Healing Hearts

Chapter 13

The jackhammer in Simon's head would not relent.

He groaned and rolled over, trying to shield his eyes from the piercing light that seemed to emanate from every surface in the room. He reached for his phone on the nightstand, his fingers grazing the cool glass like a shipwrecked sailor finding solid ground.

He squinted at the screen, numbly swiping through the notifications. Among the endless stream of reminders and mundane messages from friends, his eyes landed on a missed call from Charlotte. His heart skipped a beat.

He blew out a sigh, feeling a mix of relief and dread as he tapped on her voicemail message. He pressed the speaker button, bracing himself for whatever news she had to share.

"Hello, Simon. It's Charlotte. There's something important I need to tell you. Please give me a call when you get a chance." Listening to her words, the heavy pit in his stomach grew even bigger.

He checked the timestamp. It was from just before midnight. I must have passed out.

Simon groaned, rubbing his temples as he tried to recall the events of the previous evening. The night was a blur; he couldn't remember how much he'd actually drank. He knew it was too much, and he felt the consequences now. His head pounded with every beat of his heart, and his stomach churned with nausea.

He decided it was best to take a shower, hoping the hot water and soap would clear away the stench of whiskey and regret. He turned on the faucet, letting the water warm up before stepping under the spray. The sensation of the hot water cascading over him felt like heaven.

Simon closed his eyes and let the water wash over him. He needed to focus, to gather his thoughts and come up with a plan. Charlotte had asked him to call her, and he needed to be prepared. He might not know what she would say, but one thing was certain: whatever it was, it would have a profound impact on their lives.

***

It was nearly 11 o'clock in the morning and Charlotte had yet to hear from Simon.

She knew that he was a busy man, but this was something she needed to discuss with him. She couldn't let it linger any longer. She decided to go downstairs to his apartment and check on him.

As she walked downstairs, she couldn't shake the feeling of unease. What if something was wrong? What if he was hurt or sick and couldn't call her back? Her heart raced as she approached his door. She took a deep breath, steadied her nerves, and knocked lightly.

"Simon?" she called out, her voice barely above a whisper. She listened intently, but there was no response. She knocked again, louder this time, "Simon, it's Charlotte. Are you home? Are you okay?"

She let out a sigh of relief when she heard footsteps from the other side of the door.

Simon, still drenched from his shower, fumbled with the locks. Finally, he opened the door, his face pale and drawn.

"Hey," Simon said, his voice barely a whisper. His eyes flicked to the floor, avoiding her gaze.

Charlotte's heart stuttered. He looked so vulnerable, so unguarded. Her initial anxiety faded away, replaced by a new emotion: sympathy.

She stepped inside, closing the door behind her.

"What's wrong?" Charlotte said, her voice gentle. She couldn't help but worry about him.

"I'm fine, just had a bit too much to drink last night," Simon said, trying to brush it off.

Charlotte raised an eyebrow, sensing there was more to it. "And how did that happen?" she asked, concern in her voice.