Abandoned In Paris, Reborn In London

econd fiddle to my boyfrien

y to Paris to rekindle our dying s

oned me in the hotel lobby without my pa

ris stranded and penniless w

ned the next morning,

an old college friend' s room, accusing me of chea

y man who helped me, scream

w. I didn't feel anger anymore, ju

ing his job and promising to cut Ev

nce turned down for him, leaving him with nothing

pte

tte He

ed to turn around to know it was Damion. The air always felt thinner, sharper, when he was near. Three years. Three years of this.

th as always, sliced through

iced, blank smile plaste

politeness. He was used to my warmth, my concern, my exasperation. Not

my voice flat. My gaze swept over the art, lingering on a particular

gnoring my deflection. "Sever

clung to my phone, desperate for his calls, for any sign he remembered me when he was with Eve. He' d

I lied, effortlessly. "

r my shoulder, pulling me slightly away from Damion. He gave Damion a cool nod. "Didn't

iend's exhibit." He gestured vaguely towards

resence, a shadow, a priority. I felt nothing at the mention of her

just discussing the merits of chaotic brushstrokes over structured realism. Much more stimulating con

isted, stepping closer, trying to reclaim my attenti

tte. I need space." He'd said that after I'd called him twice in an hour, worried because he was supposed

been a bit unreliable." Another effortless lie. The truth was,

e and innocent. "Damion, darling, is everything alright?" She looked at me, a flicker of som

aid, my voice as fla

gh Damion's. "Damion was so worried about you. He was saying he coul

o looked uncomfortable but didn't pull away from Eve's touch. "I'm sure he was," I murmured, my ey

e quieter? We can talk. I've been thinking, maybe we could go to that n

lutely not, Charlotte. It' ll stink up the whole apartment for days. You know I can' t stand strong smells. You can indulge in that when I' m out of tow

voice still bland. "Oh, right. T

possessive smile. He reached out, his hand grazing my lowe

cold, alien. He didn't seem to notice, or chose not to. He just smiled, a flicker of triumph in his eyes. He t

as w

's unspoken expectations. When we finally reached our apartment, the familiar silence of the hallway pressed down on me. I

on stood in the living room, arms crossed, his pristine wh

ccusing, devoid of any genuine concern. It was the tone

ght. Not ever again, probably. My shoulders

king over me as if searching for evidence of w

lat and lifeless. I walked past him, heading straight for the be

e felt like a wall. "Don't you think that's a bit much? You know I worr

mouth. I just stared at him, my gaze empty. There

e reached into his jacket pocket. "Look, I know you were upset earlier. About Eve. And about..

sparkling charm. It was pretty, in a generic sort of way. A ge

smile on his face. "Overreacting. Eve's just a friend. You need to trust

hand, my fingers brushing his, and tossed it carelessly onto the console table by

ering. "Charlotte? Aren't

sed my eyes. Sleep claimed me instantly, a deep, dreamless oblivion. I didn't hear Damion's frustrated sigh, or the quiet click