OLIVIA FOX [Completed]

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Thanks for reading.
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I sleep for hours in the hotel room. I have been under too much stress and I need sleep.
Everybody is happy. My mother. My father. My brother. My grandmother. Rocky.  Shirley. They are all seated around a large table. It seems like a banquet. They are laughing and there is joy on their faces. I am at a corner and I am sad. Horribly sad. I see Orlando. I know he can make me happy. I want to be happy so I run towards him.
It was a dream. It was not a night mare. What does it mean?
I stay inside this hotel for days. My cellphone has been turned off too for days. I turn on my phone. There is a voice note from Orlando.
“Olivia. I’m glad I met you. I don’t regret a thing. All I regret is not telling you the truth myself. Because of you, I learned what it feels like to really love a woman. Thank you for that. I know you are mad right now. You probably hate me. I understand and I apologize for all I did to hurt you. I have this feeling that you are the only woman I’ll love my entire life. Your best revenge will be never to come back to me, that way, I will be miserable for the rest of my life. I love you Olivia. More than life.”
I listen to the message over and over again and I want to forgive him. But not now. I cannot do it now.
I visit Cosmos’ and Shirley at the cemetery. I sit down in front of their graves for a few hours. Silent. Just staring. What’s the point?
“Cosmos you hurt me. So much. Why did you do this to me? Why? I want to hate you. I want to never forgive you. But what’s the point? You are dead. You are already in the ground. It’s useless hating you. So I forgive you Cosmos. I forgive you. I hope I can forgive the other people that have hurt me.”
I look at my daughter’s grave. “I love you Shirley.”

I will move to Florida. This is the best time. I need to get away from all of this. From Orlando. From Mable. First I need to go to the house. I need some of my stuff. There is nothing like true happiness. One minute I think I’m happy. The next minute everything just falls apart. When will this end Olivia? When will your sufferings end. I think of Mable. Was I really a bad best friend? Was I insensitive? It still doesn’t give her the right to do what she has done to me. I click my tongue and sigh.

I enter my house and I grab my laptop and a few clothes. I am about to leave when Orlando enters.
“You leaving?”
I open my mouth to speak then clamp it shut.
We stand still. Silently. He is looking at me.  Orlando moves. He is coming towards me. I do not move. I do not shake. I stand still. His body is close to mine. He takes my hand and rests it on his cheek.
“Does this feel like a lie?”
He uses his both hands to caress my checks and neck.
“Does this feel like a lie?”
He bends his head and takes my lips in his. I kiss him back.
“Did that feel like a lie? You are giving up on something real. Something amazing. I love you. You are my life. If you walk out that door, I’ll know you were the one who lied about loving me.”
My eyes are filled with tears. I drop the bag in my hand on the floor.
“What do you want me to do?” I ask almost sobbing.
“I want you to stay. I want us to work this out.”
“How? How do I trust you again? I don’t know what to believe.”
“You do. Your heart knows what it should believe and your heart knows I’m saying the truth when I say I will never hurt you again.”
“Orlando. I love you. That’s why it hurts because I love you.”
“I swear, I will never lie to you again. Never again.”
“You promise?”
“Baby I promise.”
Orlando pulls me into his arms and I hold on to him. Tightly. I forgive him. I need him. I cannot live without him.
“There is something I need to do.” I say to him.
I grab my cell phone and I text Carl.

Me : Hey Carl. You really need to talk to Mable. Tell her how you feel about her. You won’t regret it.
Carl: Its about time. Hope you are okay Olivia.

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From: Mable
Subject: You are still my best friend
Date: August 4, 2016. 11:00 am
To: Olivia

Dear Olivia
I am the world’s worst best friend. I hurt you badly. I know. How can you forgive me when I can’t forgive myself. I will be moving to new Orleans. I got a job offer there. I will also be returning all the money Cosmos got from you. I’m so sorry Olivia. It’s better for us to be apart from each other for now. To give us time to heal. Please forgive Orlando. He really cares for you. I only dragged him into this mess. Till we meet again.
I love you.
Mable.
______________________________________

Reading Mable’s mail broke my heart.
_______________________________________
From: Olivia
Subject: Re: You are still my best friend
Date: August 4, 2016. 11:00 am
To: Mable

Dear Mable,
I know you love me in your own twisted way. What you did hurt me. You are right. It will need time to heal. I guess I’m sorry too. For everything I did to hurt you. Please keep the money. You should talk to Carl before you leave. He has something to tell you. Do take care of yourself over there.
I love you,
Olivia.
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