Chai Tea

The one with the heartbreak

Three weeks later. Ed is on tour in America and Shai is staying at his flat in London.

Shai stood to the left of the window staring down at the camped fans. She could see a couple of teenagers whispering to one another with a magazine in front of them. The magazine. Her whole life story, plastered onto its pages for the entire world to gossip about. It was sickening.

She hated the world of celebrity. Hated it to the point of murder. Yet, she had sacrificed herself to it when she fell for Ed. They came as an unwilling package, and it had previously been bearable. But now, Ed was gone and everyone knew her secrets.

Shai's mother had a mental illness. There was a long list of terrible happenings stored away from memory and locked for eternity. Shai had got over it, for fucks sake. It was in the past. Her mother was better and life was finally on the right track. But then she met Ed and the paparazzi became interested. Her family was now recognised, photographed. Wherever she went, the magazine followed.

Shai felt sick as she fumbled with her mobile and clicked on Ed's number. 'Hello?' His voice was gravelly, as if he had been woken up.

'Hey Ed' Shai whispered, dismayed to hear her voice breaking. 'Love? What's wrong?' he asked worriedly and shuffling could be heard in the background. 'I-I can't do this anymore. I thought I could handle it, b-but I can't.' She stuttered as the lump in her throat surfaced. 'What are you talking about?' the line was silent except for Shai's small whimpers 'They found out about mum. They all know. There are people in front of the flat. I'm sorry Ed.' more sounds of shuffling from Ed's side. 'You're breaking up with me' His voice was flat. The silence confirmed his suspicions. 'Shai, I understand. I love you, I'm sorry you're hur-.' The last word was broken and the call was cut off.

Both numbly stared at the phones in their hands, one in America and one in England. Both dropped their phones to the floor and sat alone to their thoughts. The next hour Shai called her mother to pick her up and raced out of the house, not before posting her key through the letterbox. She wore Ed's hoodie with realising it.

She didn't take it off for three days.