In another life

27

Hey my loves, just a quick message before you read the next two chapters, it's going to be an emotional ride and I need you all to just bare with me and trust me and most importantly, accept my apology. Love you all <3

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Reece was over at the nursery visiting Marjorie but he also knew he had to talk to Charlotte. He decided to wait until her shift was over to speak to her as she had seemed a little brighter this morning. He walked into the staffroom where she was gathering her things.

"Oh, Hey Reece" Charlotte smiled as he walked in,
"Hey Char, how was last night?"
"It was fun actually. I'm feeling much better"
"I'm glad to hear that" Reece's smile soon faded as he prepared himself for what he needed to tell Charlotte.

"You should know, I uh, I know about you and Mia" Charlotte's eyes widened in surprise,
"What?"
"I know what happened between you two. And I want you to know I'm here for you if you need me" Charlotte looked down for a moment before propping up her usual smile,
"I'm alright Reece, but thank you"
"If you say so. But uh, you should also know that she's leaving" and suddenly Charlotte's heart stopped. Leaving?

"What?"
"She's leaving tonight, she thought that's what you wanted" was it what she wanted? She certainly made it out that way. But deep down Charlotte knew she didn't want Mia to leave. Even if seeing her or even hearing her name stung at her heart. She couldn't just leave... could she?

"She asked me to give you this though" Reece pulls out an envelope from his pocket and reaches it out to her
"Thanks" Charlotte takes the letter and puts in her bag, "see you later"

Once Charlotte got in her car, she looked beside her to the passenger seat and saw the white envelope poking out of her bag. Curiosity for the best of the woman and she opened up the letter.

'Dear Charlotte, my sweetheart, I know you may see this and want to rip it up or even burn it. But please just read this. I need you to know the truth.

I did know who you were when we met. But I didn't befriend you because of that. I never planned on going back to the nursery or seeing Reece again, I never planned for any of this. I'm not who everyone thinks I am, I didn't choose to be this way. I spent years under Roger's blackmail and manipulation to be with Reece and do terrible things. I promise you, I didn't want this life.

I didn't expect to be in this position with you, and I definitely did not expect to fall in love with you. But here I am. My life is complicated and messy and I've done terrible things. You are kind and loving and pure. I don't deserve you sweetheart. And you deserve much better than me.

By the time you read this I'll already be gone, just as you wished. You'll never have to see or think of me again. But I cannot leave without you knowing how truely sorry I am. I love you Charlotte. The way I feel about you is like no other, and truthfully it scares me. I'm not a good person, but you make me want to be one. I don't deserve your love, but you make me feel worthy. Everything I have done from the moment I met you, was for you. Because I love you. I was just trying to protect you from Roger. But I hurt you in the process. I was selfish to even involve you in my life.

Now you're free of me, but know that you'll always be on my mind and in my heart. I've never loved anyone the way I love you. You made me believe in true love. Real love. I want to be the person to show you what that feels like. But I can't. And I'll forever have to live with that. But now you can move on, find someone worthy of your love who will treat you as you deserve. Goodbye sweetheart.
Amelia x'

Charlotte wiped the single tear off her face and held the letter tightly. It was then when she realised how much she truly missed Mia. How much she needed her. She may have lived a whole life without her, but now that she knew her, she couldn't go on without her. She was fooling herself to believe she could move on. But the truth was she couldn't. Because she didn't hate Mia at all. She was madly In love with her. And she couldn't let her leave with her thinking she never wanted to see her again.

Hopefully there was still time.

...

Charlotte drove straight to Mia's house and knocked on the door. Nothing. She rang the doorbell. Nothing. Was she too late?

She tried the handle to find it was unlocked, confusing but convenient. Charlotte walked in and called Mia's name. There is no way she would leave with her door unlocked
"Mia! Are you here?" She walked upstairs and along the hallway, but what she found was not a pretty sight.

"Mia!" The redhead laid on her bedroom floor with blood on her head and seeping through her shirt, her eyes closed and pulse light.

"Mia?" The woman fell to her knees beside her, "Mia? No no Mia wake up!" Nothing. "Please Mia wake up!!" Charlotte felt her own tears drip from her face as she shook the woman. But there was still nothing. No movement. No breathing. No life.

"Don't you dare leave me! not again!" The woman sobbed. But it was too late.