CAUSE & EFFECT (Vol III)

Part 28-"You're leaving?! JUST LIKE THAT?!"

Two days later

Daisy turned her head towards the phone as it rang relentlessly in her bedside table. She pulled the blanket over herself and continued to watch it lightly vibrate on the receiver from her bed.

She wasn't asleep. She hadn't slept since it happened, she wasn't expecting to sleep properly ever again. She simply lay, waiting for it to stop ringing.

Silence. She sighed and looked at the clock. It was too early for anyone other than Diana or Alex to be calling her.

Having lied to Diana saying she wasn't well, and simply not taking Alex's calls, she hoped that she would come up a story by now to justify or even understand what had happened. She didn't know what story Freddie would tell anyone, or whether he would say anything at all, but for now she wanted to be left alone.

                                   ***********

"Are you going to tell me what happened?" Olivia looked over at Freddie as he sat by the window sipping his tea.

He had been staying with Olivia for two days, not speaking to her about anything significant or deep. He made no mention of a reconciliation or why he was even there.

"No" he replied softly, keeping his gaze firmly out the window.

He felt numb, completely and utterly dead inside. The pain of Daisy's betrayal, his attack on her and the realisation that he has slept with Olivia had finally sunk it along with extreme regret.

His rage had completely warped his logic and sense of judgement, leading to him to the very person who's presence in his life, had destroyed it.

Throwing her hands up in defeat, Olivia let out an annoyed sigh "well fuck Freddie, you show up here, fuck me, and then you give me nothing! I mean how am I meant to feel?"

Freddie slowly turned his head towards her while staring at the ground. Placing his cup down beside him on the table he stood up. He didn't want to look at her face, he didn't want her in his life in any way. He hoped that she wouldn't be standing there when he lifted his gaze. 

"I need to go Olivia" his voice was calm and neutral. He walked past her, leaving her in a state of confusion and frustration.

"You're leaving?! JUST LIKE THAT?!" She shrieked  out after him

He turned slowly and gave a sad smile "yeah, just like that" he stepped through the doorway and left her house.

The air was painfully cold, something he appreciated in that moment, it took his focus off the agony he was feeling inside.

Looking around, he had no idea where to go or what to do. He knew that no one would understand him or what he had done. No one but perhaps, her.

***********

The door clicked open. He contemplated walking away. He was so ashamed and guilt stricken. He wasn't even sure if she would be there, nevertheless he needed to gather his things and call his sister to come get him.

He stepped in. The floorboards creaked under his weight. The apartment smelt stale and lifeless, the curtains drawn shutting the outside world out.

Looking around he saw empty bottles on the kitchen counter, she had been drinking. He frowned his brows at the amount, he began to count

1-2-3....7

Seven empty bottles. Was she even alive after that much? Surely she wasn't careless enough repeat a drinking binge after what had happened the last time.

He remained quiet. Opening the fridge, the half eaten pizza that they had shared, was still inside from the night they watched old movies while drinking hot chocolate. He fondly thought back to the memory of how upset she had gotten over his odd combination of pizza with hot chocolate.

Closing the door he continued through towards her room. The door was shut. He listened for any sound to indicate that she was home.

He knew she was there, she never left the door closed unless she was in the room.

"You need to leave the door open so the room can air out"

She would say. She had endless quirks that he loved despite not understanding.

Slowly, he touched the door handle and turned. The cold brass began to warm under his touch. Pushing the door forward, he could smell her. Flowers and alcohol.

It was equally dark inside the room, perhaps even more so than in the rest of the apartment. Trying to focus his eyes, he stared at her bed. Unable to determine whether she was there or if it was just a pile of blankets.

Daisy always made her bed, the idea of leaving it unmade irritated her, then again, perhaps.....

He inched closer towards the bed. Noticing a small movement he paused, waiting for her to get up. How would she respond? He told her to forget about him and that he never wanted to see her again, now he was standing in her room like a stalker.

She turned in her sleep. He could see her now, his eyes which had accustomed to the darkness, had now seen the damage.

Her face was red, she had been crying for God knows how long. The skin on her hands dry from dehydration.

Her neck. Her neck bruised. Bruised from him. The outlines of his fingers marking her delicate skin. The skin he had kissed countless times. The neck he loved to bury his face in and take in her glorious smell. He did that to her. He hurt her in a way that was unforgivable.

Stepping backwards, careful not to disturb her, he left and shut the door.

Covering his face he began to cry. He had no excuse for anything that he had done. He was jealous and angry, he turned into a monster who was capable to hurting her.

The front door opened "helloooooo?" Diana called out as she threw her keys in the small bowl which lay on the side table.

Freddie rushed out to greet her "shhhhh!" He said "she's asleep"

"Oh!" Diana quickly ducked "sorry" she mouthed "is she better?"

Confused by the question and not knowing what Diana knew, he simply shook his head "she's asleep....I'm actually going to go stay with my sister for a bit. Please make sure you take care of her ok?"

Diana was puzzled by not only Freddie's unkempt appearance, but by the fact that he would leave Daisy while she's sick.

"Oh ok then, uh...well I bought her some soup, are you hungry?" She asked as she made her way towards the kitchen.

"No thank you, I really must go" without any further word, he left the apartment closing the door a little louder than he had hoped.

Diana began to open the curtains, letting some light inside. The sound of the door closing had woken Daisy who stumbled out from her room. Standing like a zombie she was completely unresponsive to her own surroundings.

Diana turned from the window and jumped at the sight of Daisy who gently swayed from side to side, a blank stare in her eyes.

"Jesus Daize, why are you two so weird today?" She asked as she approached Daisy.

Her expression turned to horror as she saw the state of Daisy up close, and the marking on her neck.

"Daisy" she began slowly, her words shaking as they left her mouth "Daisy what happened"

"You said you two" Daisy whispered, her lips dry and cracked, her voice broken.

Diana nodded slowly "Freddie just left he was...odd"

Daisy began to shake her head, before clutching at her hair pulling and ripping it. Diana grabbed her in her arms before she could fall and held her while she screamed in pain.

Tears fell down her own cheeks "Daisy, Daisy what happened?!" She begged.

The two cried in each other's arms. Both in pain, both afraid, but only one of them completely destroyed.