Book I - 50

SCARLET

It’d been a week since Mom and Thomas returned to Manhattan, and it’d been eight days since I last saw Luke. Every day, my stomach felt tight, and my chest felt heavy. I tested myself; how long could I endure, and to what extent could I hold back?

The food didn’t taste right. My classes felt like a burden. I couldn’t sleep well for the past few days. In the last two days, I checked my phone to see if I had a message, hoping to hurt myself more if I saw his name. But I realized that it hurt even more when I found nothing.

I was sleepless. I had no appetite, and I felt that I had lost weight. I already lost it. Still, I was so proud of myself. I didn’t beg for him, make a scene, or stalk him, not like I did before.

My ninth day made no difference. Same routine. I was getting up in the morning bored, going to school only to gawk, and going to the cafeteria only to stare at the food. It’s the same pasta I loved, but it’s just food in red for me. Nothing more. Not even appetizing.