Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 164263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 821(@200wpm)___ 657(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 164263 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 821(@200wpm)___ 657(@250wpm)___ 548(@300wpm)
This can’t be our last night together…. It can’t be. We are too good together; he will see it. I know he will.
He bends and gets a black velvet bag or something out of his bag and puts it in the drawer beside the bed and it’s then I remember what I heard earlier.
“Why do you need a gun?”
“For protection.” He turns down his side of the blankets. “There are no guards here, so just in case.”
“Hmm.”
He slides in behind me and pulls me close to his body, we lie spooned together and I feel myself relax again. “Good night, Doe.”
“Good night, my sweet Edward.” I put my hand up to cup his face over my shoulder.
I feel him smile into the darkness.
“What?” I smile too.
“I’ve never been called sweet before.”
“That’s not true. I’m sure your mother thought you were the sweetest little boy she ever knew.”
He falls silent and I inwardly kick myself, why did I say that?
Too far.
I love talking about my late mother, I love being reminded that she loved me, but it doesn’t bring everyone happiness, I need to remember that. He kisses my cheek as I hold his face to mine, his lips linger on my skin, and a beautiful intimacy holds us together.
Unspoken words hang between us; I can feel them in the air. Building, growing…. Manifesting into a tangible force.
This feels a lot like love….
Brrrrr, brrrrr, brrrrr.
I wake with a start and reach over for my phone to hit the alarm and lie back and smile sleepily.
What a night.
Hours and hours of time with him.
Wait….
I open my eyes to see his side of the bed is empty, and I sit up. “Edward,” I call.
Silence….
I can’t feel his presence, surely he wouldn’t have left without saying goodbye…. Would he?
“Edward,” I call again as I climb out of bed and grab my robe. I rush down the stairs. “Edward.” But I can already tell he isn’t here, perhaps he’s out in the garden.
As I get to the bottom of the stairs my fears are realized, he’s not here. Did he not want to wake me or….
Then I see it, a note on the kitchen counter.
Good Morning Alora.
As usual in your company I had a wonderful time last night, you are so very beautiful.
My heart sinks as I read on.
On greater reflection over our conversation last night I’ve come to the realization that we cannot continue on this journey.
Unfortunately I am not in a position to offer what you are looking for, if only I could, I promise you, I would.
I cherished our time together, and please know that I will never forget you.
I sincerely hope you find the grand love you are looking for and I wish you all the happiness in the world.
All my love
Edward.
XX
“Wow.” I puff air into my cheeks. “Here I was falling in love and there he was drafting a breakup letter.” I slump onto the stool at the kitchen counter.
I read it again and again. Disappointed but not surprised, and even though I thought I made a valid case last night I guess on some level I knew the writing was on the wall. The end was always near.
I’m not a princess or an heiress and obviously once he saw my humble abode, my love of simplicity and my beloved vegetable patch, he knew I wasn’t the girl for him. His words from last night come back to me: we come from different worlds.
The reality is, I know he’s right and this is probably for the best. Better to cut ties now rather than later when I’m hopelessly in love with him. Who am I kidding, I already am.
Fuck.
I make myself a cup of coffee and walk to the kitchen window, two blackbirds are sitting side by side on the fence. Chatting away and bouncing along together.
Happily oblivious to the complications of being human and the heartache it brings.
I watch them for a long time, my mind runs over the last two months.
Are you happy, Alora? You broke up your relationship for a man who didn’t even care about you.
Betrayal washes over me and my eyes well with tears.
I’m such a fool.
I walk into work with a spring in my step, I’m not going to cry over a man who doesn’t want me.
Screw him.
“So….” Helene’s eyes widen with excitement. “How did it go?”
“How did what go?” I take my scarf off and hang it up on the hook.
“Your night with Edward.”
“Oh.” I sit down and turn my computer on. “It was okay.” I shrug. “I don’t think we’ll be seeing each other again, though.”
Her face falls. “Why not?”
“I woke up to an it’s-not-you-it’s-me letter.”
“You did.” She drops into the seat opposite me. “But I thought-—”
“Doesn’t matter.” I cut her off. “I don’t want to talk about it and I don’t want to talk about him ever again.”