Scrubs

Chapter 7

After everything settles down Grey feels comfortable enough to leave me alone. He didn't question my split decision or really say much of anything. He just walked me inside and pulled me into a warm embrace before asking if I'd be alright and left to go back home. Under the condition that I lock the doors, that is. Once he texted me telling me he made it home and to call him if I needed anything, I shut my phone off. I knew soon my phone would be blowing up from Clayton begging for another chance.

I take this as my opportunity to thoroughly clean the house and gather all of Clayton's belonging in plastic bags and boxes which I leave on the front porch. I can't help but cry as I pack up the rest of his shirts from the closet leaving behind a big empty space next to my clothing. I take a big whiff of the last one before tying off the bag and setting it outside of the door. Next I go through the house cleaning up the mess he's left behind which I chuckle solemnly at, his parting gift to me. Fitting.

I see me removing all of Clayton's belonging and the mess he's left behind as a metaphor for me removing him and all the hurt he's caused from my life. For so long I let him call me names and push me around so I wouldn't have to do the hard thing and leave him but I should've done it ages ago. It's silly that this is what it takes to finally realize he's been emotionally manipulating me all of this time with his broken promises of a better life. The pain I feel is overshadowed by the new found sense of freedom and the relief. No more coming home from a hard day feeling on edge because I don't know what I'll be walking in to. And no more arguing with someone everyday of my life. I feel at peace. And that's how I know I've made the right decision.

When I've finally reorganized the entire house and scrubbed it clean, it looks like a whole new home. I'm sure now I'll likely have to move but it shouldn't be too hard to find a new place and I can change the locks in the meantime to keep out any unwanted visitors. Now that it's dark and I've finished the task at hand I decide I'll turn on my phone and make myself something to eat. I cook some pasta and meatballs as my phone buzzes relentlessly from all the the messages I received while it was off.

I leave my cellphone face down on the table and stare at it as I eat. I'm dreading the damage control I'm about to do but I don't regret my decision no matter the backlash from our loved ones. It's not until I've showered and gotten into bed that I finally read all of my texts. Most of them are both Clayton's and my own siblings asking what's going on, there's one from my dad letting me know I've embarrassed my parents, but the one that catches my eye is from Clayton's mother. 'I'm sorry my son let you down. I'm here if you want to talk.' I'm surprised by the message but not that she is reaching out. I've always suspected she knew there were underlying issues in our relationship and considering she raised him, she likely knows his harmful tendencies better than anyone.

I send a text to Clayton telling him to swing by whenever he can to pick up his things and that he can leave the house key in the mailbox which he reads but doesn't respond. I didn't really expect him to anyways. My thumb hovers over Grey's name for a moment before I decide that I've had enough drama and excitement for the day and I'll see him at work tomorrow anyways. And with that my heavy eyelids drift closed and I let sleep take me away.

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The sound of squealing in the next room pulls me from my trance and I step back out of the shower removing my wet gown and redress in leggings and a fluffy white sweater. My feet carry me out of the room leaving my dream man behind still standing under the hot water. I feel as though I'm floating as I travel through the unfamiliar house as if it's second nature. My legs take me down the hall to a closed door with the sound of children playing behind it.

When I peak inside the room there's two beautiful little children, a little boy with messy brown waves on the top of his head and wild green eyes, and a little girl with long chestnut hair and deep blue eyes that are all too similar to the ones of the man I just shared a shower with. A creak in the floor boards beneath my feet brings their eyes up to me and I open the door fully knowing I've been caught. They both run to me squealing "Mommy!" in unison. Each wraps around either one of my legs. "Good morning kiddos." I smile at them and they gleam back up at me. "Let's go get breakfast." And they both run excitedly out the door and toward the stairs.

I wake up groaning in frustration. My wonderful dream is coldly ripped from me and I'm thrown back into my harsh reality. Oh how I wish I could stay in that dream forever. I peel my eyes open and check my alarm clock realizing I somehow slept until an hour before I'm meant to be at work so I jump out of bed and start getting ready as fast as I can.

I make it there just in time and rush into the building. As I'm about to go through the door I almost knock down my coworker, Heather. She's one of the hardest workers in the building on top of being a mother of two boys. She has long black hair that she always braids back out of her face and basic black glasses. "Woah there. Where's the fire?" She questions steadying me by grabbing a hold of my shoulders. "I just really hate being late." I smile at her sheepishly. "Yea, well don't hurt yourself trying to have perfect attendance." She laughs at me patting my back as we enter together. "I'll try not to." I reply.

When I get settled and start working I notice I still haven't see Grey yet even though he's supposed to be working with me. After 20 minutes pass I question one of the nurses to find out what's going on. They let me know that he's going to be late so I have to work the whole wing by myself for two hours. This makes me nervous because he's never late but I carry on taking care of people. Just as the two hour mark hits he comes strolling in looking as good as ever and my heart flutters for a moment. I quickly look away as to not make it obvious I was watching for him.

Once he sets his stuff down and clocks on he saunters over to me. "I saw that." He whispers in my ear. "You saw what?" I put my hand on my hip. "You were watching for me." He wiggles his eyebrows in a suggestive manner. "I'll let you think that." I roll my eyes at him before getting him up to speed on his patients and leaving them to him. Throughout the evening I catch him watching me and when I go into a storage closet he slips in behind me suddenly 'needing' washcloths. He brushes by me, his body rubbing against mine causing my cheeks to blush a deep red. Lord have mercy on my soul.