Page 4 of Don’t Forget Me

As I walked back to the steps of our shattered mobile home, I saw a white crumpled envelope with a blue stamp pressed onto the corner, atop the front doormat. The Scottish saltire flag had been imprinted on the polished sticker, and intricate calligraphy was sprawled across the middle of the post. It was the type of writing that came from someone important.

My name and address were etched across the center of the envelope.

Once I had pulled out the piece of paper, I couldn’t contain my excitement. I covered my mouth to muffle the squeal that dared escape my lips.

But there it was, my exit out of this miserable life:

Dear Lysandra Guerrera,

Congratulations! It is with great pleasure that we inform you of your selection as a recipient of the Van Dorren Annual Award to attend Blackthorn House Academy. This prestigious grant is a testament to your exceptional achievements, character, and potential. We are thrilled to welcome you to our community.

An acceptance letter to a school I had applied to study abroad. I recalled that night clearly. I was packing my bags, ready to leave and not come back. But Mario stopped me before I made it past the kitchen. He threatened that he would find me and bring me back to him, that I would never escape him. In my desperation, I looked for several schools out of the country and applied to all of them. That was over four months ago. To be truthful, I forgot I even sent these out. This was a divine intervention. It had to be.

He didn’t see the letters when he marched inside in his haze. He was too drunk to notice, and I thank God for that.

Swiftly, I darted back into my house, closing the door, jumping above Mario, and rushing into my room. Holding onto the envelope as if it were my life, I pulled out my phone. My fingers trembled as I unlocked it and searched for the mail app.

Today was December 5th. The post office delivered this late, as usual. I groaned with annoyance.

I couldn’t find an email from the school. Then I went to my spam folder, and there it was. My hands shook as I typed out an email, refining it to the best of my abilities, giving appreciation to the school for the scholarship, and accepting the award.

Mario would not stop me from leaving this godforsaken town.

I was going to leave. And I wasn’t coming back.

three

LYSANDRA

“Lysandra,” Ezra repeated. His ocean eyes scanned me swiftly before he met my gaze again. There’d been shock, fear, and confusion mixed in his expression. His button-up shirt was navy, and his pants and blazer matched in a lighter tone. His shoes were black and polished. His black wavy hair was combed back, the same way he had it five years ago.

Not much of him had changed. There only seemed to be a bit more definition to his jaw, and his look had been more refined.

My coffee almost slipped from my grasp. I had to use my other hand to hold it from the bottom to keep it from spilling.

He was here. Right in front of me.

Suddenly, everything I had repressed for so many years came tumbling back. I thought I’d never feel the nausea again or having my breath taken away like this.

His azure stare looked down at my hands. I followed his gaze to the diamond that was wrapped around my left ring finger.

“It was nice to see you,” he hissed. Ezra formed a soft grin before rushing out of the coffeeshop. I was left breathless and speechless. I watched his fading figure disappear among the crowd of strollers on the cobblestone street.

What the hell was that? Did I really just see Ezra Van Dorren? After five years and the messiest break-up of my life?

I wondered what he was even doing here in Scotland. I read somewhere that once he graduated from Blackthorn, he had spent most of his time in London, which saved me from ever having to bump into him. I lingered at the café, hoping to collect myself before the meeting.

I curled my hands inward, hoping to stop the tremble in my fingers. My entire body shook with every step as I made my way back to my publishing house.

Once I got there, the elevator’s ding seemed almost daunting. My heart beat fiercely within my ribcage. My cup of coffee remained untapped as I continued to replay the previous events in my mind. Ezra was in Scotland. He was here, and I saw him… and we spoke.

It bothered me that his appearance in my life caused such emotional turmoil in me. I couldn’t understand it. I was happy with Aldair. We were going to get married soon. His plan was to get married early 2027.

Camille was the first person to receive me. She had a scrunched smile and quirked brows; I already knew that I would be receiving negative reports.

“Please don’t tell me you have worse news to tell me,” I hissed.

“They’re waiting for us in Room 209. But the development executive, Finn Danbury, emailed me literally five seconds after you left to tell me that the owner of Blue Tower Productions made a last minute decision and would be replacing him in the meeting. And he mentioned that he’d be accompanied by the vice president.”