CHAPTER 77
SARA
“How could be just do all these, plan my leave already without letting me know? Getting permission from the shelter without telling me, and now he thinks I’m just going to accept it, why would I?”
Ariel, caressed Sara’s shoulders softly, as she continued to cry, weeping profusely.
She was heartbroken, and at the same time afraid of the hold Christian seemed to be gaining over her.
They were already on their way beck to the shelter, the birthday party already bright to an abrupt halt, because she had requested it so, and Christian knowing he couldn’t stop her had done her wish, talking to his friends, and the guests present and bringing the event to a full stop.
The cake had been cut, hurriedly shared, and after the final prayers by Christian’s concerned mother, Sara had darted away from her seat, Ariel following her, and in tears she had stopped a cab, getting in before Christian could even get to her.
Now, with her eyes clouded by her tears, she was sorely regretting her decision of leaving early, not even bading Christian’s mother goodbye, or his guests too.
She would call them on phone tomorrow, or maybe see some of them and then tender her apologies, but for now she was reflecting on the news Christian had given her earlier.
She could still remember how he had dragged her to a secluded spot on the lit garden, and the words that had burst out from his mouth vividly.
‘Sara, I don’t know how this might sound, but I want to break a good news to you…’
He had paused and she had been so curious to hear what he had to say, that she had jumped on her toes, begging him to continue and with a shaky smile he had delivered through news that had ruined her mood, and shattered the happiness she was feeling.
He had proceeded to show her the plane tickets to Seattle, the documents showing the approval from the shelter about her leave, and worst of all the letters he had written for her, to share to her friends.
How dare he? How dare he think that everything was just going to be easy, the way he was thinking it?
He had done everything behind her back, and fuck the surprise he had disguised the news as, because it was far from that.
She was heartbroken, and she had shown it in her reaction afterwards, her abrupt outburst and the surprised shaky smile on his face that also followed as he had tried to calm her down, but her hormones were all acting up and she couldn’t hear a thing he had said.
She had been so angry, and up till now she still was.
“How could he? Do everything without telling me? Behind my back? Arrange my leave, and… what… who gave him that authority?”
“Sara you have to calm down. Christian did this in a place of love, and because he cares for you. He sees a beautiful future with you, and he is working hard towards that, don’t you see it.”
Sara sniffed, blowing her nose as she listened to Ariel talk.
“Don’t tell me you are supporting him? Don’t tell me you have no care for my feelings right now?” She asked after some seconds, pulling out from Ariel’s arms, and looking out of the cab window, into the dark street.
“I am not. I just want you to see reasons with him. You know…”
Oh, Ariel was beginning to irritate her! Sara thought to herself as another unsolicited tear fell down her face again.
In anger, she swiveled around facing her best friend as she burst out in tears, “I know what? You don’t even seem to be seeing things from my own point of view! You don’t know how I feel about this! I’m going to fucking leave you, and Lord knows when we’ll see again. Besides it’s not guaranteed that I and Christian would be together forever. What if something happens over in Seattle? What if we break up, and go our separate ways? What would become like of me? I would be left alone and I don’t want that! Can’t you see it?”
“So what would you prefer then? Allow Christian leave for Seattle and leave you here, because of your fear of some kind of attachment when you are not even willing to put in the work? Oh come on Sara, cut the bullshit already.”
“What fucking bullshit!” She half yelled, making the cab driver turn from the steering towards them, but still Sara didn’t mind.
Tears were streaming down her face more profusely and faster than before, and she couldn’t control her sniffles and the catarrh drool coming down her face.
But even with all these, and the liquid clouding her eyes, Sara looked straight at Ariel and then she noticed something in her look, that she hadn’t noticed earlier.
No way! She thought within herself, her heart shattering further, her happy day ruined all the more as some kind of realization dawned in her head.
She didn’t want to point out her fears, or what she was suddenly thinking, but she just couldn’t keep it in anymore.
“You knew about this?”
Just as she asked the question, the cab came to a halt, and looking out the breezy weather Sara could see that they were already outside the gate of the shelter.
Ariel opened the door, clambering out and Sara followed without wasting any more time.
She stood at one corner, watching Ariel pay of the driver as well as talking bit with him, and when she was done the car drove off, leaving the both of them, standing outside.
“Let’s go inside, it’s dark already.” Ariel said, but Sara stood her ground, her arms folded as she blurted out yet again, this time with a tear flowing down her almost dry face, “You knew about this right? Christian told you about the tickets and the documents? That’s why you are supporting him right? That’s why you are acting this way?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Oh spare me that!” Sara yelled out, the anger and hurt in her voice evident, and she blinked back tears.
Even in the dark, the breeze billowing, Sara could make out Ariel’s features and she could see the stark look of betrayal washing through her, and she whimpered.
“How could you! You knew and you didn’t say a damn thing? Why?” Sara uttered, in a very low tone, but of course Ariel did hear her.
“I am sorry Sara. I… I…” Ariel paused, while Sara stared at her with glistening eyes.
“I… He wanted it to be a surprise. Christian wanted…”
“You know what?” Sara said interrupting her, her hands clasped at her side as she tried her best to be strong, “Fuck what Christian wants! Fuck what you want! Fuck the both of you! You think you can just direct my life, the way you see fit…”
“Sara…” Ariel started to call out, but Sara was not having any of it at all, and wiping her face clean with her hands, storming away, Sara yelled, “I hate you!”
“Sara stop…” Ariel muttered, following behind her, but she didn’t stop, and this time the tears started to flow yet again.
This time she couldn’t control it, and all through the way, from the shelter’s hall to her room, she kept on crying.
Her 17th birthday, successfully ruined.
Today, was a disaster!
…….
CHRISTIAN
“Fuck!” Christian screamed, dropping the house keys and documents on the table, as he collapsed angrily on the nearby couch behind him.
What a day! A day he had successfully ruined, and now Sara was going to spend the night, feeling angry at him, and hating him all over again for spoiling her special day.
Ever since she had stomped away from the party in anger, he had followed her, calling from behind, begging her too but all his pleas had fell on deaf ears.
He had tried calling her cell, but she kept forwarding and declining his calls, and now he was just lost.
He had bade the confused guests goodbye, and angrily stopping a cab for his mother and siblings, he had come straight home too, after paying off the event organizers, trusting that they would take care of things.
All through the car ride, he had been restless, and now he still was.
He had no idea what to do, and burying his hands in between his palms, Christian felt like crying.
He was just tired.
He had good intentions, following Ariel’s instructions to break this news to her on this special day, but Sara just saw all his efforts, as him trying to control her life, and make decisions for her, even when that was not his reasons.
He just wanted to secure their gutter, take care of her and… “Arghhh.”
He ruffled his hair furiously, his head a mess, hands sweaty as he thought of the next step to take.
“Son…”
Christian stiffened, as he felt his mother’s hand gently tap at his shoulders, and then she started squeezing gently.
Silence overtook them, and just the way she was touching him, made him feel so emotional, with tears burning at the back of his eyes already.
He blinked then back, sniffling trying to stay strong, but then his mother whispered in his ears, “Let it all out…”
And that he did.
It didn’t take seconds for him to break down, and as he can’t her drag him into her arms, sitting down besides him, Christian started to mutter, “Mom, I fucked up. I fucked up… I… I…”
“Hey come on son. It’s not your fault.” His mother said yet again, bringing his face up as she looked deep in his eyes with a smile, “Don’t even think of blaming yourself okay, and don’t blame Sara too. She was just too stunned and like you explained, she didn’t like you doing things without her consent right? So don’t fret too much.”
“But she left in anger. She didn’t even eat her cake, and I feel like I’ve just ruined her day. Today was supposed to be special and a…”
“Allow her to cool off son. Don’t bother yourself too much about this son. You did your best, and for dearest Sara she’s just having a fit, she’ll be fine.” His mother interjected, cutting through his statement and Christian who was already at a loss of words of what to say, leaned deeper in her arms as he shed out tears like a teenager.
He didn’t know why, but he was deeply hurt for real.
He had no idea if her reaction to this was what bothered him, or the nagging feeling at the back of his mind that Sara was not going to follow him to Seattle.
He was just confused, and at the same time tired.
“Mom, I’m tired. I really am.” He whispered slumping his arms, dropping his heavy weight on his fragile mother, but she didn’t complain.
Still caressing his hair and back softly, chuckling slowly as she always did, she kept on whispering on his ears, “All would be well son, all would be well…”