Left with the Right Choice

Chapter Five: My Life as a Nightmare

Ryshia's POV:

I was drenched in sweat when I entered out grey apartment that evening. What a day! What twists and turns of events!

What an almost nightmare!

Half a dozen police officers were waiting for me as I arrived back at the place where I stole— no, borrowed— the motorcycle. The owner’s face was as red as an apple. It took an hour or two of begging and pleading and appealing to him to let me go (which was extra difficult considering our language barrier) before I was finally allowed to go with a stern warning from what looked like the policemen’s chief after the motorbike’s owner decided not to press charges.

Huh… and I thought all cops were bastards.

I texted Luz immediately as they let me go.

‘WHERE R U!? NEARLY GOT ARRESTED… CALL ME AS SOON AS U CAN’

Then I sent him a text message.

‘OMW home from a gathering at Luz’s. C u!’

Up to now I have received no reply from either of them— which was pretty upsetting especially after seeing that he wasn’t home. Strange… he was usually so punctual.

‘Home already’ I typed furiously, my irritation shown by the loud tapping of my fingers against the screen of my phone ‘I’ll b @ d shower’.

‘Pls reply asap’ was supposed to be my continuation of the message. I decided against it, however, and instead typed ‘Take care, I love you!’

I love you… three simple words… yet why is it so hard for him to say it?

He can’t even be bothered to text it back.

I can’t even remember the last time he said it to me.

Why bother? I thought, shrugging as I undressed and stepped into the shower. Maybe he’s busy at work. Maybe his phone’s battery died. Maybe there’s no signal…

Or maybe he’s too preoccupied with her.

“Stop it Ryshia!” I scolded myself “You’re overthinking again! He chose you over her! He left her to be with you! Isn’t that enough to prove how much he loves you?”

“But why can’t he say ‘I love you back’ then?” a second voice from the back of my head shot back “and how do you know he won’t come back to her again?”

I had to slam my head against the bathroom wall to silence the annoying voice. I felt a lump grow in my temple with a panging ache.

And then I decided to shift my mind’s anxiety to other thoughts. Like… what did I just do today?

Why did I even take that motorcycle in the first place? Why didn’t I just hail a cab for him if I really wanted to help? What sort of demon was possessing me that prompted me to help him to begin with?

Pulling him out of the stampede was one thing, but committing a felony, nearly earning myself a one-way ticket to jail just to get him to the same place where my nightmare had been raised?

I let the warm water wash away my thoughts together with the oil and sweat from my body.

“Mmm… smells good!”