Page 53 of August and the Night

Her telling me that she loves me, it woke me up from the trance that I was in, made me realize how important it is to cut her off, I already got what I wanted out of her. This is the right thing to do, my mind was clouded with her, that’s why I didn’t do it sooner, and this is what needed to be done. Then why does my heart feel like it is being ripped out from my chest?

She looks up at me with so much hurt before putting a hand over her mouth and rushing to the bathroom to throw up. I take this time to wipe a tear from my eye; it hurts me to see her so hurt, but I don't have another choice. She must know the truth at some point anyway.

I hear the bathroom faucet turn on, and she seems to be rinsing her mouth. She exits the bathroom without looking at me, making her way out of the cabin to leave.

I make sure she left before dropping to my knees and screaming. I scream at fate for not allowing us to be together, for hurting the only woman I've ever loved, and for the fear of her hating me, even though that's my ultimate goal.

41

Layla

Sitting in the airport, the surroundings blur as my vision clouds with tears. My heart aches with a pain so intense, it feels like a physical weight pressing down on my chest.

August's betrayal echoes in my mind like a cruel refrain, each harsh word he spoke etching itself into my memory.

How did it come to this? How did the person I opened my heart to turn out to be someone I don't recognize? The tears stream down my cheeks, and I can feel the sobs wracking my body. It's as if my world is torn apart, and I'm left adrift in a sea of pain and confusion.

The memories of our time together play in my mind like a movie reel, the laughter, the shared moments, the whispered promises. I thought we were building something beautiful, something that could withstand anything.

But now I realize it's all been a facade, a carefully constructed illusion meant to deceive me.

The weight of his words hangs over me like a dark cloud. The secrets he exposed, the truths he revealed, leave me feeling exposed and vulnerable.

I never could have imagined that my own father, flawed as he is, could be involved in something so monstrous. A drug and pedophile ring? The words send shivers down my spine, and I feel sick to my stomach.

Amidst the chaos of my emotions, my phone begins to buzz incessantly, each notification a jarring interruption to my despair. I glance at the screen through tear-blurred eyes and see the flood of messages from Lily. Begging me to listen, to give her a chance to explain. Her calls go unanswered as I struggle to process the depth of the betrayal.

I open my web browser, my fingers trembling as I type in my father's name. The search results are damning, filled with articles detailing the horrors that August has exposed. My family's secrets are splashed across the internet, laid bare for the world to see. I feel a fresh wave of pain as I realize August hasn't given me a chance to come to terms with any of it. He's ripped away the facade, leaving me to grapple with the shocking reality. He didn’t even give me time to adjust to the news before exposing it everywhere; he never once cared for me.

I hear my name being called over the intercom, signaling the final boarding call for my flight back to Seattle, and I feel a heaviness in my heart. The tears continue to fall, and my steps feel mechanical as I make my way towards the airplane.

Stepping into first class, I feel hateful gazes on me. Whispers and sidelong glances follow me as I make my way to my seat.

The recognition in their eyes, the hushed discussions, send a pang of self-consciousness coursing through me. It's as if my life has become a spectacle, laid bare for everyone to dissect.

My arms wrap around me instinctively, as if the physical barrier can shield me from the judgment and scrutiny. I sink into my seat, tears threatening to spill again.

The quiet sobbing seems to echo in my ears, a constant reminder of the pain that has become my new reality. The plush surroundings of the first-class cabin offer no solace, no escape from the turmoil within.

As the plane continues its journey, I try to shrink into myself, avoiding the eyes that seem to follow me.

The quiet hum of the engines is accompanied by the soft sound of my sniffles, my attempts to wipe away the tears that won't stop flowing. I feel exposed, as if the carefully constructed walls that shielded me from the world have crumbled overnight.

As the plane touches down, the tension in the cabin seems to rise. Passengers eagerly gather their belongings, preparing to disembark. But as I move to stand, an old lady suddenly blocks my path. Her words cut through the air like a blade, a venomous tirade that leaves me frozen in shock.

"How dare you show your face in public?" she spits, her voice dripping with disgust. "After all that has been exposed, you have the nerve to walk around as if nothing's wrong? Aren't you ashamed of yourself?"

Her words are like a punch to the gut, each one a reminder of the shame and humiliation that has become my reality. I feel my cheeks burn, hot tears streaming down as I struggle to find a response. Before I can even muster a word, she continues, her anger unabated.

"I should kill you right here," she hisses, her voice low and threatening. "But I can't afford to be jailed for the likes of you."

With that final, chilling declaration, she waddles away, leaving me standing there, shaken and shattered. Her harsh words, the raw hatred in her eyes, cut me to my core. My head hangs low as I leave the airplane, the weight of the encounter still heavy on my heart.

Walking through the halls of Seattle's airport, my heart feels heavy, burdened by the sudden twist of my life. The faces around me seem distant and indifferent, lost in their own worlds as they hurry to their destinations. I clutch my bag tightly, as if it could protect me.

As I step outside the airport, the city's familiar skyline greets me. The sight is bittersweet, a reminder of the life I've known before everything fell apart.

With a deep breath, I hail a taxi, directing the driver to my new apartment. The apartment – a decision I've made on a gut feeling – has turned out to be my saving grace in this storm. I'm thankful for that small victory amidst the wreckage of my life.

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