Page 34 of Frayed Bonds

She shrugs. “Surprise me.” I nod and jog off the bus as fast as my pink kitten heels will let me.

It’s another miserable day filled with a cold wind and clouds. Winter is slowly creeping its way in, leaving almost no room for Autumn in between. My shoes have no grip, causing me to waddle along the cobblestone pavement as I walk up to Giovanni's.

The warmth of the store envelops me as I enter.

My eyes dance along the candy aisle and they land on a row of jelly beans. They always remind me of how Antonio and I would demolish three packets at a time before rushing off to the art museum after school on a Friday.

If anyone told me a year ago that this is where I would be, I would have laughed in their face. The fact that I now work for Antonio and his brothers and that they are all billionaires. That I’m living in Tevici again now that Mattheo isn't a physical factor in my life anymore.

I pass the polite woman three mini ciabattas and rattle off our usual sandwich orders to her. She smiles broadly before walking away.

I stand alone—awkwardly—looking around the store. Independence has always scared me. To a degree, it still does. I feel lonely most days. I thought it would have gotten better since I moved home, but if anything, it's only gotten worse. I’m now almost always around another person or distracted by everything that’s going on in my life.

The only time I’m truly alone is moments like this, or late at night when I paint.

Am I ever really alone?

My art is the only time I can truly and fully express myself, where I don't need to worry about anyone else's opinions. Even my clients give me free rein, loving the idea of being able to own one of my pieces.

“Ma’am,” the lady calls for my attention, and I grab the sandwiches, thanking her and heading to the till.

“Valarie! You look amazing.” A head full of salt and pepper hair and a wide smile greets me.

“Giovanni, I didn't expect to see you here. I thought you retired.”

He begins scanning my items and smiles. “Ahh I have, I’m helping out today because one of our staff is off sick.” He smiles.

“What are you doing in Tevici? Your father mentioned a few years ago that you moved to Paris to study,” he says, bagging my items.

“I”m home, working and taking care of him. He's had the first of a double hip replacement,” I say, and Giovanni practically freezes, that’s when I notice him sliding a packet of jelly beans into my bag, without scanning them.

“Wow, that's a major surgery, send him my regards.” He smiles and hands me the bag.

“Thank you, I will.”

“You look exactly the same, Valerie. You haven’t aged a day past nineteen, it’s crazy, but see you again soon.”

All I manage to do is offer him a tight-lipped smile before I rush out of the store. Ducking under a nearby roof to avoid the rain, I dig through my bag for the envelope I slipped in earlier.

Evergreen Divorce Attorneys

15 Via Del Corso

TeviciSW7 5XX

Italy

I scoff at the irony of the name. Natalia recommended them to me since her parents used them when they got divorced for the first time. She mentioned it being their most efficient divorce, and that is exactly what I need.

I’m tired of being the same. I want change. I want something new. I want a future not hindered by the demons of my past.

I slip the envelope into the nearby post box and head down the street, continuing to duck under roofs to avoid the drizzle.

I’ve worn this ring around like a shackle, too ashamed to admit that I made a mistake in marrying Mattheo. After I finally managed to get away from him, I’ve had time to realise it was never my fault, that I was lured into marriage with false promises and expensive gifts.

Things went downhill faster than a snowball on Mount Everest.

Finally, I arrive outside an average-sized jewellery store.

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