one night?

chapter 31

When I woke up my head was pounding. Charles was still asleep in my arms so I had to stretch out to grab my phone and see the time. I had woken up just in time to grab my things and run. I smelled like sex but I had no time to fix anything. I grabbed my dress and underwear and threw it in my suitcase before closing it.

I put on a hoodie and leggings and ran out. I didn't even want to leave a note for Charles. I didn't even know what to say. As much as I've tried to fight it, Charles and I are drawn to each other but I didn't even know his situation with his ex and I wasn't going to wreck that, even though that wrecked me. My mind was conflicted in the taxi ride to the airport and then in the check-in line as well.

When I finally got to sit down I texted Rebecca for her to know that I was coming back to modeling. I wanted to do it. When I left I thought the source of my suffering was modeling but in reality there were so many other factors that were affecting my career in a negative way. She replied with a sticker and sent me the contact of the agency. Nerve wracking.

charles.

missed call (2)

I boarded the plane and sat next to a kind elder woman. Once we took off she grabbed my arm while she had her eyes closed off. She was nervous, so I let her grab me. When things calmed down she took a deep breath and offered a sweet smile.

"Thank you, I'm Martha. I never travel without my husband but he passed a few years ago and I'm traveling solo." Martha confessed and I couldn't help but give her a compassionate smile.

"I'm Camila, nice to meet you. How long were you and your husband married?" I asked intrigued, she looked like she had lived a life.

She smiled while she remembered, "almost three decades, it was a happy marriage."

"I can imagine, I couldn't stand my boyfriend for too long."

"Couldn't? You broke up?" Martha asked with a concerned face.

"It's a long story." I concluded.

"I have time." She said like if she knew I needed to get it off my chest. I told her everything over the airplane breakfast. She listened like no one ever did.

"So yeah, now I'm missing his calls." I took a deep breath.

"You and your generation make things so complicated, poor souls. Tom, my husband, and I had a rough patch where we couldn't stand being in the same room. We didn't communicate with each other what we were feeling." She grabbed my hand, "if I can give you an advice just talk."

"Oh Martha, you don't know how difficult is that." I laughed along her.

"I know I know, you can't forgive him right now but if last night shows you that the love is still there."

"But I didn't tell you about last night." I was confused.

"Honey I wasn't born yesterday," she joked. "Besides I have kids of my own, you know."

For the remaining time, Martha and I talked about life. She told me stories about her trips with her husband and the life lessons she had learned along the way. There was no sadness in her tone, just nostalgia. I was struck by the amazing life she lived and how happy she seemed. At the end we exchanged phone numbers when I found out she lived in Barcelona. Once we landed in Mallorca, I helped her find her bag and then, her daughter.

"Come here," she said while she pulled me for one of the sweetest goodbye hugs. She whispered in my ear, "don't forget my invite to your wedding with Charles Leclerc."

"I never told you his name!" I pulled away astonished.

"I recognized you! Besides look at your home screen." I turned to look at the photo in my home screen. I didn't have the heart to take it off. I was happy with him. "You still love him and you're allowed to."