Tomorrow Never Dies

Chapter 62 - "Flora's gone."

I woke up panicking. I'd clearly been having a nightmare, but I couldn't remember what about. I breathed deeply then took myself off to the bathroom, where I turned on the shower and got in, rinsing off the cold sweat I'd woken up in. As I dried off, Michael knocked on the door.

"You okay?" he called, and I nodded before realising he couldn't see me.

"Yep," I said, wrapping my hair in a towel. Before I stepped out of the bathroom, I examined the ring on my finger, the one Michael had given me when we moved in together. I frowned, dwelling on a decision I was considering. I shook the thought out of my head and blinked my eyes rapidly before going back out to see Michael. I greeted him with a quick kiss on the lips, then turned the coffee machine on.

"Me and the boys are going out today, is that okay? I'm buying a new guitar."

"Cool," I said quietly. "Have fun."

"You sure you're okay?" I nodded. "Alright, I'll see you later. Text me if you need me." He left the apartment, and I made my decision. I went into the bedroom and pulled a suitcase out, packing it with two weeks' worth of clothes. I put my laptop in, then put it back on my desk. Then I took the ring off my finger. I laid it on the kitchen table, wrote my note, and left.

***
Michael's POV
I got back to the apartment, eager to show Flora my new guitar and play her the basis for the song I'd written about her. I unlocked the door, calling out my greeting to her.

"I'm back baby!" I didn't get a reply, so I looked into the bedroom, and knocked on the bathroom door. Still no response, I went to the kitchen to see if she'd left a note. She had, as well as her promise ring. My mouth fell open in shock and I ran to read the note, fiddling with the ring as the words imprinted themselves in my head.

Michael,
I've been thinking about everything, and I'm going to rehab like that counsellor said I should. I can't function like this any more, I'm sorry but it's simply not possible.
I'll let you know when I get out, but until then maybe you should see other people. Other people who aren't incredibly mentally ill, because you deserve stability.

Flora

I scrumpled up the note in fury and threw it at the wall. I was raging, fuming, and I punched the wall next to me as I yelled angrily. I cracked my knuckles then went out to see Luke, because I knew he'd be able to calm me down. I drove through the city's streets on the edge of my seat, getting pissed off every time I was cut off or I hit a red light. My fingers were wrapped around the steering wheel so hard that my grazed knuckles were turning white and as soon as I parked outside Luke's apartment I got out to ring his doorbell. He buzzed me in instantly and I went straight to his flat, were he greeted me with a smile which melted off his face as he saw my expression.

"Mate, what's wrong?"

"Flora's gone."

"What?" He frowned, biting his lip.

"She's left. She's gone to rehab and broken up with me." I pulled out the promise ring I'd given her when we'd moved in together, one I spent hours choosing with Grace, one that was supposed to be the last step before I proposed to her. "So now I'm single." I hurled the ring and it clattered against the wall before dropping to the floor.

"Did she say anything?"

"She left a note that was like two sentences long. It's in a ball on the floor at home."

"Mikey, I'm sorry. Do you want to do anything?"

"Let's go out. On the pull."

"Well, I'm not pulling, I have Kiri, but we can definitely go out." I nodded and went to grab a beer from his fridge as he ordered a cab. I pulled the cap off and started taking gulps from the bottle before Luke pulled it out of my hands. "If you're too drunk before we're out, we won't get let it anywhere."

"Wise," I grinned, but grabbed it back for another couple of sips. The cab arrived, we were driven into the city centre, and from there we had a range of clubs we could choose from.

"Where do you want to go?" Luke asked, and I shrugged.

"Black Rabbit?" He shook his head. "Fusion?" He shook his head again and came up with his own suggestion.

"Levels, let's go." We got into the queue outside the door, got ID'd when we reached the front, and finally we were let in. I made a beeline for the bar, ordering two whiskeys, and taking them over to Luke. We drank them, hovering in a corner like the two socially awkward weirdos we were, and after two more drinks the alcohol in my blood gave me enough liquid confidence to go and dance. A girl came up to me almost immediately, pressing her body close against mine and dancing in a way I'd only ever seen Flora do before. She slowly started grinding against me, and I shook my head, horrified.

"No, I'm sorry," I said as I pushed her off me, signalling to Luke that it was time to go. We wemt straight out the door, past the long line of people waiting outside, and I went to find a cab in the roads not far from the nightlife centre. I opened the door, ushered Luke in, and told the cabbie my address.

"What happened?"

"She reminded me too much of Flora," I sighed. "I just want to know what I did wrong, why I couldn't support her through it, you know?" He nodded.

"Well obviously I don't have this issue with Kiri, but I think you should try talking to her. She'll have her phone, right?"

"No, but I guess I can contact her counsellor, he'll know where she is."

"Yeah, and when you see her you explain that you want to help her and you can't do that if she's pushing you away," he finished, and I nodded as the cabbie pulled up outside my flat. I paid the fare and we got out, going into the flat. I looked at the balled up paper on the floor, the only sign of what had happened, and ran my hand over my chin as I felt the inherent emptiness of the flat without her.

"I miss her, Luke."

"I know," he said, pulling the ring out of his pocket. "You keep that, and you'll get her back I promise."

"Stay," I whispered, and he nodded.

"Of course."

*****
idk i needed drama but i dont know if i like it lol
in other news im sad, also i want a girlfriend bye

song of the chapter: life of the party by all time low