Nightfall ✓

Retombe

1 2

R e t o m b e

[FRN] falling back to the original position.

THE JOURNEY HOME WAS A BLUR.

She already missed Rose even though she'd promised to call and visit whenever she had time. Clo never had any friends. Her ballet team was only polite now that she was a principal dancer. Before, they were either harsh or just ignored her existence because her parents were members of Varjot.

The only two friends she'd made in life weren't even her friends anymore. Ergo, speaking to Rose – or, rather listening to her as she told her about her husband and his family was perhaps the most normal experience Clo had ever had.

She'd been invited to their Christmas Eve sleepover as well. It was more of a command than request but Rose knew Clo wouldn't have come otherwise. Clo didn't even know that was a thing. She'd never been invited to a sleepover, a cafe or anything. The only parties she attended were the ones her madame held after a successful performance. She was actually looking forward to Christmas now which was a holiday she never thought she'd be excited about after leaving Theo.

With him, they usually got a fake tree and store bought food. He had exams after Christmas so while he studied, Clo watched reruns of old movies. It was the most peace she got in the year. This time, however, she wondered if she'd even get a message from him. It made sense for Theo to not speak with her.

However, she had lost her phone so there was still some hope that he may have called or texted.

Hence, she was going to visit him.

"I'm going to Theo's," she informed Alec hesitantly as they stopped in front of his apartment building. "I'll be back soon. He has exams so I won't be long. I just want to check in."

She stood there for a while, waiting for his response. Her legs felt like jelly. She wasn't sure if it was due to being hit by Wilhelm's belt buckle or if it was Alec.

"I don't know what you want me to say," he finally replied. "You're not well. Of course, I don't want you to go. I just – I don't care. Do whatever you want, Clo."

She didn't know why his words hurt so much. It wasn't like he was the same Alec she knew from years ago. This version of him was someone Clo thought to be a stranger.

Except... a stranger wouldn't have cried for her when they thought she was asleep. They wouldn't have stayed by her side all the time without eating or sleeping.

"You're lying," she decided on saying. "You wouldn't have come all the way to Switzerland if you didn't care. You wouldn't have saved me."

He came closer but Clo stood her ground. She was terrified of him. It scared her every single time he got close to her in case she said or did something that would hurt him. He'd already been hurt.

"You were my only friend," he began in a low voice, "Before you, I had no one and I was more than okay with the fact. After you, I had no one and that was when I realised how awful loneliness is. Do you know how many times I called? Wrote letters? Do you know what I had to do for her to let me even utter your name?" He asked before scoffing. "I know those never reached you. But you didn't even call when I became the head. You didn't even wait for me."

Clo shook her head,"On the last day, I heard you thank Amara. You thanked her for letting you have me," she whispered, face burning,"I thought you were done with me."

He had a pained look on his face as he stared at her.

"Did you think I'd say something like that after spending the night with you?" He shook his head, "She'd seen us together."