The Proposal

38 - Visitor

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I didn't attempt to leave my bed for the next few days.

I was broken. Profoundly.

I did everything in bed, apart from showering and using the bathroom, of course.

My daily routine had drastically changed ever since I was kicked out of the palace, and I had just been merely existing after that. I had huge eye bags from crying consistently, plus I could barely sleep or eat, and even when I tried to eat, I couldn't keep it down. I threw it up minutes later, and no one even knew about it, not even  Ruby.

I didn't want to disturb Ruby much because I was already stressing her out enough while she tried to tirelessly take care of me.

I had spent the previous day trying to convince her to go back to school. Her semester had resumed after the holidays but she insisted that she couldn't leave me alone, not like this. So I wanted to prove to her that I was okay just so she wouldn't put her life on pause because of me.

And thankfully, she finally agreed.

I sat on my bed, leaning back on the headboard, with a lot of thoughts whirling around in my head before my door barged open, and Ruby walked in.

"Hey, how are you doing?" She asked, coming towards me and sitting beside me on the bed.

"I'm fine," I lied, but even she could see past my lie. To her, asking if I was okay was just like a formality. She already knew that I was not fine and that it would take a while for me to be fine.

"Alma is already making breakfast," she said, not wanting to argue with me about not being fine. "And my bags are already packed," she added.

"That's good. You have stayed long enough with me," I said.

"I still don't want to leave you," she said, expressing her dissatisfaction.

"I know, but you have to, I'll be fine. I have gone through heartbreaks before." I tried to convince her.

"But this isn't just any heartbreak. This is different," she helped me clarify. She was right. This was different, and I knew that, but I was just trying to prove myself strong to her.

"I know, but I'm a grown woman now. I have to be strong for myself and my baby." I placed my hand on my belly and rubbed it. "And you too, of course," I added, smiling slightly at her.

She smiled back, shifted closer, and hugged me. "I will call you every single day." It  sounded more like a threat than it was a promise, and it made me smile wholeheartedly. I was so happy that I wasn't alone in this.

"Take care of yourself, Crystal," she told me.

"I will," I assured her.

After our little farewell, one of the guards and the driver ensured that Ruby got to college campus safely.

While Alma brought me my breakfast. I had to force myself to eat the food because I barely had an appetite, but Alma insisted I eat something.

Alma, just like Ruby, has been taking very good care of me ever since. She was literally at my aid every second. Her love towards me still was admirable.