It Started that Night

Part 22

Millie pulled up outside Ricco's apartment. The day's rainstorms had given way to a glorious sunny evening. Millie had had a horrible day, she couldn't wait to get out of her work clothes, throw on something cool, grab a glass of wine and chill on the balcony.

After the elevator opened up into his stunning penthouse apartment, Millie poured herself a glass of wine and headed straight for her favourite place. The balcony. The sun was still warm; Millie slouched down into the chair, taking off her work shirt to reveal a lace-trim black vest top. As she tried to unwind Lucie's words went round and round in her head. She felt emptiness, all of her hopes, all of her excitement had been zapped from her body, leaving her feeling a little disorientated.

Tonight she wasn't going to dwell on it, work was going amazingly well and she had a lot to be thankful for in her life. She sat for a few minutes; there was something about a warm evening that Millie loved. Standing, she walked over to the balcony railing, standing quietly alone she watched as the world below her went by. The sun had begun to set and the sky was a beautiful mix of yellows and oranges.

She felt deflated, confused, where did she go from here? She was happy in her life generally but she just felt like something was missing, something she couldn't put her finger on. She looked down at the people on the street and watched as a couple walked hand in hand down the road, laughing and smiling together. He held the door open for her as they entered a pub, Millie wondered what their evening would be like, where would they go next, was he 'the one', would they get married some day? Once the couple was out of view Millie's attention moved to a guy walking alone, smiling, looking down at his phone and dodging people as he typed something out. Millie wondered who he was texting and who had made him smile. Completely caught up in other people's imaginary lives Millie jumped a mile as her phone beeped and vibrated loudly across the glass table behind her.

She caught her breath and turned around, picking it up and turning back to lean over the railing she clutched the phone to her chest for a minute, whoever it was could wait. The street seemed empty now, people were going home and the city was quieting down before filling again later with party-goers out for the evening in the city's bars and clubs. It was a life that wasn't for Millie. Sure, some nights she liked a cocktail with friends but she was a home bird, she preferred to spend her evenings snuggled up on the sofa, sketch book in hand. That was her contentment, that was her joy in life. Forgetting about the message she went inside for a shower. Millie threw on one of Ricco's t-shirts and cracked open a bottle of wine. Dragging a blanket out on the balcony she felt surprisingly pleased that Ricco wasn't there, she hadn't realised how physically and emotionally drained she was, what with work being so hectic, her sister's accident and everything with Dex and Lucie. She was surprised to be enjoying her own company, she hadn't seen much of Cate and Hollie, even living with Amber they had become like ships that passed in the night lately. She considered inviting them round for the evening but talked herself out of it, maybe a night on her own to chill was just what she needed. She put Craze's album on quietly on her iPod and popped inside to get her sketch pad and pencils. It was the perfect place to draw, she felt inspired and her best work was born out of spontaneous moments like these.

Drawing, sipping her wine, snuggled under a blanket watching the city as it came alive for the evening had turned into a pretty perfect place to be, it was exactly what she needed. The sun had set and the city was aglow with street lights. The pavements began to fill with people, talking, laughing, enjoying the warm summer evening. Millie loved the sounds of the city, the people, the traffic, she loved the sound of the hustle and bustle, everyone going about their business. She picked up her pencil, laying her sketch book on her lap she began to sketch a rose. Her eyes felt heavy, she closed them, just for a minute, and that was it, she was out like a light!