𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡

𝟏𝟏| 𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭

ANTHEA

╚══ஓ๑♡๑ஓ══╝

Sometimes it scares me, not gonna lie. When I look at the mirror, it scares me to see the emptiness in my own eyes. I used to be so full of life, so full of dreams and aspirations. But now, I feel like a shell of my former self.

I stand in front of the mirror, my hands trembling as I reach up to touch my reflection. The once bright and vibrant girl is now replaced with a mere shadow of herself. My eyes, once full of joy and spark, now hold nothing but emptiness and sadness.

Anthea, my inner voice whispers, what happened to you?

I close my eyes, not wanting to see my own reflection any longer. It's a bittersweet feeling, looking at myself in the mirror. On one hand, I want to see the person I used to be. On the other, I know it will only bring pain and regret.

Wiping the tear and surrounded myself by paperwork, a stack of bills that needed to be paid. My days were always busy and filled with endless responsibilities.

I was in the middle of making notes for my next business meeting when my phone rang. I picked it up without looking at the caller ID, assuming it was one of my men informing me of some urgent matter.

"Anthea, you need to come downstairs," a voice said on the other end. It was Aiden, right-hand man. I could hear the urgency in his tone, which immediately caught my attention.

"What's going on?" I asked, slightly annoyed at the interruption.

"It's lunchtime, and you haven't eaten anything yet," Aiden replied, his voice filled with concern.

I let out a sigh and looked at the clock on my desk. I had been so engrossed in my work that I hadn't even realized the time. My stomach grumbled, reminding me that I hadn't eaten since breakfast.

"I'll be down in a minute," I said before hanging up.

I walked down the stairs and made my way to the dining hall where Aiden was waiting for me. He had already set the table with an array of delicious dishes, and the aroma of fresh food filled the air.

"What's all this?" I asked, my eyes widening in surprise.

"I know you've been busy with work and haven't had the chance to eat properly. So, I thought I'd make you a decent meal," Aiden explained with a warm smile.

I couldn't help but feel touched by his gesture. Aiden was the person who understood how hectic my life was and never complained about my lack of attention towards him. He was more than just a friend.

I sat down at the table, and Aiden served me a plate of pasta, my favorite dish. As I took a bite, I couldn't help but savor the taste that exploded in my mouth. It had been a long time since I had tasted something so delicious.

"I don't deserve you, Aiden," I said, shaking my head in disbelief.

Aiden chuckled. "Don't be silly, Anthea. You work too hard and forget to take care of yourself. It's the least I can do."

Aiden was right; I was so focused on my work that I had neglected my own well-being. But that was the price I had to pay for being the ruthless and cold leader of a mafia gang.

"You know, sometimes I wonder if I've lost my humanity," I admitted, looking down at my plate.

Aiden placed a hand on my shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "You may be tough on the outside, but you have a heart of gold, Anthea. Don't ever forget that."

I smiled at him, feeling grateful for having someone like him in my life. Aiden was my anchor, something that kept me grounded amidst all the chaos in my world.

As we continued to eat, we talked about lighter topics, and for a moment, I forgot about the stresses of my job. Aiden had a way of making me laugh and forget about my troubles.

After we finished our meal, I felt refreshed and re-energized. I thanked Aiden for the wonderful lunch before heading back to my office and try not to fucking put a bullet through my head.