Criminal ~ OP81

21. Andrea loses her mind in front of a cat

Andrea Wolff

The Parisian skyline materialized outside the taxi window as we crossed into the city limits.

I leaned my head against the cool glass, watching the familiar landmarks blur past. My chest felt hollow, like someone had scooped out everything inside and left nothing but an aching emptiness. It felt wrong to up and leave Zandvoort and go back home, but I had to. I felt suffocated in the hotel room when I returned from Oscar's- and leaving felt like the only option to regain my breath.

As the taxi wound its way through the streets, my mind uncontrollably drifted back to the last time I'd made this journey.

Oscar had been with me then, his eyes wide with excitement as he took in the City of Light. He'd been so excited to show me his home that I jumped at the chance to show him mine. But now, seeing all the landmarks I had rushed to tell him about, it was like a knife being twisted deeper into my chest.

The taxi pulled up outside my building, and I mechanically paid the driver, grabbed my small suitcase, and made my way inside.

I leaned against the wall of the elevator, the cool metal pressed against my hair and did little to ease the headache forming. The ride to the top floor seemed to take an eternity, each floor bringing me closer to a reality I wasn't sure I was ready to face.

As I pushed open the door to my penthouse, a streak of white fur darted towards me. Beans meowed loudly, weaving between my legs and nearly tripping me. I bent down to scoop her up, burying my face in her soft fur.

"Hello, baby girl," I murmured, my voice sounding strange and hollow in the quiet apartment.

She purred loudly, rubbing her face against my chin. Then, she suddenly squirmed in my arms until I set her down. She moved around my luggage and feet before looking at the closed door, as if she was waiting for another person to walk through it.

"He's not here too, Beans," I whispered, looking at the door as well. The cat looked up at me, confusion evident in her blue eyes, before padding away, her tail swishing in disappointment.

I swallowed hard, blinking back the tears that threatened to spill over at the new reminder of what I lost. Dragging my suitcase behind me, I made my way to the kitchen.

The familiar space, with its gleaming countertops and the view of the Eiffel Tower in the distance, usually filled me with a sense of comfort.

Today, it just felt empty.

Having Oscar in my space now meant it couldn't escape his presence that looked in the back of my mind. Reminders of him were everywhere, and it was hurting my stomach.

I try to shake off the ill feelings as I pull my laptop from my carry-on to set it on the kitchen island. My fingers hovered over the keyboard for a moment before I started typing an email to Susie.

Unfortunately with my phone still broken I had no other way of letting her know I got home safe, so of course she made sure to remind me to email her when I got home so she could make sure I was okay.

I tell her I got home and explain she should expect my phone to be fixed by tomorrow afternoon, before hitting send.

I close the laptop with a sigh, still leaning against the island as I look around my empty feeling apartment.

The thought of food made my stomach turn, so instead, I shuffled to the living room and collapsed onto the plush sofa. Beans, probably the one cat who loves to be next to people, jumps up and settles on my chest, her purring a soothing vibration against my ribcage.