Page 14 of Unpermitted Love

Tasha hangs up the phone.

I look at my phone for a few seconds and break down in tears. I love Hal but I don’t want to cause any further rift between our families. It’s crazy enough that he’s my sister's stepson.

Maybe we’re wrong to think we could be happy when we’ll hurt too many people. Maybe Tasha’s right. And perhaps we’re just simply dreaming that things could change.

I wipe my tears and strengthen my resolve. The thought of turning my back on everything that has happened over the last few weeks was excruciating, but it was best for all of us.

I grab my keys and run out of the office, past all my coworkers. I bump into Bertha in the lobby.

“Whoa. Where are you going in such a hurry, Anna?”

How could I explain that everything I loved was about to fall apart?

“I have to leave California, Dr.”

“Wait what? Did something happen in Connecticut? Did something happen with Hal?”

Dr Bertha is the only other person in California who knows about me and Hal. She'd also encouraged me to give him a chance.

Tears blind me. “I just have to leave.”

“Wait. I don't know what's going on but you need to take a deep breath and think before you make any sudden decisions. Why don't you go to a hotel first and see how you feel in the morning? You can always give me a call later, if you need to talk.”

I nod and race to my car. I drive as fast as I can, hoping that I don’t get stopped for speeding. Tears flow freely as I think about the beautiful memories Hal and I have created in the last few days.

I get to the building and look around for Hal’s car. But it’s nowhere to be seen. He must be at work. It’s better this way.

I enter the building and elevator. As soon as I get to the top floor, I walk over to his penthouse, unlock it with the key he gave me, and take one last look around. Everything was so dear to me. I shake my head and focus on the task at hand. I take out a pen and paper and scribble a brief message to Hal, trying to articulate as much as I can.

I leave it on the credenza in the foyer where I’m sure he will see it. I lock his door and walk across the hall and into my own apartment. I pack as fast as I can, then head off to the Blue Bell Hotel.

I book a room and head to the elevator. Once I get to my room, I collapse to the floor in tears. I feel like my heart is breaking. Since the beginning, I had a feeling that this was never going to work. But there is no way I am going back to Connecticut. If my family insists on keeping Hal and I apart then they will never see me again.

It's best for everyone.

I close my eyes and press my face to the pillow trying to stop the pain.

Chapter Seven

Hal

As soon as I step off the elevator, I can tell that something is wrong. I don't know what it is yet, but I feel uneasy. There shouldn’t be anything wrong. Anna and I had been together last night till this morning and everything was fine. So why do I have this sick feeling in my stomach?

I decide to go to her apartment first. It’s locked. She must still be at work. I unlock the door to my own apartment, walk in and hang my jacket on a hook on the wall. I drop my keys on the credenza and notice a carefully folded white piece of paper that wasn't there before. I immediately pick it up and open it. As I read the contents, goosebumps break out all over my body.

“No… No!”

I whip out my phone with the paper still in my hand. I dial Anna's number and wait. It rings several times, but she doesn’t answer. Her apartment is locked and I don't know how long it’s been since she was last home.

There must be someone who knows where she is.

I run to the elevator while dialing Dr Bertha's number. I hit the button going to the ground floor and pace up and down in the elevator.

“Come on, Bertha. Pick up.”

I dial her number again.

“Hello?”

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