I tried to look through the peephole to see Arthur's apartment, but I could see nothing.
It was Thursday morning, I had to go to work and wanted to avoid a collision with Arthur at any cost.
So I opened the door and slipped out of my apartment.
Silently, I closed it again and ran down the hall.
In order to reduce the chance to meet him, I made my way to the stairs.
It took me an eternity until I reached the ground floor. That I hadn't slept well was probably the reason for that.
I pushed the door open and was awakened by a cold wind draft for the second time that day.
Frozen, I reached the boutique. I had been looking forward to the warmth that permeated me as soon as I entered the store.
Riley came to meet me.
"Well, how was it yesterday?" Was her greeting.
I nodded. "Great..."
Without hugging her, I ran past her to bring my things to the staff room.
"What happened then?"
She followed me.
I turned to her. "Sophie has happened." Riley looked at me questioningly.
"At first, Arthur took me to his comedy club, which I think is cute somewhere, because it shows me he trusts me, then we went to a café. It was a great evening, until he brought in Sophie. He has raved about her as if she were the one who always stands by him, as if she were the one who's always there for him. "
I didn't know myself, how much burdened me until I pronounced it. "What happened then?" Riley sat down in a chair while I took off my jacket.
"I told you what Sophie thinks of Arthur. Well, that's what I told him then. I don't see him investing his feelings in such a person. She doesn't deserve it, neither does he."
I opened my spint.
"That can't have been everything yet."
I looked from her face at the blue tile floor, because I could feel rising tears.
"Hey ...", Riley got up and hugged me.
"He said he can't believe what I said to him and then he just left me alone, he went home. Riley, I was so scared on the way home. I thought at any moment that I would be attacked or ambushed."
Warm tears now ran over my face.
"Then he's not worth it, Lila. If that's why he just lets you sit. Did you see him again or talk to him after that?"
I shook my head.
"No, but I heard him laugh, all night long. He must be very bad."
Now Riley was the one who shook her head.
"How he is doing is not the top priority right now. He hurt your feelings and even if you don't want to admit that you have feelings for him, he killed your hoping for a relationship with him in the bud smothered, did he?"
I nodded slightly.
"What should I do now?"
I closed my spint and put on my name tag.
"I can only tell you what I would do."
"And what would you do?"
"I wouldn't run after him, you didn't do anything wrong and he should apologize to you. Just that he doesn't believe you is a joke."
The working day passed faster than expected. "If there's anything, you can always call me." Riley said, hugging me.
We stood in front of the boutique.
I nodded.
"Thanks, come home well, see you tomorrow." I replied, walking away from her slowly.
I didn't want to go home. Throughout the day I had successfully kept Arthur out of my thoughts, but the closer I got to the house, the more they plagued me.
Although I was angry and disappointed, I hoped very much that he'd feel better than yesterday and above all better than me.
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