Take Flight

Photos And Cries

"Angelina... Angelina !"

"What ?" you hear from afar.

"Come here."

"In a minute."

"No... No, you need to come see this."

She enters the living room just a few seconds later, drying her hair with a small towel, her bathrobe only half closed. She has a questioning look on her tired face. For a second, what you had on your mind fades away a little when you see she's showered, that she's not letting herself die, rot, like you feel like you're doing lately. She walks up to you and look over your shoulder from behind the sofa you're sitting on. You can feel her breath on your ear. It's been shallower ever since she woke up at the hospital.

"What is it ?"

"I thought you made sure no paparazzi would be at the funeral."

You feel her shiver when you pronounce the word 'funeral', and her breath seems more erratic.

"I did... I... Why are you asking ?" she quietly asks even though she knows exactly why you're asking.

You don't reply to her and show her your laptop instead. This time you can hear her breathing stop.

"It's all over the internet. I don't know who took the pictures and how they did it, but it's out. Me and you together, at a fucking funeral."

She backs up.

"Is that what bothers you ? You and I seen together ? You don't want anybody to know we're together now ? Is that what it is ?"

"No... no, Angelina. No, it's not about that. It's... It's just I wish it would've been a decision I made. We made. This... this is just a violation of our privacy, I... And that's not all."

You mark a pause, biting both your lips as both anger and fear rise a little too much in you.

"Someone talked. They know about her. They know what happened."

You turn around to face Angelina, and you see her sway as she takes a couple of steps back. She finds a chair to sit on before she can crash onto the ground in shock. This hurt expression on her face is one you've seen too much over the last few weeks, and it's one you absolutely despise. You can read pain, anger, incomprehension, shock, and betrayal on her that sweet face you love so much, and it kills you inside. She's speechless for a few seconds, looking for the words to describe just how she feels, but you know as much as she does that not a single word is strong enough to talk about what is going on inside her head.

"They know ?"

You close your eyes tightly and slowly nod.

"How could they ? I... Let me read."

"No, Angelina, it's not a good idea, it's..."

"Y/N. Hand me this laptop."

You reluctantly give her the laptop. Her hands are shaking, and so are yours. When you saw your name and Angelina's together on the headlines of online news magazines, it felt like the biggest punch you had ever received. You stared at your screen for too long, feeling like the ceiling had just crashed onto you. It almost was a miracle you made it out of your room, and for what ? To be reminded that your newborn daughter was gone, but that not only your loved ones new about it, but the whole world suddenly did as well. You had wanted to throw up when you read the journalists' impersonal statements about your relationship to Angelina, and about your baby. You knew the second you saw the first article pop up, that even when you wouldn't make yourself about all of this, the rest of the world would. You knew you had just lost your privacy, and you hadn't even been the one who made that choice.

The noise of your computer hitting the floor brought you back to reality. You ran to Angelina before she collapsed as well and held her tightly against you. You can feel her whole body tremble. The sobs are incoming.

"My baby... My... My Ahana..."

Your heart aches from seeing her like this. It had never happened before, and since your daughter passed, it's all you see from Angelina. The pain of having lost one of the people dearest to you is mixed with the pain of seeing your lover hurt every day.

"I need to get out of this house for a while," you whisper under your breath, "I'm gonna suffocate in here."

Angelina moves in your arms and look up at you.

"You go. I'll see about the tabloids. You get some air, you need it."

"No, Angelina, I can't let you handle this alone..."

"It's not the first time I have to handle a tabloid situation, honey. I'll do it, it's fine."

"Yes, but this is different."

"Just go ! Just go, Y/N. Please. I need to... We both need to be alone right now."

You don't reply, but you know that if it might be true for her, it most definitely isn't for you. Your heart stings at the thought that she doesn't want to be in your company. That she doesn't need you. You kiss her softly on the forehead, and she doesn't budge. You get back onto your feet without a word and walk away from her not without a last glance. You're about to exit the room but stop before the door frame, your back facing her.

"I love you, Angelina."

You walk away too quickly to even hear a response, grabbing your car keys on the counter along with the first jacket you see. Without really being aware of your own actions, you're driving fast without thinking. Soon enough, you park your car in a familiar place. The scenery doesn't look as beautiful as it used to, but if you're being honest, nothing has lately. The trees and bushes look sad and lonely, just like you. Up there you can see the high bridge you had your first kiss on. The river snaking around the dying flowers doesn't stop flowing. The sky is still grey. It's low. Heavy.

You get out of your car, slamming the door in one curt move. The only noise you hear is the sound of your own steps on the paved pathway.  You are trying to focus on the landscape, the view it is offering you, but it feels so sad now. It feel bleak. This place used to bring you so much warmth, so much comfort. You had made so many good memories here. But now, you've lost about everything that could've made it appear comforting. You've simply lost. Once again.

"Y/N ?"

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we're so close to the end istg it got me so excited i just have to write til i'm done
(please keep on commenting yall, i barely get any feedback on my writing or on the story in general so like if it's bad i've just been writing like shit for months🤡)