Aurora [H.S AU]

Chapter 65

Is it time to speak up or time for silence?
Time for peace or is it time for violence?
Is there anybody out there that's payin' attention?
Tell me what you tryna hide
And what you runnin' from inside

Song: Dirty, by grandson (he is amazing!)

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2020, January 13th, Monday | 7 am

Aster's P.O.V.: 

"Are you sure you don't want me to go with you?"

"I am." I nod for good measure, leaning over Harry, who is still laying on his bed with swollen, sleepy eyes and a big pout on his lips. The sweet, delicate scent of his vanilla body wash fills my nostrils as I get close, pressing my mouth on his forehead. "I have to do this alone. And you need to sleep."

"There's no way I'll sleep while you're there, you know that." He huffs, leaning over his elbows to prompt his torso a little up.

"Come on, bub, what's the worst that could happen? I worked there for almost 4 years, you know." I raise my eyebrows "Besides, Rickie is going to be with me."

"At least." He huffs, again, moving on the bed to sit, his naked torso completely exposed now, the blankets pooling around his waist. "Still don't like the idea, though."

I understand why he is so worried, I would be too if it was the other way around. After taking a whole month's vacation, I've decided not to come back to S&L anymore. It was a tough decision, I felt like I was giving up of so much, everything I've always worked so hard to get, it was painful as fuck to even imagine everything going down the drain like that. But, simultaneously, the idea of going back to work, being so close to my father, and doing a job that even though I know it's not useless - after all, S&L is still the biggest pharmaceutical industry in America - I don't believe in the same purpose I did before.

Things happened fast and it took me a while to understand everything, but once I did, it became crystal clear to me, I can't keep living a fake life. If it was merely working at S&L, I think I would've handled it, but once you add everything into the mix, there's no way I would oversee every tiny detail that brings me to this day.

My father had a camera in my apartment. He literally stalked me to be sure I was under his control - and the worst part is, I know it wasn't even him monitoring me. There was probably an employee of his watching my daily routine, prying into my life and destroying any sense of privacy I could've had over the last 3 years.

He lied to me. A lot. He underestimated me and treated me like a brainless brat who could never be suspicious of him. He humiliated me, over and over again, by lying to me, by hiding stuff, by keeping me at bay of what would be my business someday.

And as if all this wasn't enough, he decided to have a baby, and never even asked my opinion about it, never even told me what he was planning. The fact he hid it from me is more than enough proof he has second intentions, intentions that probably will not benefit me in the long run.

All in all, the decision to step back not only found me easily, as it also compelled me to question why I didn't think of it before. And it doesn't matter how much it hurts to be giving up what I've believed my whole life to be my dream, simultaneously it's also freeing to be taking the wheel of my destiny for the first time in my life.

"I'll be back soon, OK?" I promise Harry, skimming my finger on his unruly hair. He closes his eyes, enjoying my touch for a moment before he grabs my hand and takes it to his lips, kissing my knuckles and right over the ring he gave me.