YELLOW

PART 14

We spent the night talking, and her life sounded like a circle of hell—one that mirrored the torment I had endured since childhood.

Anastasia's ex-boyfriend, Hades, had been stalking her for what felt like eternity. His obsession seemed less like genuine affection and more like a manifestation of evil.

"Hades and I were never officially together. He always insisted I was his, and I convinced myself of that for a while," she said, biting her lower lip and taking occasional drags from her cigarette.

Anastasia was a rebel at heart, perhaps the smartest person I had ever met. She had a knack for slipping into trouble without getting caught. Her wit, attitude, and beauty could be formidable weapons in the hands of others.

"When he started abusing me, I thought I deserved it. He made me believe he was doing it for my own good, to make me behave. Like the fool I was, I accepted it," she continued.

"If someone loves you, violence should never be the answer," I whispered, pulling my knees up to my chest as we sat on the floor, our backs against the bed. The moonlight streamed in, illuminating her hazel eyes, which sparkled with flecks of gold.

"It's easy to say that from the outside, but when you're trapped in that cycle, you can't help but believe they're acting in your best interest," Anastasia responded. Then, with a playful smirk, she asked, "And what about you? Who's the ex in your box?" She blew smoke in my direction, and I stared through the haze, taken aback. How did she know about my secret?

"What girl?" I replied, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Look, next time, at least hide it better than right under your bed. You know I never put the same thing in the same place twice," she teased, grinning as she tucked her cigarette between her lips.

"That's... Olivia," I said, feeling a strange tightness in my chest as I spoke her name.

"Olivia, huh? What did this Olivia do to make you feel this way?" Anastasia asked, tilting her head slightly and studying me intently.

"Everything," I replied, letting my fingers trace imaginary patterns on the floor beside me. "She was the woman I loved, the one I envisioned sharing my life with."

Anastasia kept her gaze fixed on me. "If she means so much to you, why don't you fight for her?"

"She's with someone else," I said, my voice weak, before licking my lower lip and letting out a soft, nervous giggle. "I know it's pathetic to still be in love with my ex, especially since she's now with another guy."

"I don't think it's pathetic," she said, rising and walking toward the window. "Pathetic would be throwing it all away for some random guy like she did. But you stayed, Marcus." She smiled before tucking her cigarette into her pocket. I stood up too, brushing my hands against my jeans.

Suddenly, Anastasia glanced back at the door. With a swift movement, she opened the window and leaned out, her elbow resting on the sill. "Hurry," she urged, stepping onto the narrow ledge outside. We were on the fourth floor.

I rushed to the window, peering down with a whisper of concern. "Come back! You're going to fall!" She laughed, a wild, carefree sound, reminiscent of a mischievous Harley Quinn.

"You'll never fly if you never take the leap," she called out, her feet dancing along the ledge as she made her way toward the rooftop. My heart raced, each beat echoing in my ears as adrenaline surged through my veins. I followed her, feeling both exhilarated and terrified, until we reached the rooftop.

"How do you know all these things? It's like you've lived here forever," I said, watching as Anastasia turned to face me, laughter dancing in her eyes.

"You're a novice. This isn't my first time here," she replied, strolling over to the wall. She perched herself there, and after a moment, stood up, opening her arms wide to embrace the gentle breeze that tousled her hair.

I walked closer, hesitating. "Get down! You're going to fall. This isn't Titanic, Rose," I cautioned, but she simply laughed, unfazed.

I stood behind her, gazing at the city lights that twinkled below, casting a glow on our reflections against the wall of the rooftop. I reached for her hands, cherishing every second of that moment, feeling as if it encapsulated everything my life was about.

"Do you ever dream of running away?" I whispered, the question hanging in the air.

Olivia turned her face to look at me, her eyes shimmering in the darkness. "Every day," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Then run away with me," I urged, wrapping my arm around her waist and gently caressing her belly, pulling her closer.

Just then, the sound of someone jumping jolted me from my trance. Anastasia had leaped back onto the floor, landing gracefully beside me. "I feel like you have a lot hidden inside, Marcus," she said, circling me like a predator. "It's as if there's a lock on your heart, and the key has been lost, preventing you from fully opening up."

I felt her gaze on me, a mix of curiosity and intensity, as I stood there, feeling like prey surrounded by a shark.

"Black or yellow dress?" Olivia asked, standing completely naked in front of me while I adjusted my tie in the mirror.

"Yellow, obviously. That's not even a serious question," I grinned, and she winked at me before slipping into the dress.

"Do you think your family will like me?" I asked, fiddling with my sleeves.

She nodded as she fastened her dress. "You're making their little girl happy. My father might feel a bit jealous at first, but he'll get used to you," she giggled, and I smiled back at her reflection in the window.

"Where did you lose the key?" Anastasia suddenly asked as she approached me.

"I thought this baby would keep us together," Olivia said, her expression turning serious. "I really believed we could work it out, but we didn't." She stepped closer, her eyes locking onto mine. "But don't you dare say I didn't love you."

I looked down at her, a smirk forming on my lips, tinged with apathy. "That's why you started dating him right after we broke up, huh?" I shot back, our gazes clashing fiercely.

"You wanted this in the first place, and you did the same with Elora!" she yelled, frustration spilling over.

"It wasn't the same! I dated her because I was miserable seeing you with him. You don't understand. You threw everything away!" I retorted, my voice rising.

Her head shook as she struggled to hold back tears, placing her hand over her mouth. "This baby was supposed to show you how serious I was about us. If you knew me at all, you'd know I wouldn't do this with just anyone."

She turned away, but I couldn't stay silent. "He's going to be a good dad someday, don't worry. Marcus will just be a faded memory for you!" I yelled, but she didn't turn around. She walked away, ignoring my words, leaving me standing there, feeling the weight of our unresolved emotions hanging in the air.

"The baby was the key," I said, letting the words linger in the air. Anastasia looked at me, puzzled.

"Whatever that means," she replied, shaking her head. "You need to fight against it, to reclaim that key and remove the lock. Sometimes, even if you don't want to, locks need to be changed." She placed her hand over my heart, her touch warm and grounding. "Even rusty ones," she winked, a playful laugh escaping her lips.

Suddenly, the alarm in the building went off, echoing through the halls. They must have realized we weren't in our room. Anastasia took off running toward the window we had just climbed out of, the very one from our room.

"You're slow! Hurry up! Do you want to spend an extra month here?" I called after her, pushing myself to keep up. We dashed back into the room, and she quickly closed the window, diving into bed just as I did.

Moments later, a couple of nurses rushed into our room. "Look, they're not here!" one of them exclaimed, clearly frustrated. But we were concealed under the sheets, our bodies clearly visible beneath the fabric. Another nurse shone a flashlight in our direction, checking for any signs of life. "Stop wasting my time," she said to her colleague, turning away.

I stifled a laugh, catching a glimpse of Anastasia's face in the darkness, mirroring my amusement as she bit her lower lip to suppress her giggles.

With Olivia, I felt like a high schooler again, filled with youthful infatuation. But with Anastasia, I felt a connection to the inner child I had never fully embraced.