Blooming Hearts

Chapter 9

Lately, Adele had been talking about Rich

a lot.

It started off casually, mentioning how he

had reached out to her, but as time went

on, it seemed like he was constantly on

her mind.

Apparently, Rich's life was falling apart,

and according to him, it was all because

of Adele's absence. He even blamed me

for it, as if my presence in her life had

driven a wedge between them.

At first, Adele brushed it off, not paying

much attention to his pleas, but slowly,

the tone of her conversations began to

change.

She started talking about Rich more

often, expressing concern over his

situation. "He's still a friend," she would

say, "and I can't just leave him like this. I

want to help him."

Every time she said that, it felt like the

ground was crumbling beneath my feet.

Deep down, I knew that if she met with

Rich, there was a possibility they might

rekindle their relationship.

My insecurities, which I had tried so

hard to suppress, came rushing back

with a vengeance.

I became tense, filled with a gnawing

anxiety that wouldn't let go. But Adele

was so preoccupied with Rich that she

didn't even notice my distress.

One day, she came to me with a

determined look in her eyes.

"I'm meeting Rich tonight," she said. "I

just want to help him. It's friendship,

nothing more."

She even kissed me to reassure me, but

the knot in my stomach tightened all the

same.

That night, I called Adele five times, but

she didn't pick up.

Panic started to creep in, and my mind

raced with every possible scenario.

What if they were together right now?

What if everything between us was just a

figment of my imagination?

What if I was nothing more than a game

to her?

I couldn't stand the torment any longer.

The thoughts became unbearable, so I

left the house, wandering aimlessly

through the night.

I found myself by a canal, the water dark

and foreboding.

It was as if I was no longer in control of

my own body.

I walked to the edge, and without a

second thought, I jumped.

The cold water enveloped me, and for a

moment, everything went silent.

I was drowning, sinking deeper into the

darkness, when suddenly, someone

pulled me out.

I was barely conscious, cold, and covered

in bruises, but before I could see who

had saved me, they disappeared into the

night.

I must have been unconscious for over

an hour.

When I finally made it back home,

drenched and shivering, I found Adele

waiting for me in the living room.

Her expression was a mix of concern,

anger, and sadness.

The moment she saw me, her eyes

narrowed, and I could see the worry in

them.

"Where have you been? My phone was

on silent, and I saw your missed calls too

late. But then you didn't answer when I

called back. Why are you wet?"

I tried to brush it off, not wanting to tell

her the truth.

If she knew what I had done, she would

be furious.

I attempted to play it cool.

"I was swimming," I lied, hoping it would

be enough.

"With your clothes on?" she asked,

suspicion lacing her voice.

Her eyes scanned me, and then they

landed on my feet, noticing the bruises.

Her expression hardened instantly,

shifting from concern to fury.

"I won't ask again. Where have you

been?" Her voice was sharp, almost a

shout.

"It's not what it looks like," I tried to

explain, but she wasn't having it.

"Take off your clothes," she demanded.

"No, let me explain," I pleaded, but

before I could say anything else, Adele's

patience snapped.

"I said, take the shirt off!" she shouted,

her voice filled with raw emotion.

She didn't wait for me to comply.

In a flash, she pulled the shirt off herself,

revealing the bruises that marred my

skin.

Some were deep, angry marks that told

the story I was too afraid to share.

"We're going to the hospital," she said,

her voice cold, leaving no room for

argument.

"It's nothing. I'm fine," I tried to insist,

but she wasn't listening.

The warmth that usually filled her eyes

was replaced by a fiery determination.

"Right now," she commanded, and I knew

there was no refusing her.

Without another word, she dragged me

to the car, and we drove to the hospital

in silence.