Page 38 of Lost Summer
That may make me sound bitter, but I didn’t care. I was sick of not thinking of myself first.
The ache in my chest was dull at first, my body used to the feeling of hope being squashed. But as time went on, and I heard nothing from Ted, I knew Elena had told him. Yesterday had been like a gift, an apology from the fates that we’d been apart for so long.
Here,the fates said,have today together.Hell, have tonight too.Because tomorrow, we have some news for you.
I’d told myself over and over that my reaction was absurd; but was it? All I wanted was Ted, nothing else. I wouldn’t even be so greedy as to wish for a baby or another pet. I just wanted him, and now Elena had him, in ways I didn’t. The swirling water below claimed more of my tears, but I barely blinked.
I just wanted to be happy. Was that too much to ask? The question lingered in the air, ungraspable yet heavy, much like the dark clouds that loomed above, threatening to unleash an equally turbulent storm, both in nature and in my heart. I turned away from the river, the relentless flow mirroring the way my life seemed to spiral endlessly without any direction. The noise of the city buzzed faintly in the background, a contrast to the turmoil raging inside me.
As I walked along the bridge, my steps grew heavier with each thought, each memory of laughter shared and secrets whispered between Ted and me. He’d promised me adventures, countless spontaneous moments that would fill our lives with laughter, as if we were bound by some unbreakable pact. But now, every promise felt like shattered glass, jagged and dangerous.
Why her?I screamed in silence, the question echoing in my mind, demanding answers that would never come. The image ofElena’s face, illuminated by the glow of another world, invaded my thoughts. Her smiles felt invasive now, taunting me in the quiet hours of the night when the weight of my solitude felt heaviest. I mean, sure, she’s beautiful and rich, but he wasn’t happy. He’d told me that himself.
I paused, the wind whipping about me as if urging me to make a decision. Would I continue to linger in this place of longing, or would I summon the courage to reclaim the rights of my life? A flicker of defiance stirred deep within me. I would not be an insignificant pawn in the story of Ted and Elena.
The gusts of wind seemed to whisper encouragement, drowning out the voice of despair that threatened to keep me bound here, paralysed by grief and anger. I took a deep breath, the scent of damp earth mingling with the sharpness of the river. If the universe was going to deal me these cards, then it was high time I learned to play my hand.
Turning my gaze toward the horizon, where the sun dipped low and bled fiery shades of orange and pink into the sky, I realised if fate had thrown me into this mess, perhaps it was also capable of offering me something worthwhile.
With my heart still heavy but my resolve strengthening, I took one last lingering glance at the river’s surface, now mirrored with late afternoon colours, before stepping away from the edge. I’d lost Ted once, I didn’t want to lose him again.
The night was approaching, cloaking the world in its sprawling velvet embrace, and I felt a renewed sense of purpose blossom within me, like a flower forcing its way through cracked pavement. The streets buzzed with life, people bustling about, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing in my heart. I wanted to be one of them, lost in laughter, the taste of freedom tinged with anticipation.
Then my phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Baby, it’s me.” Ted’s voice broke me from my anxious spiral, warm and familiar yet laced with uncertainty.
“Ted...” I said, emotion choking my voice.
It was time to find out what my future looked like.
20
TED
“Hello?”
My heart stilled at the sound of her voice, my fears easing with the breathless tone.
“Baby, it’s me.”
Adele choked on the other end, and my soul broke for her. I couldn’t imagine how she felt.
“Adele, where are you?” I demanded softly, clutching my car keys in my fist. I had to see her. Everything felt wrong, like time was standing still, waiting for me to make a move.
“I’m by the river. You know, the one in town.” Adele’s voice was a shadow of anything I’d heard before. I’d heard it scream to the sounds of Pendulum as the bass vibrated beneath her feet, heard her murmur lyrics in my ear as we kissed, drunk on alcohol and love.
Real love.
Hearing it like this, my stomach sank.
“I’m coming.”
I ended the call, pushing away thoughts of a pregnant Elena from my mind, my brain telling me for once that I had to do the right thing for me.
The baby had nothing to do with this, with us. I would always be its father; Elena couldn’t stop that if she tried.
