Vision

Chapter Twenty Four

Edited

I stay at home and refuse to leave my room. Well, it really isn't my room. My parents haven't had a room for me in their house since I moved out years ago. My makeshift room is the guest bedroom, which has not had anybody occupy it since...forever.

My parents check on me several times. I lie and tell them I'm fine. Most of the calls I get are sent to voicemail and several texts that remain unread are from Peter. So far he's shown up unannounced on my parent's doorstep twice this week. Each time my mother or father used the excuse that I wasn't feeling well.

Somewhere along the lines, news of Opal coming clean about her affairs fills the house. He agreed to go back to Maine to get things in order and finalize their divorce. He's bound to be back home within the next couple of weeks.

The days are long and the nights are even longer. Time passes me by without me actually living them. Before I know I have my checkup appointment. I didn't get an infection and I'm on my way to being fully healed, and the sling that I had to keep my arm in is taken away.

I'm getting back to normal everyday life as much as I can. My parents are giving me much needed space, I didn't know how much I loved living on my own until I had them literally down my throat every minute about something.

They knew that the day would come that I would move out. They can't keep me protected from the world forever. Colton is gone. I'm a twenty-seven year adult, a very traumatized twenty-seven year old, but an adult nonetheless.

I can't go back to my old apartment, because of Peter, so I spend most of my time searching for a new charming apartment complex that has great security and located close to Oasis.

It takes some time, but I find one and I break the news to my parents. They help me pack and linger longer than necessary in helping me unpack. It's much larger than my old complex and it's in the opposite direction from my old place as well, which has made my parents more relaxed. They know the area, I know the area. Life is back to normal.

After a few hours of being home, alone, I get my first visitor. "Took you long enough," I mutter into the room. I shout at her as I make my way to the door. "Did you get lost? Smell a little too much tea?" No answer. "Lillian?" I call out as I finally open the door. Except it isn't Lillian outside in the hall. "Peter, what a surprise."

The hurt in his eyes as he stares at me is almost painful. I told Lillian about my move. No one else. I didn't feel the need to. Apparently, she's keeping Peter in the loop.

"Were you ever going to tell me?"

"Tell you...that I'm all healed?" I'm bad at this. I could have a smart mouth towards Colton, who I knew could kill me, but not with Peter. "It's pretty self explanatory that it would happen."

"Don't act dumb, Bianca."

Ouch, that hurt. That hurt more than I expected it to. After the first few weeks of me refusing to talk to him or even see him, he gave up altogether. He stopped calling, stopped texting, and made no more impromptu visits to my parent's house. It's been nearly six months since I've seen Peter. I wasn't expecting his hurtful words. I wasn't expecting to see him again.

"I just moved in today, it's not like I've been here for weeks."

I watch him as he stares at the floor, still refusing to speak. I'm forced to be the one to initiate the conversation, but I had no idea what to say. So I cut right to it. "I don't know what you want from me, Peter."

"Forgiveness. I'm sorry. How many times do you want me to say it? How many different ways do you want me to say it? I'll do it. I'll do whatever you ask, except leave." He says confidently.