City Of Dreams

Fifty-Nine

"Oh honey, I didn't know they made em like that anymore."

Alex said, leaning over the laptop and watching the video closely.

My heart stops as the computer beeps.

I groan, imagining my heart finally returning to my chest but falling again.

Charlotte it's gone.

I stare at it.

"What does that mean?"

Alex cocks her head.

Andrea bursts into the shop, noticeably disheveled and late for her shift.

"Charlotte! Something happened!"

Andrea then explains through gasps for air that Addie lost her baby and how everyone was talking about it.

She held her phone to my face, showing my pictures.

I screamed at her to stop at one of her and another girl hugging.

Andrea makes a squeaking noise and skips past that one.

"What was that?"

She avoids my gaze.

Alex hits her arm.

"That's uh...Victoria."

I hold up a hand.

"It doesn't matter. I left. She replaced me. That's how it goes."

Andrea frowns.

"It was gonna happen even if I stayed."

Alex glares at her.

I thought for five minutes before speaking again, breaking the deadly silence.

I almost went back too.

I thought she needed me.

I thought the liked me.

But I guess I was wrong.

"She doesn't need me anymore."

And with that, I close the laptop, unplug it from the wall, hide it under the desk and go to the back to start working.

I don't cry, yell, Or pull at my hair.

Not yet.

Not here.

Not with them.

"Theory. Confirmed."

I sighed.

"How I missed your voice."

"I get that a lot."

______________

I almost fall into my apartment later that day, relived and ready to let go.

But my brain doesn't let me.

I stalk to the closest wall and hit my head against it.

"Charlotte..."

My face warms up when tears fall down.

"Stop..."

I hit my head again.

"Charlotte, stop crying..."

I say, bringing myself away from the wall and to the bed.

I sigh and let go.

Everything I built up has just come crashing down.