Waiting For Superman

Lie After Lie

Glenn smiled to himself as he stepped into the lift. It was his four month anniversary with Estella today, and he planned on surprising her at home. He had rather painstakingly found her address and since she was on leave today, he had the perfect plan.

He stepped out on the 13th floor and after looking at the signs overhead, walked up to Estella’s place. He pressed the doorbell excitedly and looked around, immediately all of Estella’s heels piled up neatly by the side.

The door opened a crack and he saw Estella’s face. “Hey love! Happy 4 months,” he said ecstatically, holding out the flowers. Estella’s look of shock was priceless, he thought to himself. “G-Glenn? How do you know where I stay?” she stuttered as she opened the door and let him in.

“I did my research,” Glenn admitted as he stepped into her place. “Wow, you have a nice home Estella.” Estella looked at him uncomfortably and said, “Look Glenn, I don’t think you should be here.” Glenn looked at her hurt and said, “Don’t you want to celebrate?” “I do Glenn, but it isn’t a good time now,” Estella said gently.

“I was going to cook you dinner and everything,” Glenn said forlornly. “I even got you flowers.” Just then, there was the sound of someone fumbling in the room. “Est baby, who’s that?” a voice came from inside the house.

“It’s no one! Just the neighbour,” Estella said quickly, her face paling. “You better go now Glenn,” she said, trying to usher him out of the house. “Was that your brother?” Glenn asked in confusion. “Ermm… Yes it was,” she said hurriedly, trying to push him out of the apartment?”

“Estella?” a voice said from behind her. She whirled around and behind her, Glenn saw a man who looked as if he had just woken up. “Oh crap,” Estella said under her breath as she turned back to Glenn and said, “You really should go now.”

“Hi, you must be Estella’s brother,” Glenn said, ignoring Estella’s pleading eyes and stepping past her. “Brother?” the man said in confusion as he rubbed his hair. “I’m Danny, her fiancé.”

“F-F-Fiancé?” Glenn asked in confusion. “But I’m her boyfriend.” There was a long silence as both men stared at each other before turning to Estella. “Estella, what’s going on?” Danny asked slowly.

“H-H-He isn’t my boyfriend,” she said, trying to lie. “He’s just a friend, right Glenn?” She turned to face him, her eyes pleading as she mouthed the words ‘help me please’.

“A colleague who’s been kissing you and taking you out for dates is that right?” Glenn asked harshly. Estella looked at the two of them and shook her head slowly.

“It was meant to be a fling,” she whispered hoarsely. “That time when we were arguing over the wedding and I stormed off. I didn’t know you were going to take me back Danny.” Danny shook his head slowly and looked at her and said, “A fling Estella? And when were you going to end it? When we were already married?”

Danny turned away and stormed back into the room, the sound of door slamming resonating in the silent apartment. “Please Glenn, I’m sorry,” Estella said, holding out her hand to him. Glenn walked up to her and pushed her hand away.

“When were you going to tell me Estella?” he whispered, his voice cracking. “When you were already married? Were you planning on inviting me to the wedding and telling me then?”

“It’s not like that Glenn,” Estella said, tears welling up in her eyes. “Then what is it like Estella? Tell me,” Glenn said with a frustrated sigh. “Who do you really love? Danny or me?”

Estella looked at him dumbly and shook her head, at a loss for words. Glenn stared at her for a long time before saying, “I was wrong about you. You’re just like Marianne. You’re a liar Estella.”

She shook her head and said, “I’m not Glenn, I’m really not.” “You are Estella. You’re just another lying, bitchy player,” Glenn said harshly. “You never really loved me. It was just another one of your lies.”

As Glenn turned to leave, Estella reached out a hand and said, “Glenn, please don’t go.” He jerked his hand back and said, “There’s nothing left for me to say Estella, and you clearly have nothing else to offer me. I’m leaving.” He watched her face fall as he stepped out of the apartment, trying to control his own tears. “And to think I thought you were the one and wanted to propose to you,” he added with a dark laugh.

Glenn stepped into a waiting lift and the moment the doors closed shut, he could feel the tears start to well up in his eyes. As he walked over to his car, he felt that familiar feeling of rejection that had consumed him after his divorce.

Sliding into his car, he threw the bouquet of flowers onto the passenger seat and put his head on the steering wheel. “Is love really that hard to find?” he asked himself, wiping away his tears.  He hardly ever cried, and the last time he did was when his dad had passed away.

“Why do you always fall for the liars Glenn? Why? Why can’t you love someone’s who’s faithful?” he asked himself, staring blankly ahead. He glanced down at the flowers next to him and suddenly felt angry.

“No more buying flowers,” he said as he wound down the window and threw them out. “No more dates, no more falling in love. No more broken hearts.”

 As he peeled out of the lot, a thought suddenly occurred to him. At least he was better off than Kara. With a sigh, he turned in the other direction and headed back to the office, his heart mangled beyond repair.