Till Death Do Us Apart

Chapter 1

Don't do it

The voice in my head whispered as I stood outside the building housing my therapist's office. The sun was still outside, socialising with people but I know by the time I will be done here, it would have long disappeared.

But should I still go in? I still have a chance to go back home, prepare for my wedding and later on have the best night of my life, by binge watching movies and series's. I have been wanting to watch The Big Bang theory from the first season.

My  body agreed with my train of thought and my hand on the handle weakened. It sure does sound good to lay in my hotel bed, order room service and have the chance to watch anything I want.

But you promised Justin

Another voice calls out, caging me. It's true, I did promise him.

Justin is the man I'll be marrying tomorrow, if it wasn't for him I wouldn't have been here ready to let out my secrets. The love I have for that man is really pushing me out of my comfort zone, but is it love?

Trying to not question my feelings like I have been for the couple of months, I take a deep breath and finally push the front door open.

The inside of the building isn't amazing, after all it houses offices and to some, a home. The elevator is straight ahead from the door while the stairs are directly to my left.

My feet turn to the left, regardless of the thought of climbing up to the fifth floor. After all my mind was in shambles and overthinking has lately been my medicine, but I need all the courage I can get to go through with this. I need every memory at its respectful place.

"I should have taken the elevator." I heavily breathed out once I arrived at my destination.

You can do this Angela, you can do this

I knocked on the door, and patiently waited for Mary, my therapist, to open it.

"Aaliyah, welcome!" She opened her door wider, allowing me to step in.

My body relaxed once it sensed the familiarity of the office. Half of the office walls had been newly painted with a dark blue paint while the other half was covered with fading powder blue paint. The lights were dim but good enough for the eyes to take in it's belongings. But one thing that washed me over with a drug full of calmness was the black couch laid out for the "patients", it reminded me of the one mother had in our old house. She never wanted anything bad to happen it, she would be mad to know it now probably belonged to somebody else.

I took off the shades, and wig I had on. My fingers going straight into my eyes without fidgeting, already used to the task. The green coloured contacts came out soon after, and were placed on top of the glass table.

Mary quietly analysed me, struggling to keep the curiosity in her eyes. "I'm glad you could make it considering that you're getting married tomorrow." She said, and even though during sessions we keep things professional, I wish to skip that line today and ask her how she is doing.

I moved to this ghost town years back, running away from my past. I spent a year after my arrival drowning my fears and scars until I met Mary at the local bar. I wanted to continue drowning in my sorrows and she did too, however, she was willing to tell why she was. Her now seventeen-year-old son was part of a gang at a very young age. She tried to get him out but he was just stubborn, and very lucky to not being caught. Until one evening when they broke into a very wealthy and influential man's house. His luck ran out when he got caught and the older guys were arrested but her son had his trial postponed until he would turn 18 because of his age at that time.

"Are they allowed to do that? I mean what is the court saying?" I asked, the alcohol making me a noisy old lady.

"The court...the court didn't say anything. When my son turns into an adult, he won't be in my arms ever again. Today is his birthday and I'm here instead of being with him because I'm scared. A few birthdays left until he is gone, poof in the air." She let her tears roll down her cheeks while finding comfort in the booze.

And tomorrow will be his eighteenth birthday, which is why the smile wasn't reaching her face.

"I am glad I could too...I want to talk to you about something very important before my big day tomorrow. Justin only knows bits of it, the full story is not something I would like him to hear." Because he might leave me, I added in my head.

"Okay, I am listening." She said, adjusting the pen in her hand.

"I-I am going to need you not to note down anything."

"Oh, okay." She placed everything on the table and focused only on me, her hands resting on her crossed legs, "are you alright?"

Do you really think you would get away from me Angel?

I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath in, I can do this, "I am but what I am about to tell you is not. I want to finally let someone know what happened five years ago in my life. I do not want to jeopardise any lives but you are a therapist and have probably heard far more disturbing stories. But before we begin, please promise me that whatever I say will never ever leave these walls." I started to fidget with my fingers as the memories crashing down.

You can't leave me! You're mine

"I promise."

Why would you treat me like this? You know I love you

"Thank you." I smiled at her before closing my eyes again, and lying down on the sofa, "my real name is Angela Brown not Aaliyah Jones. Everything in my life changed a year after the death of my husband when I went to my hometown and met..." my breathing hitched, preparing me for the trauma I am about to unfold because of one man, "and met Dylan Gordon-"

To be continued...