Page 28 of Famous Last Words

(Now)

This morning, I had a couple of therapists come to assess me. They couldn’t tell me why Seraphina wasn’t present or if she’d be back at the house later today. When I said she had two days to move in, I didn’t mean she could ignore me until then.

It’s not just that she’s not here, she’s not picking up my calls either. The woman keeps sending me to voicemail. My patience is running thin, so I send her a text.

Brahms: This isn’t what we agreed on.

I wait at least twenty minutes before sending another.

Brahms: Stop ignoring me. I know you’re receiving my texts. Where are you, Seraphina? We had an agreement. I should be your only patient.

Sephie: When did you decide that the world spins around you, Brahms Wolfgang Ehrenberg?

I can’t help but chuckle at the mention of my middle name. It’s been years since I heard it—probably back when Mom was still alive before ovarian cancer took her when I was twelve. A pang of grief hits me at the memory of her loss.

But I push it aside, refocusing on Seraphina. Her continued absence is infuriating.

Taking a calming breath, I type back:

Brahms: I just want to understand why you’re not fulfilling your side of our agreement. Too many people know about my presence in this house.

Sephie: They don’t know you and Brahms are the same person. Not everyone knows Cascade Midnight or you.

Brahms: We’re pretty famous. They would’ve had to live under a rock to have missed my name.

Sephie: You’re not that famous.

Brahms: Are you trying to bruise my ego?

Sephie: I’m going to ignore that question. What is it that you need this time? Another nail clipper? Should I call your personal stylist?

Even in text she’s too fucking sassy.

Brahms: I heard the rooms are ready for you to move in, I expect you to be here tonight.

Sephie: Tomorrow, I’ll do it tomorrow. There are things I have to bring with me from home, and I don’t have anyone to help me with them until then.

Brahms: If you need movers, I’ll have them at your house right away. What else do you need?

Sephie: For you to leave me the fuck alone. I can’t stand you, nor do I understand why you want me there.

Her words are like a punch to the gut. She really does despise me now.

Brahms: But maybe this will be like last time.

After reading the response, I groan. Could I sound more pathetic? Probably. It’d be easier to compose an entire song than trying to put into words what I really need from her. I don’t need the past, but I want our relationship back, her heart. Us against the world. I glance at the room that witnessed our story, the bubble where we built the best memories of my life. Back then, I didn’t care about the pain because she was with me.

Now everything is so different. It seems like no matter how hard I try there’s nothing left of us. Not even the old furniture.

Sephie: You wouldn’t want me to replicate the past. This time, I have a better team than I did nine years ago. Hopefully, it’ll take me less than two years to kick you out of here and after that I never have to see you again.

Her response knocks the breath from my lungs. She’s right, things are so different. The last time I was here, we were best friends. And even though I was physically broken, I managed to make her fall for me. I won her heart and surrendered my soul to her.

Now we’re not only strangers, we’re almost enemies and my soul and heart are more shattered than my body.

My only hope to survive is her, but it seems like if she had it her way I would be dead.

Agony rips through me, knowing it’s almost impossible to fix us.

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