" So you rejected Davis?"
I watched as my mother mentally crossed out another name from her list of prospective . She sighed as she sipped her lemon water. She's been trying harder than usual to lose weight. Something about gaining her youth and rekindling the flame between her and Dad. I couldn't wrap my head around all this goofy love stuff anyway so I always chose to remain as a silent observer.
" I'm not ready for marriage. Plus I feel like he's going too fast , don't you think?" I was trying to calm her down so that I didn't have to answer any more questions. " We've only been together for a few months-"
" Two years and three months , Belle. Two years and three months. " She spoke with a stern face.
" You've been keeping tabs , huh? " I rolled my eyes as I scrambled my brains in search for a reason why I'd failed to last in a relationship. Any relationship.
" Listen...mum...I just..."
" Just?" She groaned and threw her arms around me from the back. " Belle , I don't want to pry into your life or anything , but I just hope you'll find a guy...no...the right guy and settle down one day. "
" Yes mother dearest. " I kissed her hand and took a deep breath.
There was nothing particularly wrong with Davis. Infact , he was an amazing guy. He was handsome too. I gazed at the diamond ring on my finger . It was beautiful and I didn't deserve to be wearing it.
I had just left Davis on one knee at my favorite Italian restaurant. He'd planned a surprise engagement. All of our friends were there , most of his family too and what did I do ?
I just stood there like a snowman and watched him put a ring on my finger. He had a wide smile on his face while I looked like I'd just seen a ghost. I didn't realise when I'd left the restaurant at all. My mind was blank and I felt like I was in a dream.
" Belle ! Belle wait! " I could hear him running after me so I ran faster. I needed to get away.
I didn't stop. I couldn't. I didn't have the answers to any of his questions. Why was I leaving like that? What did he do wrong? Why didn't I say anything?
" Taxi! " I quickly called for a cab and came straight home.
" Just a simple reminder , you're not getting any younger , Belle. " My mother's voice broke through my chain of thoughts.
" You never let me forget , do you?"
I gave a dry smile. I was feeling awful and I couldn't hide it. You know that feeling when you are genuinely repulsed by yourself?
" It's okay. Cheer up , " She patted my shoulder , " Maybe the next guy will be better."
" Amen!" I laughed as I stood to go to my room.
Sometimes I just wanted to disappear or turn into a butterfly and sit on flowers forever or something.
Looking in the mirror , I see the same average looking nobody that was often sidelined in high school. I was practically the invisible blonde girl with braces. Well , atleast the braces were gone now.
" Well...I'm not ugly. " I scanned myself in the full body length mirror as I turned around. " My ass is growing."
I laughed at my foolishness and ran my hands over my hair. The lights made it glow beautifully. I made eye contact with myself and felt a wave of pride sweep across me. My eyes were always my trump card. They were a breathtaking mystic grey. I'd gathered hundreds of compliments because of them.
I was smiling again but then I suddenly recalled that I'd just broken Davis' heart and that he probably hated me now. His family must think im a bitch. Well , that would seem right. I did display some very bitchy behaviour. I had no right to be smiling right now.
As though on command , a sulk escaped my lips. Did I want to cry this out?
" I'll just sleep it off. " I flung my heels across the room and landed on my bed. I'd rather sleep than face my reality. It wasn't long before I drifted off.
" Belle...Belle..." I was hearing voices...again. I turned In my sleep and tried to block them out.
" Belle..."
I sprung from my bed and looked around my room on panic mode. I was sweating and hyperventilating all at once. I noticed that It was dark outside.
It was 3 am. My heart sank even deeper. Since young , kids used to say it was the hour of the dead. The hour when all the evil forces in the world had all the right to fuck you up! I started imagining my soul floating out of my body , the shadows coming off of the walls and oh! I didn't even want to think about what could be under my bed.
" Stop it!" I pinched myself. " It's all in your head. " I rubbed my now dry throat. After many failed attempts , I accepted that I obviously couldn't sleep so I decided to work. That would be better. Off to the kitchen! It would be safer there , I guess. Basing off the horror movies I've watched , a kitchen would definitely be safer than a bedroom.
I sipped my coffee as I worked on the kitchen island. I was a seasoned insomniac so staying up was no big deal. I scrolled through my latest story.
" Fraud in the parliament . "
I worked with the Newland News Channel - NNC. I'd made my way up the ladder. I had made a name for myself. Journalism had always been my first love. I knew I was made for it and it for me.
" Mayor Flynn Baldster..." I squinted to read off my monitor.'' I forgot my glasses up stairs. Typical of me..."
Without them, I was blind.
I dragged myself to the staircase but stopped in my tracks. The lights were off and that explained the numerous shadows in the room but yet there was this one shadow at the top of the stairs that was different.
My heart was already pounding in my chest but I was adamant on believing I was just seeing things.
" It's in your head. It's all in your head. "
I placed my foot on the first stair and almost tripped. My legs were trembling immensely. Best display of spaghetti legs yet.
I took the next step with a fixed gaze on the dark silhouette ahead of me. I took the next step and noticed that each time i blinked ,it was closer. I froze in place. I could almost see my heart beat from my t-shirt.
I held my chest and closed my eyes. I prayed silently and opened my eyes again. It wasn't there anymore.
" It was all in my head. Ha!" I was laughing all on my own. I probably looked like a psychopath. I felt like I'd won a mini - war . I wiped the sweat from my forehead and laughed at my foolishness. It was probably my anxiety pills that were getting to me. I was a fucking mess.
I took another step but stopped again when I felt a chill down my spine.
" Belle..."
My soul left my body immediately. It was that same voice. The voice I'd been hearing since I was eight , but this time it was closer than ever before. I could feel a presence standing right behind me.
" Belle. "
I didn't let myself register what was going on. I sprinted up the stairs and made for my room. I shut the door and grabbed the nearest defense I could get which unfortunately, was my bedside lamp.
I held it like a sword and was ready to attack the moment that door opened.
I could hear footsteps coming towards my room and I felt the air leave my lungs. I could see a shadow beneath my door. My chest was swollen with fear and tears were pouring down my face.
" Belle. "
I heard that voice again , but this time...from within my room. I dropped the lamp.