*Trigger warning: mention of fire*
The scandal was erased from the media. It's as if it never existed in the first place. It took two days for Sebastian's father to remove any dirt from his son's reputation.
Three days passed, and the world was silent on Seb's topic.
I sigh in relief, turn off my tabloid, and get up from my desk. Mave didn't come to the office today. He called in sick. I understood that he needed space, and both Jen and I left him alone, letting him sort out his feelings.
I was going to meet Jake and Liv today.
The setting sun was beaming through my window. I began preparing my belongings and planned to leave early. The atmosphere in the office was depressing because Luke was in the hospital, and the continual questions about Sebastian made everyone tense.
I reached the restaurant earlier than Jake and Liv. After texting them that I had reached. I ordered a glass of water and scrolled through my phone.
More particularly, I went through our pictures, Sebastian's and mine.
My heart ached, and tears gathered in the corner of my eyes, but I cleared my throat and reached for the water.
Sometimes I feel the universe gives me happiness just to take it away.
We don't understand the value of a person until that person leaves us. For me, it was Seb. I cannot believe how invested I was in him. How my days started with him and ended with him. How my mood matched his and how he had become the main reason for my happiness. I love him. So much so that I know it's not healthy anymore.
And that's exactly the main reason I am not going with him—both of us need to be alone. We both need to sort out our insecurities and issues.
But what if he doesn't return to me? What if he becomes someone else's?
Then life would be just too hard to bear knowing it was me. It was I who let him go.
I learned everything the hard way, and in my eyes, it was better for my heart before it was shattered into pieces once more. Because Luke was right, he was more like my best friend when we were dating, but with Seb, everything was different; he was just not my boyfriend; he was my lover, my comforter, the beat of my heart.
"Boo!" Someone exclaimed in my ears. I gasped, startled.
Olivia started laughing as she stood in front of me.
"Liv." I tried to pretend to be angry but failed when I saw her laughing. I got up and hugged her.
"How is the baby mama?" I held her lightly for a little longer before pulling away.
Liv smiled softly.
"I am fine, Ells. The baby is, too. But I feel like he's going to be out soon."
"Isn't that early? Have a seat." I motioned her to the chair.
"It is, but the doctor said that the last months are crucial, for which I need to be careful."
I nod.
"Where's my dumbass brother?"
She smiles and says, "He's parking the car; he should be on his way."
Before I could say anything, a loud bang resounds, and in a second, there are screams, cries, and loud noises echoing.
Liv was stunned, and all the colour from her face drowned.
"The kitchen caught on fire!" Someone exclaimed.
The first thought on my mind was that somehow I needed to make sure Liv was outside. She cannot be in danger.
"Liv!" I exclaimed.
She wasn't listening; she was shocked.
I got up from my chair and reached for hers.
"Olivia!" I pulled her up from the chair. That got her attention.
She frowned, and her hands started shaking.
"My baby," she whispered as she glanced down and touched her stomach.
"Shh. It's going to be fine. Come with me," I say, and I start walking, shielding her body with mine.
The whole restaurant gets smoky, and people push each other to leave first.
I put Liv ahead when I see people pushing her from behind.
"She's pregnant, you dumb fuck," I growl at the man behind me. He screams and moves away.
That's when I noticed a girl standing near the bathroom, all alone and crying.
We reach the gates, and that's when I leave Liv's hand.
"Ells," she says, and she tries to hold my hand.
"You go. I will join you in a minute," I say.
But she doesn't leave; she stands still, fear crosses her face.
"Don't be ridiculous right now, Arabella. Let's leave," she says, breathing heavily.
People all around us push us back and forth.
"I promise I will be there in a minute. You go. There's this girl all alone; I will bring her." I try to go, but she holds my hands.
"The firemen will save her. Please come with me, Ells. Jake will kill me if I leave you alone," she says, tears falling from her eyes.
I could hear my own fears closing in on me. But I couldn't leave the child alone.
I struggle to keep myself from crying.
"I promise you, Liv. I will come out." My voice breaks.
She starts coughing, and that's when I catch a man and ask him to take her away with him.
"She's a mobster's daughter. Save her; if anything happens to her, know that you're dead."
The guy believes me and scurries away Liv while she cries and tries to push him.
I sadly smile and look around to see that only almost everyone made it out.
"Ma'am, where are you going?" Someone shouts.
I ran towards the bathroom. Flames rose all around me, and I could see the fire growing more and more as the time passed. God, I hope the girl is alright. The ceiling starts falling, making my heart beat faster.
I reached the girl and crouched at her level. She seemed to get scared and took a step back.
"Hey there," I said softly. My chest is rising and falling.
She keeps staring at me with a nervous expression.
"I am here to help you, honey. Don't be scared." I try to console her.
But before she could react, something behind her smashed, and she screamed, reaching me.
I hold her against me and shield her body with mine.
"Shh, it's going to be alright. We will make it out safe, don't worry," I said to her softly.
She tightens her hold on me. I could see the lights hanging low above us.
"Come on, let's go under that table," I say to her, and we both get up.
Today must be jinxed because the moment we start walking, the sleeve of my dress gets stuck on the nail of a chair. I try to tug it hard, but it doesn't budge. The little girl breathes rapidly and tries to help me.
My finger starts bleeding from the scratch against the nail. She sees blood and tears gather in her eyes as she looks at me.
"It doesn't hurt, honey, I promise." My voice quivers.
God, I am so scared. Please take me if you want, but save this little soul.
She shakes her head, tears falling from her eyes.
With a little harder tugging, my dress tears. The girl looks hopeful and tugs on my hand as she runs towards the table at which I had pointed earlier.
My foot trips, and I fall. She halts and turns to help me up. But I stopped her.
"I am coming, honey. Go under the table."
She shakes her head, and her expression again looks like she would cry any second.
Another loud bang resounded along with my scream.
Pain radiates through my body as if someone was continuously hitting me with a hammer. That's when I saw a large piece of wood on my leg.
"Go under the table, love. I just need a second," I say to her, trying to hide my pain.
She removes the large piece of wood from my legs despite my warnings, and with tears rolling down her cheeks, she covers her mouth with her hand as if to stop herself from screaming. She runs and sits under the table.
"Please come fast," she says, her voice breaking.
I smile through my tears and nod.
My body gave up. But I still tried to move. Movement that caused the pain to reach my skull and made me feel dizzy.
I felt nauseous, and everything around me was moving.
I heard the little girl crying and asking me to come fast.
"Don't come out of the table," I begged her.
I heard sirens and water splashing. I understood that help was near.
But with my eyes closing, I could no longer keep them open.
I didn't know if I was taking my last breath, but it felt like I was. Everything from my memories flooded through my mind. My parents, my brothers, friends, Liv, and my ocean blue-eyed devil, Sebastian.
At that moment, I regretted not telling my parents enough that I loved them and that I was extremely grateful that I was their daughter. I wish I and Jake had reconciled sooner, and I wish I could tell my brother how important he was to me and that I understood his anger towards me and Seb dating. Theo, for being so calm and being the brother I never deserved. He's absolutely my baby brother and will always be a baby for me. I wish I thanked Liv enough for making my brother the happiest man alive. Mave and Jen are the friends I will cherish here and in the afterlife. And to my Sebastian, I wish I could tell him how much I love him. That without him, my life feels empty, but with him, life feels like I am alive. That I unconditionally and irrecoverably love him. That even in my last breath, it's him I wish to see.
Even if it's as a goodbye, it's his eyes I want to see.
I could see the light above me hanging low enough to know that it would fall on top of me.
I desperately try to keep my eyes open, but they close.
.
Author's note.
Please do vote and comment 🥰 I love hearing your thoughts and thanks a lot for reading! ❤️ Let me know what you think will happen next. I can't believe we are this close to the end.
Stay hydrated.