Falling

21 | The Past

TRIGGER WARNING / Mention of suicide. Please skip past "**" if needed..

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I had woken up the next day with a raging headache and the sudden urge to call out sick. My head felt heavy and my body slumped whenever I moved a muscle. I was in all terms physically exhausted. I came to the decision that I deserved a day off and deserved a break.

Calling Mr Kennedy's office I notified him of my unwell state and asked for a sick day. He granted me such in a kind manner and wished me well.

I did feel guilty, but the guilt drew back when I settled on the couch and turned on the tv.

I settled into the couch cushions for most of the morning, almost forgetting to eat but making sure to whip up some toast in between episodes of Criminal Minds. One of my favorite shows.

I had pulled out my laptop to check in on any emails. I was just met with bill reminders and random spam mail. And then I pulled up google.

Googling Dante Brown and then "mystery girl."

I mean I never did actually see those pictures...

I was surprised to see a flood of articles pop up. I quickly clicked on the first few taking note that they were from previous months and even years ago. Women he had entertained, women he was seen talking to in public, and even an older woman he was holding the door open for. The media was insane. God.

But nothing of me. I sighed in relief and almost clicked out of the page when something caught my eye.

"Who is a mystery girl? Dante Brown seen leaving Italian restaurant late last night with young women on his arm!"

Was the article title. But what caught my eye wasn't the title. No. It was the author credited in the line below.

Mari Sesay.

I couldn't believe my eyes. I quickly clicked the article scrolling past the ridiculous pictures of Dante and I fleeing the restaurant and searched for the credits.

I clicked on Mari's name, and it brought me to an author introduction page on the journalism site the article was posted from.

Oh my god.

My eyes started to water, hands shook as I gazed at the picture of the woman on my screen.

Wide smile, curly hair in long braids and the same deep brown eyes that had helped shelter me all those years ago. There is no way this all could be happening. This was no coincidence. That was Mari and that was the girl who had saved my life. And I find her through an article about Dante and I? Now I seriously was losing my mind.

The tears leaked out and the memories flooded back.

I had no time to process what was going on before a knock sounded on my door.

Fuck. Please not today.

Expecting a certain brooding CEO, I was surprised to see Tatum standing behind the door when I swung it open.

She noticed my state and her face quickly dropped from anger to concern in a matter of seconds.

"My god Amelia, what happened?" She asked quickly, rushing in to close the door behind her.

She brought me over to the couch, words lost in thought as I tried to stop the tears. We sat on the couch and she brought the blanket across our lap. She looked at me with concern and scanned my features with furrowed eyebrows.