Page 7 of The Burdens We Share
Selene dips her chin again, “Yes.”
“Are you sure that’s the best idea? We’ve all seen how dark both Aria and Brody’s lives got when those things happened. Those were their rock-bottom moments. Does the entire world need to witness that?” I ask, worried about my friends.
Selene gives me an admiring smile before she declares, “I had a front row seat to both of those catastrophic events. I saw how you both went in and I saw how you both came out. You wouldn’t be the people you are today without those moments and I think the entire world would love you all the more and respect you all the more if they saw how truly affected you both were and how you conquered your own demons.”
Brody takes a deep breath and glances at Aria for approval. Once they accomplish a silent agreement, Brody nods, “Okay.”
Selene gives her a look of pride, “I’m proud of you two.”
Aria waves her hand around, laughing to lighten the mood, “Yeah, yeah, our moments were cool and all, but when is this one,” she places a hand on my shoulder, “going to have her existential crisis?”
“Never, I’m perfect” I toss my hair over my shoulder and straighten my posture.
Brody laughs, “You say that now. Watch something happen now to spite you for saying that.”
Little does she know something is already happening. Little do they all know I’m battling my own demons right now.Demons that mock and tease me every time I look in the mirror or catch a glimpse of my body. Little do they know that what Nara said to me yesterday changed the way I’ll see myself forever. I take a page out of Brody’s old book and slip a mask on, feigning interest. “Please, nothing is going to happen.”
Selene rolls her eyes, “We’ll see about that. It seems the three of you love coming to me with problems.”
Chapter 3
Ivory
My front door shutsbehind me with a loud click. I turn the deadbolt and kick off my pink sneakers, dragging my feet down the marble-stoned hallway and to my stairs. Curse you, Selene Stone for making me get up so early. I’m so exhausted. My stomach growls, and I realize I still haven’t eaten anything today. I want to eat, but I’m also exhausted and just want to hit the pillow. I tell myself that’s the only reason I’m not eating anything, but the truth is that every time I think of eating something, I see that zoomed-in picture of my body on Nara’s iPad and her bitter words come to mind.
I march up my stairs and further away from my kitchen. I should be so happy right now. I just got a huge opportunity in my career. I was just offered a movie about my life and better yet, I get to experience it with my best friends. Instead, I’m a bitter mess because I’m hangry and oh so tired.
I make it to my bedroom door and push it open, pulling the white t-shirt over my head and tossing it to the floor. I unzip the fly of my jeans and shove them down my legs, stepping out of them and leaving them on the floor. I’ll clean up later. For now, I just want to go back to bed. I’m too lazy to even put pajamas on right now. My bra and panties will have to do.
I take a step towards my bed and freeze. My brows draw together and my spine goes stiff. My covers are pulled over my pillow as if someone made a shitty effort of making my bed. When I left this morning, I left the blankets tossed around like a messy child, but I remember seeing them closer to thefoot of the bed when I left my bedroom. Maybe I’m just being paranoid- I was really tired this morning. Maybe I didn’t see correctly because I was so tired. Right? That’s possible, isn’t it?
I shake off my anxiety and walk over to my bed, pulling the covers back and preparing to climb in. When I draw the pink satin sheets and white comforter back, I gasp. I can feel the hairs on my arms rising and goosebumps forming. I can feel a chill down my spine and my skin going pale. I want so badly to believe my eyes are playing a trick on me, that someone is playing a trick on me. This can’t be real. There can’t be a pink rose—identical to all the others I’ve gotten—on my pillow.
I blink rapidly, hoping that the rose will disappear from sight and this will never have happened. But it doesn’t. Of course, it doesn’t. Someone, whoever has been leaving me these roses, has been in my house. This person was in my home and could still be here. I look around my bedroom and panic. I have a state-of-the-art security system. How could someone have gotten past it? I look back down at the rose and this time, I notice a white envelope beside it on my pillow. It’s sealed with a pink wax seal, a heart stamped into it.
My body trembles as I reach for the envelope. My hands tremble as I carefully open it and flip over the white card.
Hello again, Ivory.
Did you miss me? I’ve been so close to you these past few months, but I thought it was time to say hello properly. The roses were just a little reminder that I’m always near, watching over you.
I couldn’t resist leaving this note on your pillow, seeing your peaceful face while you sleep. It’s almost like we’re sharing a secret no one else knows. I hope you like the rose. There’s so much more to come.
Yours, always.
I drop the note and panic. Oh my God. He was here? Watching me sleep? Panic and fear consume me, threatening to devour me whole. I can’t stop shaking and I can’t think clearly. What do I do? I look around my room as if the answer is right there somewhere, and when my eyes land on my phone, I immediately pick it up knowing what I have to do.
I dial Selene’s number and the phone rings once before she picks up, “What happened? You just saw me less than an hour ago. Please tell me you’re calling because you miss me and not because something happened.” Her voice is playful, but I’m feeling anything but.
Did you miss me?The first sentence of the note comes back to mind at her words and I suck in a sharp breath. “Selene.” My voice cracks.
Hearing something in my voice, she goes all business, “What happened?”
I don’t want to fall apart, but I am. My eyes start to water and a tear rolls down my cheek as I shatter, “Selene, someone was in my house.”
“What do you mean?” I hear the worry in her voice. It’s nothing compared to the disarray I’m feeling.
Tears spill, thick with fear. I was such a fool for not taking the roses seriously. I should’ve said something, done something sooner. Maybe if I had this person wouldn’t have gotten into my house. I shouldn’t have been so cocky, so arrogant to believe I was untouchable. “I’ve been getting roses, all over. I find them in dressing rooms, I even found one on my car one time, I- I-” a sob cuts me off.
