Page 3 of Tangled Trust

Her embrace is tacit permission for my body to relax, and with it come rivers of tears.

"You have to get away from him, Ella. He’s a bastard! I’ll kill him."

"No! Please, Sebastian can’t know that I told you, Anna. Please."

"I can’t just do nothing!" she insists.

"I’m doing something. I’m leaving him."

"Good! Thank God you’ve come to your senses. When?"

"I’m working on something."

"Do you want to stay with me? You know you’re always welcome. We can get a place together if you like."

"No. I have to do this my way."

I tell Anna about my plan to leave London. She’s not happy about it.

"Why should you leave? You have a career. You’re a doctor, for goodness sake. You’ve worked so hard to attain your goal, Ella. You shouldn't have to give that up."

"You know Sebastian is well connected. He’s never going to let me walk away. His family is powerful. I’ve given it months of thought, Anna. Leaving London is my best chance. It’s my only chance. "

"But where will you go?"

"The States."

"Bloody hell, Ella. That’s a big move. It’s a bit extreme, isn’t it? "

"I don’t think so. I need a clean break. I’m raw, Anna, and I need time to heal."

"Oh, Ella," Anna sighs, and squeezes my hand. "I’ll miss you terribly."

We talk for a while before we return to our duties at the hospital. I feel better. Someone else knows. It’s the first step, I reckon. I can do this. The only person left to tell is my aunt, Sue. Nothing is ever real until I tell her.

It’s 6 p.m. when I dial her number from my cell phone.

"Ella, my darling. Your ears must be burning. I was just talking about you to Peter."

"Hi, there. Oh? Good things, I hope."

"Of course. What else?" she laughs.

"Do you have dinner plans?" I ask. "I thought we’d have a good old English stew and a bottle of something."

"That sounds lovely. Is everything alright?"

"Could be better."

"Of course, Ella. I’ll be here. I’ll have the G&T on ice."

"Excellent. See you soon," I say, ending the call.

This is going to be hard. Sue has been my guardian angel since my parents died so unexpectedly. She’s the only family I have. How am I going to tell her that the last two years of my life have been a lie?

My phone rings. It’s Sebastian. I don’t have the strength to deal with his syrupy-sweet, bullshit excuses and apologies right now, so I let it go to voicemail. I’m sure the bastard will make me pay later tonight, but I don’t care anymore.

For now, I will bide my time and make my plans. It will be over soon. Freedom is in sight.

---