another chance 🌹• jb-kj

fourty: trying

Justin

A week after Shayra left, me, Marilyn and Lily returned to New York and shifted in my apartment instead of the Mansion since Angela was still there. So till the divorce, we'll be living here.

I did not have the courage to go get mine and Marilyn's stuff from Shayra's place myself so I sent my driver but he came back too soon. The boxes were safely packed and labeled neatly. When I asked him how did he come back so soon, he said that she had already packed everything and he only had to put everything in the car.

Me and Lily spent the rest of the day cleaning the place and arranging everything.

"Seems like you didn't use the apartment for a long time" Lily said while she scrubbed the bathtub.

"I used to come here a lot before but then I met Sh-Shayra so since then, I didn't come back" I said while I arranged the toiletries in the cupboard. Even saying her name hurt my chest physically now.

"Oh, and how long is that?" She asked.

"10 months I assume" I said, the realization of how less time I got to spend with her hit me. It feels like I know her since forever but I met her just 10 months ago and so much happened.

"Oh" she mumbled.

"I'm gonna go check on the noodles" I said and she nodded before I walked out and went inside the kitchen.

The noodles had boiled enough so I put the stove off but there was still water remaining in there. I remembered seeing Shayra cook noodles, she would always take the strainer to remove all the water so that's what I did.

I drained all the water from the noodles and let them be in the strainer.

I was about to go back to the bedroom when my eyes landed on Marilyn sitting alone on the couch and watching the TV.

If there was anyone who was having a harder time to deal with life after Shayra left us more than me, then its Marilyn.

She has been a mess since the day I told her everything. I've never seen her cry so much.

I sat down beside her and slowly pulled her hand away from her mouth because she was biting on her thumbnail again, a habit she has picked up from Shayra.

"I've told you not to do that right Bug" I said.

"Don't call me that, only mommy calls me that" She mumbled and I sighed.

She was mad at me. Mad at me for letting go of Shayra and  moving in here with Lily instead of going back to Shayra's place.

Marilyn has thrown more tantrums in the past week than she has in past 6 years.

Like Shayra said, Marilyn is a very understanding child but this time it wasn't the same. Marilyn is not ready to adjust and I can't even blame her for that. I'm having a hard time adjusting myself.

I was about to talk to her but Lily came in.

"Hey Mare, the dinner will be ready in a couple of minutes, why don't you go shower till then?" Lily said to her but Marilyn did not respond.

"Mare, she's telling you something" I said softly.

"I don't know her and she's not my mommy" She said.

"Marilyn!" I scolded slightly.

"Jay...its okay. You tell her" Lily stopped me.

"Mare, go shower" I said and without saying anything else, she got off the couch and went upstairs.

I shut the TV and Lily sat down beside me.

"I'm sorry, she's just so connected to Shayra that's why she's acting out" I said and She grabbed my hand.