Heartless Betrayal

Chapter 21 - Hope

PLEASE READ: I'm really not feeling the title, so unless I get people commenting to keep "Heartless Betrayal" I'm going to change it to "You're mine now."

Chapter 21

Alex’s POV

It was now 3pm, two hours since we’d found out she was dead. And in those two hours I had read her letter probably 50 times, trying to imagine her reading it. But with every time I read it I was slowly forgetting what her voice sounded like, it was becoming harder and harder to imagine it was her.

I sighed and placed the now crumpled letter on the coffee table in front of me, I stood up and walked into the kitchen, pouring myself a glass of water. My throat felt like it had closed in, making drinking the water difficult and uncomfortable. But I quickly gulped it down, ignoring the feeling of it hitting my empty stomach.

My hands gripped the bench tightly as everything around me started to sway. I clamped my eyes shut, taking deep breaths as I waited for everything to return to normal. I slowly slid my back down the side of the bench so that I was sitting on the floor, my head in my hands. Everything felt so surreal, I still hoped that any second she would walk through the door, smiling and laughing. She’d tell me I was an idiot for thinking she’d died.

FLASHBACK

                “Morning.” I lifted my eyes from the newspaper in front of me to find Sydney standing in the doorway rubbing her eyes.

                “Morning.” I laughed, taking in her dishevelled appearance. Her hair was sticking up all over and one of her socks was all bunched up at her ankle while the other went halfway up her calf. “There’s coffee in the pot.”

                “Mm, yes please.” She smiled, walking into the kitchen and re-emerging with a mug in her small hand. “What’s the plan for today?” She asked, bringing the mug to her lips.

                “Nothing’s planned as of yet.” I replied, chewing on the end of my pen.

                “Well firstly we need groceries.” She began, holding out one finger. “And I also need to get some more clothes to wear to work, and we need a few things around the house.” She finished, checking everything off on her fingers.

                “Might as well make a day of it then.” I suggested, downing the last of my coffee and getting up to place the cup in the dishwasher. “We should probably warn Keegan or he’ll take hours to get ready.” I chuckled, sitting back down in front of my crossword.

“What are you doing, Alex?” She asked, laughing as I sighed in frustration at the paper in front of me.

                “Trying to finish this crossword, but it’s got me beat. I’ve only got the one question left, but it’s been bugging me for days.” I sighed in defeat, pushing the paper towards her. She looked at it and laughed.

                “You’re thinking too hard.” She giggled, “Don’t overthink it, the answers right in front of you.” She continued, turning and walking back towards her room.

                “Are you kidding me? You got it straight away?” I groaned, glaring down at the puzzle in front of me.

                “Yep.” She giggled, popping the ‘p’.

                “What, you’re not even going to give me a clue?” I asked, watching her turn around and throw me a smirk, then walk through the door into the hallway. I stared down at the crossword for a few minutes, deciding to get up and refill my coffee and maybe clear my head a little. If she was right them I won’t be able to figure it out if I stress too much over it.