Page 113 of Strings
“Thank you.” I bow my head.
“I haven’t exactly been forthcoming about him either. You see, when I was a child I walked in on Derrick and my mother having sex.”
I gasp. “Your mother?”
“I guess they’ve had a long-standing affair. There was a time when I even considered the idea that he could be my real father. I never found out for sure, but it’s one of the many reasons I’ve always avoided Bella like the plague. She could be my sister for all I know.”
I touch his arm. “Oh my God.”
“My mother told me I’d destroy my father if he ever found out. She swore she’d end things with him, and I think she did, but I never said a word. I didn’t want to hurt my father, Bella, or Bella’s mom. Looking back, I’m not sure that was the best decision. If I had told, maybe he never would have forced himself on you or anyone else for that matter. I’d be willing to bet money there were others. In a sense, what happened to you was my fault.”
“No, it’s not. We all did what we had to do to protect ourselves and the people we cared about. I understand.”
He nods and walks toward the door. “Anyway. I just wanted you to know.”
“Sebastian…”
He turns to face me. There’s so much I want to say, but he’s looking at me as if I’m nothing. It was the look I feared all along. He’s done. I can see it in his eyes. I need to let him go so he can be happy again. “It wasn’t a mistake. If it hadn’t happened I would never have met you. I’m glad I did, even though it didn’t work out.”
He purses his lips and nods. “Good luck, Talia. Let me know if you need anything.”
He opens the door and Bella is waiting. She tries to take his arm and he pulls it away. She chases after him.
I flop down onto my desk and lay my head in my hands.
“You didn’t tell him?” Amy asks.
“I couldn’t. He doesn’t want me. He wants who he thought I was. Sometimes, we create people in our minds. When they turn out to be themselves, it forces us to realize we made them up to begin with.”
Amy shakes her head. “You’re wrong about him.”
“I love you dearly, but could you give me a minute alone? I need to pull it together.”
As she closes my door, I spin in my chair and stare out my window one last time. What is this life?
Can what’s broken ever be fixed?
As I walk up the stairs to my apartment for the last time that evening, I decide I’ll wash my clothes and wear them again at the Gala tomorrow night. I’ll be behind the scenes anyway, so who cares if I don’t fit in. I’ve never fit in once in my life. I managed to get through the day without getting fired or having my past thrown in my face. Maybe Sebastian’s mother is waiting to make another scene at the Gala. Good thing I control the menu. There’ll be no summer sausage served tomorrow.
I’m ready to push my door to open it, but something is different. Running my hand along the frame, I see it’s a new door. Did the landlord fix it?
Using my key to open the door, I slowly push it open. I flick on the light switch and immediately grab hold of the door to steady myself.
I have new couches with pillows and new end tables and a television. Next to the TV is a new “old” copy ofPride and Prejudice. “What the ever loving fuck?”
I spin around the room. Did I dream it all? No, I’d never dream a TV for myself. Closing the door behind me, I gaze to the windowsill. Stella is there in a brand new pink pot. She’s staring out the window and dare I say, she’s smiling.
“Stella!” When I get closer to her I see there are sticks in her pot and her two little stems are stretched out like arms. They are each delicately tied to string and to the sticks for support. I fall to my knees and start to cry.
Who would do this? After having a small meltdown, I walk through the rest of my apartment. I have all new dishes and cookware. There’s a shadow box with pieces of my broken mugs inside on display. Just the important parts like the little piece of bear and the words “three cups.” Someone put a lot of effort into this. Was it Amy?
I walk toward my bedroom to find a beautiful black sequin gown on the bed. There’s a note.
I sink down as I read it.
Talia,
I hope you don’t mind that I did all this. You see, you’ve brought so much joy to my life and all I ever wanted was to return the favor. I don’t know if you know this, but you’ve changed me. You opened my eyes when you called me out on my bullshit. You saw through my cocky façade to the guy with the heart underneath. You made me want more. So thank you. I know you’re scared. I know you’ve been scared your whole life, and I don’t want you to feel that way ever again.
