Loving Is Hard

Chapter - 2

It was the most painful
type of loss.

You,
Slowly melting away.

Making sure you burnt
every last piece
of my heart.

_

Rachel entered her house. Without talking to anyone, she went straight into her room. She closed her bedroom door. She threw her bag to the side. Tears that had been forming in her eyes finally got the chance to stream. She slid down beside her bed on the floor. She couldn't keep it in her anymore, she broke down. She never thought this day would come that she and Sean would part ways, end their relationship like this.

Everything vanished in the blink of an eye. Plans they had dreamt of were never going to be true. It seemed like Rachel meant nothing to him. He threw away Rachel just out of frustration!?

Rachel's nose was runny, eyes red, head aching. She sobbed, cried her heart out. All the previous memories running through her mind. The memories escalated the pain she was going through. It could've worked out, everything was simple only if Sean had compromised a bit. Tears never stopped flowing down her cheeks. Her vision was blurry but the memories she and Sean shared were quite clear in her mind.

Flashback

Rachel was sitting with her friends in the cafeteria. Rachel had a small friend-circle. She was close to a few people only but to them, she gave all of her. She sat there with two of her closest friends, Noah and Abby. They were discussing the project they were assigned to do together. Sean came close to their table and actioned Rachel to come over.

Noah and Abby started passing smirks between the two. Rachel stood up and walked towards Sean who was impatiently waiting for her. As soon as she neared him, he pulled her into a tight hug and greeted her with a peck on her lips. "Hey, Beautiful," Sean said and Rachel couldn't keep herself from blushing. "Well hello, Mr. Harris." She gave him a breathtaking smile. "Come on! It has only been one period that they've spent separately," Noah said to Abby, rolling his eyes, after seeing how Sean greeted Rachel. "Well, you know it's Rachel and Sean we're talking about." Abby chuckled.

"Come on, let's go." Sean pulled on Rachels's arm. "But where? We still have one class left!" Rachel reminded him as both of them almost shared the same subjects but still couldn't get enough of each other. The true definition of love birds.

"Duh! I know it's geography and I also am well aware of the fact that you hate it. So... It's better to join me." He said pinching Rachels's nose. "Well... In that case, I'd love to join you. Just let me get my bag." She walked back to the table where Noah and Abby were still seated and were not at all staring at them. "Guys I have to go. Tell Mr. Thompson I wasn't feeling well." She winked at them before leaving. "That we can see!" Noah eyed Rachel teasingly. "Love you guys." Rachel blew a flying kiss in her friends' direction before joining Sean.

Sean and Rachel went to the park, not very distant from their high school. They laid on the grass, gazing at the sky. The sun was setting at that time. The oranges and reds danced all across the sky. They held each other's hand, their fingers intertwined.

"Sean this is so beautiful." Rachel said looking up at the sky. Sean neared Rachel and kissed her on the cheek, "Not as beautiful as you." Sean's comment caused Rachel's stomach to do a summersault. Rachel turned towards him "I'm so lucky to have you, it's been only four months but we've gotten so close to each other." Rachel said getting up to sit on the grass, her face turned towards Sean. Sean did the same as he stared into Rachel's dark brown eyes. "I love you, Sean," Rachel confessed to Sean out of nowhere, as if, she won't get a chance to do that ever again. She slowly leaned in to kiss him overwhelmed by his presence. As Rachel's lips met Sean's, he moved his hand to Rachel's face, cupping it. Sean smiled through the kiss probably happy to see how much his girlfriend loves him. He had fallen in love with Rachel the moment he laid his eyes on her. Love at first sight, it was!

"Come on, Let's get something to eat, I'm literally starving." Rachel said pulling away and standing up from the soft grass, dusting her clothes. "Well, I think I just had my meal," Sean smirked at Rachel only to earn a smack on his chest while Rachel's cheeks flushed red from  embarrassment. "Ugh, Sean stop! That sounds disgusting!" She growled.

They went to eat at the cafe they'd always go to with their friends. It was their all-time-go-to-place. After getting their stomachs full, Sean dropped off Rachel . "Bye Rae," Sean said as she got off his car. "See you tomorrow." She beamed at him before closing the car door.

She entered her house. Her face was glowing, everything was written over her face. Sean never failed to bring a smile to Rachel's face. No doubt, Sean brought out the best of her. Not wanting to ruin her mood she walked past her dad who was busy watching cricket in the living room so she went straight into her mother's room "How are you feeling mom?" She said crouching beside her on the bed. "Much better. I feel quite energetic today." She said and hearing that from her mother, Rachel's smile grew even wider. "I want to see you like this every day!" Rachel said as laid down her head on her mother's bony shoulder.

Rachel's mother, Mrs. Brooks, is suffering from anemia. She isn't doing well mostly and Rachel is worried about her all the time. Her hemoglobin levels aren't stable mostly. Moreover, Rachel's father doesn't pay much heed towards his wife.

Rachel and her only sister, Sarah, have now gotten used to the drama in their house. They take care of their mom themselves. She has her separate room now and hardly encounters dad. Life is hard seeing your parents drift away. But no matter what you feel you can never make a difference. It feels as if he has given up on her. Aren't we supposed to be beside our partners through the hard times!? Rather than leaving them to die like this!

Good thing is that Sean is always there to lighten up Rachel's mood. He has stood by her side knowing everything that she is going through or more like her mom is going through.

Rachel sat on the bed laying her head on her mom's shoulder that her phone buzzed. She had got a text from Sean; You left something in my car. Come outside. As soon as she read the text she went out and saw Sean standing beside his car. She moved towards his car to get back what she had left. "What is it, Sean? The car is empty?" She asked him after checking the backseat. Sean drew closed to Rachel and cupped her face in his hands, kissing her softly. "You forgot to kiss me goodbye," Sean said pulling back.

Rachel hugged him tightly. Her face lit up at this cute gesture of Sean. She was forever thankful to have him in her life. Every moment they shared had its charm. They grew closer and closer with every passing day. 

Releasing Sean from the hug, Rachel said goodbye and waved at him till his car drove away.

End of Flashback

Rachel tried hard to stop the tears but she couldn't. Sean was always there for her in such moments, where she felt helpless. When she needed someone to tell her that everything will be okay. Someone to comfort her but now it wasn't going to happen.

Rachel brought her knees close to her chest and buried her head in the space between. Her chin trembled as she continued to sob. Shortly, someone knocked on her bedroom door. "Rae? Are you crying? When did you come back?" Rachel's sister, Sarah, inquired trying to unlock the door.

"Please leave me alone!" Rachel cried out. She didn't want to be around anyone. Gradually her face turned red and so did her eyes. "What's is wrong? Should I call Sean?" Rachel's condition worsened upon hearing Sean's name. She didn't bother replying to her sister and went into the bathroom and locked the door.  She slid down the door and sat there on the cold floor, crying her heart out.

Today was one of the worst days of her life!

•••