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Laura and I met at the hotel restaurant for breakfast, my stomach rumbling with hunger during the entire walk down there. We were greeted by the sight of a lavish buffet with all types of foods laid out before us. We filled our plates with eggs, bacon, toast, and pastries, and sat down—chatting and laughing as we ate.
After breakfast, we checked out of the hotel and made our way to the car. The long drive home lay ahead of us, but I didn't mind. I was still basking in the glow of the last two days, feeling grateful for the friendship I was developing with Laura and the memories we had created together.
As I pulled out of the hotel parking lot, the city slowly disappeared in our rearview mirror. I felt a pang of sadness as I watched it disappear, knowing that the trip was coming to an end and reality was just a few short hours away. But as I hit the open road, I settled back into my seat, content and satisfied.
Laura turned to me, a smile playing at the corners of her lips.
"Did you have a good time?" she asked.
I grinned back at her, feeling a warmth spread through my chest.
"The best," I replied. "Thank you for the amazing time.
"You know, my life feels rigid these days. I haven't been myself," she said nonchalantly.
I nodded in understanding, trying to show her that I was listening, but my mind was elsewhere. I was lost in my own thoughts, trying to come up with the right words to say to her. I wanted to tell her everything, to lay my heart bare. I wanted to tell her how much more I wanted from her, but that I had already been through so much and couldn’t risk losing any more. I thought back momentarily to the young man on the floor of my boss’s office and a chill went through my body. I wanted to tell her the truth, but I was also afraid of what she might say, of how she might react.
She teased me about my zoning out, and I turned to face her, trying to mask my own fears with a hint of sarcasm. But as soon as she mentioned not wanting to reminisce about what was gone, I knew it was time to open up to her.
I took a deep breath and spoke softly, my voice barely above a whisper. I told her about Christine and how we had been planning to be together forever until she took off with my money and my sanity, leaving me alone to raise our baby girl. I described the long nights I spent trying to soothe my crying daughter, wondering if I was doing anything right.
As I spoke, Laura listened intently, her eyes fixed on mine. I could see the emotions flickering across her face—the surprise, the compassion, the understanding. I told her about the day I had driven James to his meeting and ran into Christine with her new Mafia boss boyfriend and how it shattered the last pieces of my heart. I explained how everything good in my life had been taken from me except for my daughter, and that I would not do anything that might risk her well-being or cause me to lose her. She was my main priority in life now, above my own needs and desires or the desires of others.
By the time I finished speaking, Laura was silent, lost in thought, and I didn't dare break the silence. Instead, I focused on the road and continued driving us to our destination.
It wasn't until we reached her apartment that Laura finally spoke.
"Anthony," she said softly, "I had no idea. I'm so sorry."
I turned to face her, "You don't have to be sorry," I said, trembling. "You did nothing wrong. I just wanted you to know the truth, to understand why I've been so distant."
She nodded, her eyes searching mine. "I understand," she said. "I will support you as a friend, always."
At that moment, I knew that everything was going to be okay, even though it was going to be a long, tough road. The weight that had been crushing me for so long was lifted, and I felt a sense of relief that I had never experienced in a long time.
Chapter ten
Laura
It was early evening when we pulled up at my apartment. As I stepped out of the car, I could feel the cool breeze brush past my skin, making the hair on my arms stand up. Anthony got out of the car and walked towards the back to retrieve my luggage. I took a deep breath and looked up at the towering apartment building in front of me. It was sleek and modern with large windows that let in a lot of natural light.
Anthony walked back to me, carrying my bags with ease. He flashed me a warm smile and took my hand, leading me toward the entrance of the building. The sound of our footsteps echoed through the hallway as we walked towards the elevator.
As we rode up to my apartment, I thought about the amazing trip we had just taken together even though I definitely had had my reservations going into it. It felt like I had known Anthony for years though we had really only just gotten to know each other. Being with him was so easy. I didn't feel like I had to put on a front or pretend to be someone I wasn't. He just got me.
Finally, we reached my floor and walked down the hallway toward my apartment. As soon as I opened the door, a wave of joy came over me. Everything felt so much brighter and happier with him by my side.
Anthony put down my bags and turned to me, saying he had to go home to his daughter. I couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness as I watched him leave. I wondered how he was doing taking care of his daughter all by himself. He had a tough exterior and always talked a lot, but he was also one of the kindest and most caring people I had ever met.
As I looked around my apartment, I realized that there was so much that I could do with my day. It was only noon, and the possibilities were endless. But all I really wanted to do was bask in the happiness that I had found with Anthony.
I picked up my phone and called my friend Becca. She picked up on the third ring, her voice alive with excitement.
"Hey!" she said, "You good?"
I couldn't contain my excitement as I replied, "Yeah, I'm great!"
My friend cut in immediately, "Ooohhh, what happened? Tell me all about it!"
