Are you in the bathroom?

Author's pov

 When Edna arrived at Becky's room, she found it quiet. Her eyes scanned the room from one end to the other, but there was no sign of Becky, who had stormed out of her mom's room in anger about thirty minutes ago.

 "Becky? Are you in the bathroom?" she called out, showing concern. Edna walked towards the small bathroom and knocked on the door, but there was no response and the shower remained still.

 "Does she mean what she said?" Edna wondered. Just as she was about to leave the room, her eyes caught sight of a piece of paper on Becky's bed. She moved closer and picked it up.

 "Was she really serious?" Edna thought to herself as she began to read the contents of the letter.

 "Dear Mum, I'm deeply sorry for the way I spoke to you a few minutes ago. I know it may not make you happy, but I needed to take control of my own happiness. There's a saying that goes, 'It's better for someone to break your heart once by leaving your life, than for them to stay and continuously break your heart.' Sebastian has broken my heart countless times. I want to be the master of my own life; I'm not his slave or a pet without a will of my own. It feels like I was better off before I met him. While you may wish for us to be together, you must also consider my happiness. I'm no longer happy being with him. Let me live my life, and I'll be staying away from you for a while. I left because I don't want to see him anymore. Please try to understand my perspective. In his absence, I feel free. I'll provide you with my special phone number, and we can talk later. I don't want Sebastian anymore. I'm sorry if this breaks your heart."

 Edna stood there for a few minutes, contemplating the words she had just read. She folded the letter and placed it in the wardrobe before making her way back to meet Sebastian and Tony.

 Upon entering the living room, Sebastian quickly stood up, holding two roses.

 "This is for you," he said, handing one of the flowers to Edna, expecting Becky to come out at any moment.

 "You don't need to stand up. Please, have a seat," Edna urged Sebastian, and he complied, while Tony and Sebastian looked at her and the direction she had come from.

 "Becky has gone out to buy something. I'm not aware when she left," she said in a way that made it seem like Becky was still inside and didn't want to come out. Her prolonged stay inside also gave the impression to both Sebastian and Tony that Becky was indoors.

 "Mrs. Edna," Tony cleared his throat. "Sometimes, emotional pain can be more severe than physical pain. My friend Sebastian is already enduring physical pain. Could we see Becky or allow me to go and talk to her?"

Edna stood there and stunned, as she looked at the desperate faces of the two men who longed to see her daughter. She also noticed the remorseful expression on Sebastian's face, and he spoke up.

 "I have deeply wronged Becky, your daughter, and I'm here to rectify all the mistakes I've made. If I didn't love her, I wouldn't have come here in my current condition. I would have allowed my leg to heal before seeking her out. I love her so deeply, and I can't bear to be without her. Since she entered my life, everything has changed for the better. I'm truly sorry for all that I've done. And I bought a special rose for her," his voice trembled with emotion.

 "I wish I could grant your request," Edna took a deep breath and continued, "But Becky no longer wants to continue the relationship, and we argued about your visit here. She didn't want you to come here, and that's why she left home. I thought she was hiding, which is why it took me longer to come out. Believe me, she's not inside. If you doubt me, you can go in and check for yourself. I can see that you love my daughter, and even the way you treated me like a mother shows that you have a kind heart. If it weren't for your generosity, I might not be here right now. I can't repay you with negativity or play with your happiness. It brings me joy to see both of you together. I know my daughter was hurt by you. I ask that you give her some time to heal her heart from the pain she carries."

 When Edna mentioned giving Becky some time, Sebastian glanced at Tony and had a thought,

"Where will she be during that time? At her new boyfriend's place? No, I can't accept that." He shook his head, and Tony could sense his anxiety, so he placed his right hand on Sebastian's shoulder.

 "Relax. You'll win her back. All relationships have their ups and downs. Stay calm and don't hurt yourself," Tony reassured him.

 "Can you please call her using your phone number, Mrs. Edna? If I call her from my number, she won't answer," Sebastian requested, and both men looked towards Becky's mother.

 "I can call her, but if I hand the phone to you after she picks it up, it might upset her. I don't want to strain my relationship with my daughter. She means everything to me, and even now, she's not pleased with me for taking your side. Let me call her and see what she says," Edna said, taking her phone and dialing her daughter's number. Unfortunately, Becky did not answer the call. Edna tried again, dialing the number a second time, but the same result followed.

  "She refused to answer!" Edna looked at the two men with concern.

 "Mrs. Edna, please I'm relying on you heavily. Can you help us talk to her when you call her later or when she returns your call?" Sebastian pleaded.

 "I'll do my best," Edna replied.

 "Please, please do," Sebastian added. After a few seconds of silence in the living room, Sebastian's eyes filled with emotions, and he blinked several times before continuing.

 "When I saw Becky in tears while you were in the hospital, I knew right away that my better half was in great distress. Empathy and a deep sense of love compelled me to provide a considerable sum of money for your operation. I knew it would bring Becky the happiness she desired. I'm not trying to have Becky as a token of gratitude for assisting you months ago. I loved Becky even before you fell ill. I need you to show me a small sign of appreciation. I can't imagine my life without Becky. She is the reason I'm considering marriage. As her mother, you understand her better than anyone else. Please, please, do this for me," Sebastian's words were filled with sympathy, and Mrs. Edna could see how deeply he cared for her daughter.

 "Give me a few days to a week, and I will talk to her," Mrs. Edna responded.

 "Thank you so much," Tony expressed his gratitude to Becky's mother as he helped Sebastian stand up, and they handed her the other rose to give to Becky when she returned.

 Mrs. Edna accompanied them to the door, watching as Sebastian moved gently with the aid of his crutches to the car, and they drove away.

**************

 About an hour ago, Becky had a feeling that Sebastian was nearby. She knew that if she had told her mum she was leaving after their heated argument, her mum would have asked her to stay. All Becky wanted was to avoid Sebastian's suffocating presence and the panic it caused her. She packed a few clothes, wrote her feelings on a piece of paper, and left. She went to her friend's place and her name was Daniella.

 Becky met Daniella at the front door, and Daniella was just about to leave, and she noticed Becky was in a rush and seemed anxious.

 "What happened? Who's chasing you?" Daniella asked, observing the urgency in Becky's eyes. Becky didn't say anything but made sure they both entered Daniella's house. After taking a moment to catch her breath, Becky finally spoke.

 "I'm running away from Sebastian and I'm ending things with Sebastian. I've had enough of that relationship," Becky declared.

 "This is what I've been praying for," Daniella thought to herself, her eyes filled with excitement, but she made sure Becky didn't catch her direct gaze.

 "He doesn't know where you live. Please, can I stay here for a while?" Becky requested.

 "Why not? I have no problem with that. You saw I was already on my way out. Let me go, and when I come back, we can discuss it further," Daniella replied to Becky, patting her on the back. She then left the house, sneered to herself, and walked towards the road to take a taxi.

 "Why can't I check on Sebastian, my secret crush, now that Becky is having a serious disagreement with him?" Daniella pondered.