Sparks Fly- L.N

Chapter 26

Three weeks had crawled by, each day feeling like an eternity, as Elenore prepared to return to England, a journey she would now undertake alone. The breakup with Lando had been anything but private; it had exploded across social media and tabloids, a relentless storm of criticism and cruelty from his fans, attacking her character with a ferocity that shook her to her core. The hurtful comments and messages seemed endless, echoing in her mind, and it became increasingly difficult to find comfort in the face of such relentless abuse. Her days had mostly blurred into a never-ending cycle of despair. The world had lost its colors and vibrancy as grief consumed her. The mere thought of returning to England without Lando felt like a dagger plunged into her heart. The place that had once been their shelter, would now be littered with memories, echoes of their love, and the ghostly presence of his belongings. Standing in the sterile, bustling environment of the airport, Elenore couldn't help but look around, her heart fluttering with fragile hope. She dreamed of the scene she had played over and over in her mind: Lando rushing to her side, his eyes filled with regret, and his voice trembling as he begged her to stay, confessing his endless love. But, as expected, the bustling crowd around her held no such reunion. Lando's physical and emotional absence was a weight she couldn't shake.

The news of Lando being seen with a new woman, Luisa, had reached Elenore. She couldn't help but compare herself to this new presence in his life, her thoughts cycling through questions of her own worth. Luisa was undoubtedly beautiful, and though Elenore struggled to admit it, she couldn't resent Lando for moving on. If this new relationship brought him happiness, she couldn't deny him that solace, even if it tore at her heart. But it hurt that after just mere weeks he had moved on, with someone as beautiful and sweet as Luisa.

As for Charles, he had made attempts to reach out to Elenore, his messages filled with apologies and regret. But she found herself unable to respond, the wounds too fresh, the betrayal too profound. The brotherly bond that had once existed between them was strained beyond repair, and the pain of it was a constant companion in her lonely days. The airport's announcement for her flight stirred Elenore from her daydreaming. With a heavy heart, she gathered her belongings and headed toward the departure gate. Her journey back to England felt like a march into an uncertain future, where the specter of her past love still haunted her every step.

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When she finally touched down in London, it felt like she had left her heart in Monaco. Every step she took was heavier than the last, and her eyes grew increasingly tired. Opening the door to her apartment was a nightmare all on its own. She had forgotten just how much of Lando had become intertwined with her daily life. His presence seemed to linger in every corner. His shoes stood in the hallway, neatly lined up as if waiting for him to return. His hoodie, the one he'd wear on cozy evenings, was lazily thrown on the couch as if he'd be back any moment to slip it on. The load of laundry that she had told Lando to fold still lay, unfolded, on the bed.

Everything reminded her of him, but the worst part was that it smelled like him. Everywhere she went, his scent lingered, a haunting reminder of the love they had shared. It was both comforting and agonizing. It made her feel close to him, but it also amplified the painful void he had left behind. She couldn't escape it; it clung to her clothes, her sheets, and even the air she breathed.

Elenore sank down onto the sofa, the weight of her emotions pressing down on her chest. She didn't cry; the well of tears had seemingly run dry over the past weeks. Instead, she just looked around the apartment, her eyes vacant and unfocused. Her heart was heavy, and her back ached from carrying the burden of her mistakes.
"Lando," she whispered, the name falling from her lips like a fragile prayer.
"Why did I lie to you?" And just as she thought it was impossible to cry any more tears, they came rushing forth like a tidal wave. The sobs racked her body, escaping from her mouth as she gasped for air. It was as if the floodgates had burst open, releasing all the pent-up grief, guilt, and heartache that had been building within her.

At that moment, she felt like a broken vessel, shattered by her own choices. Her cries were a desperate plea to the universe, an agonized attempt to make sense of the chaos that her life had become. She questioned her own worthiness, wondering if she deserved the anguish that had consumed her. But amidst the pain, one thought remained clear: she couldn't bear to live in a world where she couldn't be with Lando.

The hours passed as Elenore's sobs eventually subsided, leaving her drained and emotionally spent. The apartment was silent except for the faint hum of the city outside. It was a silence that mirrored the hollowness in her heart, a void that no amount of tears could fill. But the silence was broken by a ding. She hurried to her phone, praying that it was Lando. And it was.
'Can you ship me my things from your place?'

And just like that, Elenore's heart shattered once again. This was all real, this was her new reality. A reality where she would blame herself for the rest of her life.
'Sure, I'll ship it out as soon as I can'
She wished she could just call him, and beg him to listen, but even if she did, he probably wouldn't listen. Hell Elenore would never have listened if this happened to her.

After a while, she managed to get up and start folding all of his things up. It was hard, folding up all of his clothes and stuffing them down in a box, it was just like all of their memories were gone. She went to her office to grab his computer and she accidentally nudged one of the drawers and heard something fall. She bent down and saw a piece of paper, she picked it up and recognized it almost immediately. It was the letter she had written to him when she realized that she was in love with him, the letter she was planning on giving to him when they got married. But that day would never come. She opened it and started to read the words, but she quickly closed it. It was too painful, all the memories came running back, stabbing her in the shattered pieces of her heart.

As Elenore sat there, surrounded by the remnants of their love, she couldn't help but feel like a trespasser in her own life. Their shared moments, the dreams they had woven together, the love they had nurtured—it all felt like fragile glass, shattered into a million pieces. The letter, a testament to her deep love for Lando, was now a bittersweet reminder of what once was. She gently folded it and placed it in an envelope, careful not to let the tears that welled in her eyes stain the words. Then, she placed it on Lando's computer, she was determined to one day read it and she didn't want to stuff the only remains she had left of their love into a dusty drawer.

She went back to the living room, placing the last little reminders of Lando in the box. She taped it up and now it was like he had never even existed in her life. All though the smell still lingered and the shattered pieces of her heart would probably be a reminder for the rest of her life.