“We could meet some other time,” I said, Irya shaking her head. “That had to be said. She keeps bullying and threatening me with home. I can’t wait to get a proper job and get my own place. I can’t take it. I can’t even eat food in the house without her saying something about it.” Irya shook her head. I swallowed, not knowing what to say. “I am sorry.” She nodded her head before she froze. I turned to stare at the waitress who still awkwardly stood there. “It’s okay.” Irya shook her head. “Can I have a double cheeseburger?” She placed her order, the waitress quickly scrambling it down. “I will have the same.” I said out, hating that I would dull my taste buds with food other than that cooked by Elio but I did not want my friend to eat all by herself. The waitress walked away, leaving Irya and I staring at each other. She held out her coke to me and I grinned, taking it. I was slurping soon. “Why didn’t you get one?” She asked. I thought for a second. “I don’t know. I am tryin

Lethu I woke up to breakfast in bed, a diamond necklace and a large bouquet of dahlias. When everyone was obsessed with roses, I liked being the odd man out which was why dahlias were my favorite flowers and Elio knew. Never had I wept while screaming and eating at the same time. “Thank you so much my love. I will wear these all the time. I will even sleep with them. I love the necklace so much. Are you sure? Elio you don’t have to buy such expensive things for me. I don’t want you to spend too much money on me…” I was rumbling away, not even sure what I was saying myself as I wiped away my tears and snort. “You don’t have to Principessa. You will get a new one every week and money, what would it be for if not to spoil you rotten Piccola?” He replied and how do you respond to such words. Ofcourse I was not going to fight him on it. I loved being spoiled. I loved being his principessa, especially seeing how it made him groan out when he lay his eyes on me wearing his necklace. I wan

Elio woke me up and I nearly did a throw down. I needed more sleep. He spent five minutes coaxing me out of sleep until I gave in and sat up in bed. It then hit me that we were in his home. It then hit me that I was in his parent’s home where I would meet his family for the first time. My eyes took in the room and my heart just jolted as I stared back at the cross left on the table along with mother Mary’s statue. I was not sure if that had been there or just left for me. It definitely unsettled me. Elio left to get ready and I rushed to take a shower myself. I brushed my teeth then peeled off my bandage with shaking hands. The cut seemed ready to be left open but I was afraid to. I covered it up with a fresh bandage then washed my hands. It took me a step back, caught in my head as I oiled my skin. I did not know what to wear and I guessed a white long-sleeved and knee-length dress would be my best bet. I brushed my hair back and wore sandals. I pulled earrings on, feeling down. St

By the time I blinked, she was gone. My stomach was in coils. My gut wrecked. My heart in shreds. Her words echoed with such force yet still I couldn’t understand most of them. I did not dare stand up because I would fall and when Elio came, I don’t know what I said but I was glad when I couldn’t see him before me. I sat thinking I would vomit. My world span and stopped as I processed her words thoroughly. I analyzed everything she said and it was like a movie playing in my head. It was so clear, seeing my life unfold in my head the way she said it would. Every word she spoke was true. She had probably went through it and even thinking of what she went through shuttered me. To live that life, to go through that pain, it must have broke her apart. In my head I could see myself in bed, feet on sheets, waiting in the dark, waiting for Elio while he screwed someone else. Even the thought brought such an animalistic groan from me. I had never had such intense hunger for violence. I would

Ninety-five percent of my best days on earth were because of Elio. As we danced around as if the world was ours, I had never been so happy. I was so happy I could not stop crying and sniffling. My favorite artist was singing whom he had flown in. Who knows how much he paid. The guests watched with gleaming eyes as I giggled and hid my head in Elio’s chest because all the emotions were making me look as if I had lost my sanity. I felt like I was flying. It was hard to believe this was all real but indeed, he had made me the happiest girl on earth. “A month is all I can wait.” Elio said as I grinned even harder. “I will barely get there. We can do it tomorrow.” I chirped in with my largest grin. Even if he said right on that second I would have been game. “My fiancé will have the big wedding she has always dreamt of.” He answered, as if he hadn’t swooned me enough. The song came to an end and I was sure my face was a mess from all the crying that had been happening. I dabbed my fin