Page 44 of Pervade London
“I need you.”
“You’ll never go without money, I promise.”
“I don’t want anything…just you.” A sob escaped me as I buried my face against his chest again.
“Have the best life,” he whispered, pulling away from me.
“Don’t say that. You’re acting like I’ll never see you again.”
He retrieved his suitcase and pulled it toward the door.
I blocked him.
He cupped my face in his hands. “Stay here for as long as you like.”
“Shall I go home and wait for you?”
“That place is gone, Em. I’m sorry.”
I grabbed his arm as he opened the door. “Stop, please.”
“I’ll be thinking of you during your audition. You’ll be amazing.”
“Don’t go,” I said, my voice shaking.
“You’re strong, Em. I know you can handle this.”
“Is your name really Xander?”
His silence was like a knife in my heart.
No…
He pulled away, hesitating in the doorway. “He shouldn’t have told you that.”
The room spun around me.
“I will always love you, Em. Please keep the Strad.”
“I won’t go to the audition.” Grief tightened its noose. “Not if it puts you in danger.”
He stared at me as though memorizing every line of my face.
I thought my heart would shatter over this unfathomable ending of us.
He turned away from me and walked out, shutting the door quietly behind him.
No, no, no…
He wouldn’t leave me like this…
A chill surged through my body. I’d made this decision for him in the moment I’d insisted on attending my audition, my selfish words blazing a trail into my empty future. Grabbing the door handle, I yanked it open and stepped into the hallway.
Xander was gone.
Istumbled back through the door and hurried into the bathroom, collapsing on the floor. I hugged my knees, staring at the pristine white tiled walls and the walk-in shower with gold-covered taps. Despite all this luxury, I felt trapped instead of privileged.
I don’t remember how long I sat there, feeling numb and hopeless with my life in tatters.At some point I staggered to the bed and collapsed on top of it—still fully clothed—and plunged into a fitful sleep.
