At the exit, though, he didn't fail to turn and look at me at least once. He titled his head, and reached out his hand in agony. He was saying thank you. He was grateful.
I nodded. I held Cherry in my arms even though I was torn inside. I love her. At least a bit. Even if it was impossible for me. When someone you love hurts you repeatedly, should you let them go and set yourself free?
I stood up. My shirt was stained with her tears. I wasn't sad. But I was pained. You could see it in my slumped shoulder and tired eyes. "you can't do both relationships. Choose the one that matters the most, and assume the consequences."
She looked up at me. "Don't come here again if you don't mean it." I said. "If you love someone you make sure they don't get hurt. You aren't the one who hurts them repeatedly."
I slowly walked out, and to my bedroom on the other side. I had a view on the front of the house. I saw her leave with her bag and all her clothes about thirty minutes later.
I made myself look away when my heart started beating too fast, and I felt my eyes water. No. I didn't see Blake. But I knew she was going to see him.
She gave up on us. On me.
I would neve be good enough for her, even if I become sensitive.
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The Perfect She |Completed|
Science FictionThe question is not whether you'll get hurt in this world. It's who will hurt you and why you will let them" Autumn Air, famous and "perfect" seventeen year old prodigy feels like nothing is perfect in her life but her imperfections. Living in the m...