FLAWLESS

CHAPTER 32

Shanelle POV

I stood in front of the bathroom mirror, my reflection reflecting back at me with eyes filled with anxiety. Beads of perspiration dotted my forehead as I tried to steady my racing heart. Another panic attack threatened to consume me, and I couldn't afford to let it take over, not here, not now. The interview had ended a long time ago, but the lingering stress lingered in my veins.

My trembling hands reached into my handbag, searching for the salvation I had found in a small plastic baggie. Three pills spilled onto my palm, the ones that I bought from Ramo. It was a desperate act, a temporary escape from the chaos that consumed my mind. Without a second thought, I tossed the pills into my mouth and swallowed them, hoping they would provide the relief I so desperately sought.

Minutes passed, each one an eternity as I waited for the pills to take effect. Slowly, a veil of calmness descended upon me, like a gentle mist soothing my frayed nerves. The panic subsided, and I breathed a sigh of relief. It was a temporary respite, a fragile balance in an unstable world.

Exiting the bathroom, I started down the dimly lit hallway, my steps cautious and deliberate. Thoughts of the interview and the need to escape this place clouded my mind. But as I walked, my heart sank when I noticed Vincent standing on the other side of the corridor, his eyes locked on me with concern.

Time seemed to stand still as we stared at each other, two people whose paths had once intertwined but had since diverged. I tried to walk past him, to ignore his presence, but his grip on my arm stopped me in my tracks.

"Let go of me," I pleaded, my voice laced with desperation. But Vincent held firm, his eyes searching mine, the concern etched deep into his features.

His voice was steady, tinged with a hint of disappointment. 

"Shanelle, what were you thinking?" he asked, his words laced with accusation. 

"Why would you turn to Ramo for drugs?" Shock coursed through my veins like a surge of electricity. 

How did he know about that? 

I pulled my arm away, defiance burning in my gaze. 

"How do you know about Ramo?" I demanded, my voice trembling.

A faint smile danced on Vincent's lips, his voice softening. 

"Ramo works for me, Shanelle. You should have known better than to get involved with him."

Anger bubbled within me, threatening to spill over. 

"I can buy from whoever I want!" I snapped, my words laced with venom. 

"Stay out of my business."

Vincent took a step closer, his eyes searching mine with a mix of frustration and concern. 

"You need to stop taking those pills," he urged, his voice tinged with desperation. 

"They're dangerous. They won't help you; they'll only make things worse."

A bitter chuckle escaped my lips, laced with a tinge of sadness. 

"Why do you care?" I asked, my voice dripping with resignation. 

"You're not my boyfriend. You have no right to tell me what to do."

Vincent's eyes pleaded with me, his voice laced with sincerity. 

"Because I still care about you, Shanelle. I don't want to see you destroy yourself."

Before I could respond, a voice echoed from the end of the hallway.

"Shanelle! Are you ready to go?" Ava stood there, her eyes filled with curiosity. 

I turned to Vincent one final time, my gaze speaking volumes. Without uttering a word, I walked away from him, my steps quickening as I made my escape. Ava placed a hand on my back and guided me out of the room.

As we left the building, Vincent's words keep repeating in my mind and I wondered about how he found out where I was. Even though a part of me feels glad to see him again but I forced myself to push away any remaining thoughts of him in my head and just focus on the good days ahead.