Chapter 1
"She had a long battle, juliet. It was time for her to rest. I'm sure she is in a better place now" A sad smile appeared on Juliet's face as she looked up at her mom's personal nurse of two years, Gloria. Why did everyone keep saying that to her. Did They want her to feel bad that she was sad, was it wrong for her to be sad?. Why couldn't she grief how she wanted? Why did she have to pretend like she was strong when she wasn't. All she wanted to do was cry out loud, but she knew if she did so she would hear those same words again.
"Thank you, Laura." Juliet simply said as she older woman leaned in for a hug and left after saying a few more words. Juliet walked back towards her living room, where a few people still remainedafter the wake was over. Mrs Willams From her mom's support group had a smile on her face as she gossiped with two other women juliet could barely recognise. They were probably gossiping about her? Maybe not, but didn't they look so cheerful. This was a wake and not a gossip arena. She sighed, she couldn't possibly ask them to leave, maybe people grieved in their own way.
"Juliet" Juliet turned to look at the person who called her and held her arm softly. It was Flo, her next-door neighbour who was supposed to move a few days ago but had to postpone it after hearing of her mother's passing. She was one of the nice ones that juliet could stand. She was real, and not two faced like most people in the room. She could feel their curious stares on her and hear the whisper of their gossip. Juliet flashed flo a slight smile which flo reciprocated and squeezed her arm softly again.
"How are you holding up. It must have been tough. Planning all this yourself" Flo looked a bit worried, juliet could see the concern in her eyes, probably the only one who truly cared. Juliet sighed and nodded. It was hard, but she had no choice but to do it. She didn't have friends or a family member who could help her.
"It's still feels surreal that my mom is gone" Juliet said in a low voice. Her eyes were on Mrs Williams, who chuckled because of what one of the women said to her. She wanted to slap that smug smile off her face, but she knew she would only cause a scene. They looked so happy while she felt empty on the inside. It seemed flo was the only one who cared.
"You should get some rest, i will take care of everything here you don't have to worry" Flo assured, and juliet nodded. She couldn't refuse the offer she just wanted to be alone and away from all the people who were pretending like they cared. She wasn't sure how much longer she could stand watching them.
"Thank you flo," Julie gave her a slight hug before walking away slowly to her room. She ignored most of the people who tried to talk to her. She just wanted to lay down and sleep. Maybe this feeling in her heart would finally disappear for a while.
She did just that when she got to her room, but the feeling disappearing was farfetched. Juliet laid on her bed wide awake, staring at her white ceilings. Emptiness slowly engulfed her as her mind started to process the last few days that had gone by like a flash... Sadness started to slowly creep into her heart...
She was really gone. Her mom was really gone, and she was never going to see her again. It finally dawned on her, and she closed her eyes as a drop of tears slowly escaped her eyes. She quickly wiped the tears away and took deep, shaky breaths to steady herself and try to regain her composurem She couldn't be weak... she had promised her mom not to...
She had to accept reality and move on... That were her mother's words... Everyone was expecting this to happen sooner or later...she was expecting it too... Even her mother expected it... but it finally happened, and now the feeling was indescribable...her heart ached so much...
A sad smile appeared on her face as another tear escaped her eyes... "Her mother's laughter rang in her ears, and her mother's beautiful smile. Everyone always told her she had her mother's smile..
Her wonderful voice, her warm hugs. She was never going to feel her warm hugs again. "Mom..." juliet muttered in a broken, shaky voice as her heart became heavy with grief. She hugged her pillow and closed her eyes. Memories of her mother kept flooding her mind, but the tears had stopped. The pain she felt in Her heart was too much that it made her numb. She was all on her own now. Her mom, the only person that gave her the strength to carry on with her life was gone. The only person who made her life worth living was gone. It was too sad that that was her reality now.
She got up from her bed slowly and walked to her table where her laptop was open. She still had a deadline to meet for work. She still had to work even after all this. She sat at her table staring at the blank screen of her laptop that showed the reflection of her face. Tomorrow was the funeral. Time had passed so fast. It had just been a few days since she last hugged her mom. But her mom was no longer in the other room and wasn't going to make her dinner and ask her to take a break from work...
A few minutes passed before juliet finally stood up and walked out of her room and down the hall to where her mom room was or, rather, was...
Juliet stopped by the door as her hand slowly travelled to the door knob but stopped midair. She took in several deep breaths and turned away. Her mom wasn't in there. She was gone. She didn't have the courage to go in there..
She found it hard to breathe and immediately walked away from the door and back to her own room. The chatter in the living room had died down and everywhere was silent now. Everyone had gone back to their family. She suddenly hated her house and didn't want to be there. It felt too stuffy for her. Juliet turned away from her room door and slowly walked towards the front door of her house. Her eyes were empty and filled with grief. She walked out the front door and just continued to walk and walk, having no idea where she was headed. She just continued to walk. She had no idea how much time had gone by she didn't feel a thing anymore and wished everything would just end... The numbness in her heart made it all worse... she wanted to grieve her mom, but then... she would have to move on... she didn't want to just yet...why her mom...
Her heart felt so empty that it scared her that she would always be this way. Her mind was far off and in another realm till she bumped right into someone, which brought her mind a bit back to the reality of where she was and who she had bumped into...
"Are you okay" She heard someone say to her and like that all her unshed tears burst out, overwhelming her... no one had asked her that... No, she wasn't okay... How could she be...
Chapter 2
Chapter 2
"Are you alright, sir?" Patrick asked, his voice laced with worry as he scanned the deserted street for a safe place to park. He occasionally checked on his boss through the rearview mirror concern in his eyes.
Alex's face twisted in a grimace, his hand clutching his chest as he struggled to breathe. "Stop the car..." he gasped, his voice barely audible. His face had turned pale, and he was fighting hard to stay conscious and get a hold of himself, but it was hard to do so because the car had suddenly become so stuffy, making it harder for him.
Patrick slammed on the brakes, and Alex stumbled out into the nighy, gasping for breath. The place was on the opposite side of where he lived, but Alex didn't notice. He was too busy trying to calm his racing heart.
As he walked away from the car, the streetlight above flickered, casting eerie shadows on the ground. Alex loosened his tie, feeling suffocated by the tight collar. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to shake off the feeling of unease. He had forgotten to take his pills with him, further increasing the pain in his chest. He had to deal with it on his own... he couldn't risk anyone finding out about his condition, not a a vulnerable time like this... After walking for a while, he was finally able to steady his breathing once again, but there was this tight feeling in his chest that didn't seem to go away. It was like someone was squeezing at his heart...it was a feeling he was familiar with, but it was hard for him to get and to such pain, he didn't want to...
That's when he saw her – a woman, walking down the street, her hair falling around her face like a curtain. She seemed lost in thought, oblivious to her surroundings. Alex didn't notice her at first, too caught up in his own problems. But as he turned a corner, he collided with her, sending them both stumbling and this was finally able to catch his attention.
"Are you okay?" Alex asked, concern etched on his face.
The woman looked up, her eyes red-rimmed from crying. She nodded, but Alex could see the pain in her eyes, a kind of pain he recognized.
The woman's shoulders shook as she sobbed, unable to hold back her tears anymore, her body trembling like a leaf. Alex's hand instinctively went to her shoulder, trying to offer some comfort, afraid that he had hurt her when they collided, but she pulled away, her eyes flashing with a mix of fear and wariness.
"Miss, are you alright?" Alex asked again, his voice soft and gentle this time. The look in her eyes said it all, and he felt a tug at his heart for this stranger...
The woman nodded, still sniffling, and took a few shaky breaths. "I'm fine," she muttered, her voice barely audible. She was visible not fine.
Alex hesitated, unsure what to do. But something about her demeanor tugged at his heartstrings. He couldn't just leave her like this, alone and vulnerable in the middle of the night.
"Let me walk you home," he offered, trying to sound reassuring. That was probably the least he could do. He didn't want to seem nosy but it just didn't sit right with him leaving her all alone when she was this disoriented and vulnerable.
The woman looked up at him, her eyes searching. He could see hesitation in her eyes filled with fear and confusion. For a moment, Alex thought she'd refuse, but then she nodded, a small smile on her lips before she started to walk off and , e quickly followed after her. WondeI was wonderingshe was walking alone so late at night.
As they walked, the silence between them was punctuated only by the sound of their footsteps and the woman's occasional sniffles. Alex tried to make small talk, but she didn't seem interested. He couldn't blame her; he wasn't exactly the best company himself. The silence Was probably better for both of them and , he had stopped crying whic, made him relieved in a way..
They turned at a corner, and the woman stopped in front of a small park bench. She sat down, her head in her hands, and began to sob again. Alex sat down beside her, feeling helpless. Unless of what exactly he could do to console her and make her stop sobbing.
"Are you alright?" he asked again, his voice barely above a whisper.
The woman looked up, her eyes red and puffy. "I'm sorry," she muttered. "I just...I lost someone."
Alex's heart went out to her. He knew that pain all too well. "I'm sorry too," he said, his voice sincere and , he smiled slightly at him as she wiped her tears. He could see her trying to gain control of her emotions, but it was a struggle. Sometimes it was better to let it all out, but Alex couldn't bring himself to say that to her...
They sat there in silence for a moment, the only sound the woman's quiet sobs, she had lost the battle to her emotions once again. Then Alex stood up, feeling like he was intruding on her grief.
"I should get going," he said, his voice soft.
The woman nodded, still sniffling. "Thank you," she muttered.
Alex turned to leave, but then stopped. "Are you sure you're okay?" he asked, looking back at her.
The woman nodded again, a small smile on her lips. "I'll be fine," she said.
Alex hesitated, unsure if he believed her. But he couldn't force her to accept his help. He turned and walked away, leaving her alone in the darkness. He could only hope that she would be
Alex stopped walking when he looked back and realised she was no longer sitting on the bench but had taken a left turn and he had to take a right. He sighed deeply as he continued on. She didn't seem okay to him...he hoped at least she would be fine unlike him...
Patrick was outside the car waiting from him when he got back. "Sir!" Patrick immediately ran to his side to make sure he was okay. Concern etched on his face for his boss. "I was worried sick sir!. I almost came looking for you... We should go to the hospital or should I call the doctor to the house!"
"Let's go, it's late already" Alex simply answered as he walked to his car door, his stiml mind on the mysterious lady he had just encounter...
Juliet laid On her bed staring at her white ceiling. She couldn't believe she could be so careless and walk with a literal stranger so late at night. What if he had been a creep and tried to harm her. He didn't look like one but she still had to be careful. What if he had tried to hurt her or even worse? She glanced at her beside the clock and sighed. "I shouldn't have talked to him" Juliet muttered, remembering how she told him and how she had cried uncontrollably. He looked really confused...
She Didn't Even cry during her mother's wake but cried when someone she didn't know asked her if she was okay. It felt oddly comfortable when she was with him. She could cry out and not bother about bothering him because he was a stranger and she would likely not see him again. That was why she couldn't control her tears. Juliet closed her eyes and tried to sleep but it was futile she ended up working the whole night, looking for some kind of distraction from her reality...
But she couldn't seem to concentrate on work either. "My life sucks" She muttered as she closed her laptop and walked out of her room. Juliet walked to where she had kept a bottle of wine that had been given to her as a gift a few weeks back. she opened the wine and sat on the floor of her living room drinking directly from the bottle. "I wanted to share this with you Mom, but then I guess not now. If you had fought a little harder then maybe...just maybe" she looked up trying to hold back her tears...
"Maybe you would have made it...we would be watching a movie together and then you would complain about how you didn't like the movie and still end up watching it to the end and ask about the actors" She chuckled sadly and took a gulp from the wine...
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Alex sat at his desk, staring blankly at the papers in front of him. He was supposed to be working on a critical report, but his mind kept wandering back to the mysterious woman from last night. He couldn't shake off the feeling of connection he felt with her, and the pain he saw in her eyes haunted him. Was it because he shared a similar pain?
He tried to focus on the numbers and charts, but they blurred together on the page. His thoughts were consumed by the woman's words: "Do you think she's up there?" Who was she talking about? And what had happened to her? Who had she lost that affected her so much... The person was dear to her. Was it a parent?
Alex rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. He needed to concentrate. He had a meeting with a potential investor in an hour, and he couldn't afford to be distracted.
But as he stood up to grab a cup of coffee, his gaze fell on the window and his eyes immediately grew completely wide in surprise, He could have sworn he saw the woman walking down the street, her hair blowing in the wind. He rushed to the window trying to get a closer look, but she was gone. Was he seeing things now b ecause she had occupied his mind.?
Was he losing his mind? Alex wondered. He took a deep breath and tried to shake off the feeling of unease. He had to focus. He had nothing to do with her and he had to stop worrying..
As he sat back down at his desk, his phone buzzed. It was Patrick. "Hey, boss. Just checking in. You okay?"
Alex hesitated. He wasn't okay. But he couldn't burden Patrick with his pssues. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just stressed about this report."
"Need any help?" Patrick asked.
Alex considered it for a moment. Maybe talking to Patrick would help him clear his head. "Actually, yeah. Come by my office."
As he waited for Patrick to arrive, Alex tried to gather his thoughts. But his mind kept drifting back to the woman. Who was she? And why did he feel so drawn to her?
Patrick arrived at Alex's office, looking concerned. "Hey, boss. What's going on? You sounded a little off on the phone."
Alex sighed, rubbing his temples again. "I don't know, Patrick. I just can't focus. I keep thinking about that woman I met last night."
Patrick's expression changed from concern to surprise. "Woman ? What woman"
"Last night, I bumped into her and she was...distraught and I offered to walk her home, but we sat and the park and..." Alex sighed... his words seemed to have caught Patrick's full attention. It was rare to hear his boss talking about a woman, especially a woman he had met in such a situation. He wondered who this woman was.
Alex leaned back in his chair. "I don't know. I just feel like there's something...off. Like I'm missing something. Maybe I shouldn't have left her all alone...it was really late and she looked reallg sad..."
Patrick nodded thoughtfully. "Maybe you're just feeling a little guilty for not helping her more."
Alex shook his head. "No, it's more than that. I feel like...like I know her or something."
Patrick raised an eyebrow. "You don't think you actually know her, do you?"
Alex hesitated. "I don't know. Maybe. I just feel like there's a connection there." Or was there? Alex thought in his mind...maybe he was mistaking her pain for a connecting.
Patrick leaned forward, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "Sir, maybe you should take a step back. You're under a lot of stress right now, and maybe you're just projecting onto this woman."
Alex nodded, knowing Patrick was right. But he couldn't shake Off the feeling of unease. He just wanted to know that she was alright...
"We should get going, we don't want to be late for the meeting" Alex stood up and Patrick nodded, still concerned about his boss and wondering who the woman was...