All Chapters of HURT IN A YEAR : Chapter 11 - Chapter 15

Lylah frantically rummaged through her closet, the ticking clock seemed to mock her, each passing second a harsh reminder that she was running perilously late for the most important conference of her career. The air was thick with the scent of her sweat, even after washing down for the second time that day, and it was just a few minutes past 12 in the afternoon. Her fingers flew through the rows of clothes, rejecting each outfit with a dismissive swish of her hand. Where was that one dress, the one that made her feel invincible? She didn't want to struggle with her choice of clothes and that was why she unpacked her clothes from the suitcase into the wardrobe. She snatched a glance at the clock on her nightstand, and her heart sank. Thirty minutes. She was thirty minutes late,she had less than 5 minutes to transform herself from a chaotic mess into a poised professional. The sound of her own ragged breathing was the only soundtrack as she seized the cream-colored pencil skirt

Lylah's world was crumbling and she felt like she was on the verge of a breakdown, the great pillar of her life was tumbling down on her and she was struggling to cope. What happened to her?, to them?, she was still in denial, trying to escape the reality of the situation.Lylah felt suffocated in her own skin. But the water was alive, its soft caress wrapping around her ankles like a lover's touch. Lylah sighed, letting her head fall back against the tub. The jets massaged her scalp, a gentle pulse that seemed to sync with her heartbeat. She felt weightless, suspended in a world of warmth and comfort.The bubbles tickled, a playful laugh that echoed through the bathroom. "Glub glub glub," they whispered, a soothing lullaby.Seeking solace, her eyes drifted shut, she sucked in her breath a submerged herself in the tub, letting herself sink deeper, into the peacefulness of it all as the water enveloped her.The bubbles tickled her skin, a strange comfort. It felt peaceful down there

"Where were you?, you are almost late", Faye pointed out the obvious. "I'm here now, ain't I?", Lylah sighed as she took off her dark glasses.Lylah's eyes were bloodshot and heavy, the whites tinged with red, a telltale sign of a late night and too little sleep. Dark circles etched beneath her eyes like shadows.The skin underneath was puffy and dark. The spark that usually lit up her face had dimmed, leaving her gaze dull and lacklustre, giving her eyes a perpetually sleepy look."Ooh, what happened to you?, you look a hot mess. I leave you for a while and I can't find you anywhere. Oh right I found you close to twelve hours later, which is like now", Faye dropped the bomb on Lylah."Why are you making a mountain out of a molehill?, not like I didn't call you severally before?", Lylah rolled her eyes.Faye scanned her friend up and down, she almost looked like she got no sleep at all. This was no way to look presentable for a presentation.Well definitely not the type of upper eche