Betrayed [h.s.]

Chapter One

The days seemed to go by slower as I lay in bed for interminable minutes, mourning the horrendous loss that happened just a few days ago.

The moment of the bullet tearing through his flesh replays in my head like a broken record, never leaving my mind. Despite my head knowing that he's gone, my heart still refuses to believe that. Never would I ever have thought he would leave like this. Not with a bullet through his chest, but with his children surrounding him one last time before he goes off peacefully.

The thought makes me sob into the pillow for more than thirty minutes before I'm interrupted by my phone ringing.

"Shut up." I say with a stuffed nose. I ignore the ringing phone until it goes to the voicemail.

"Darling, please pick up," my mother begs. "We are worried about you. I know this is hard, but you can't just shut everyone out of your life. If anything, you need us, so please answer me.. I love you."

Why can't I just be left alone. I know my mother is just trying to help, but honestly she's not.

I stand up and go to the closet and grab one of Zayn's t-shirts. I place it on the bed and take off mine. When I slip it on, it reaches about halfway up my thigh and I can smell the faint scent of his Cologne. I lazily walk over to the kitchen and stumble over an empty cereal box that was left on the ground for god knows how long. I ignore my subconscious telling me to pick it up and open the fridge to make a sandwich instead.

As I chew the sandwich I hear something in the room, something moving in the bed. I leave my sandwich on the counter and run to the room as fast as I can, and I end up almost throwing up my sandwich. Zayn lies in bed, hugging the pillow. My eyes roll to the back of my head at the sight and everything goes black.

My eyes flutter open. I jump to my feet, realization hitting me, and I look around the room. Did I dream that? I walk back to the kitchen and I find the sandwich on the table exactly where I left it.

Nope, definitely did not dream that.

I head back to the room and much to my disappointment the pillows haven't moved the way I had expected them to. Maybe I'm going insane? I shake the possible thought from my head and decide to lay down. I forget about my sandwich and fall back to sleep.

***

Three weeks have passed- or at least I think and I haven't done anything to keep my hygiene at a decent level. I walk around the house with the stereo blasting to the song that Zayn had sang to me on our first date.

"You're one in a million." I sing along with the artist.

He had such an amazing voice. I would do anything to hear it one last time. Every ounce of me misses and wants him back.

"Sometimes I can't hate you every day.. sometimes you can fall for everyone you see.. only one can really make me stay.. a sign from the sky said to me."

My singing was off pitch and my heart ached listening to this song, but I didn't care. This is one of the many things that remind me of him. I remember how he loved to shower me with compliments, all to which I've never accepted because I could never see what he saw. Though, he did make me feel pretty at times, and he was always there for me when I needed him, but now.. he's not.

"Nicole?" My head snaps to the door and my mother holds a cake in her hand. I hadn't even heard (or saw) her come in.

"Mom, what are you.. what are you doing here?" I ask, clearly embarrassed.

"It's your birthday."

"My birthday? that's not till..." My voice trails off as I think. "Oh." I finally say.