Bound To Fall

Dread Creeping In

Isabelle

I let out a sigh as I took a seat in the airport. Everything that's needed to be done is done, now all that's left is to wait for the plane to arrive. Once it did, then I could board it and leave this place behind.

I could practically feel my heart constrict in my chest at the thought. I spent the last few days convincing myself that this was for the best. That this was the smartest thing that I could do right now, but now that it's happening I can feel the dread beginning to creep in.

Saying my goodbyes made me realize I was leaving behind more than just Sterling. As much as I could say I'd keep in touch we all know how that goes. As time goes on people get too busy and the texts become less frequent, until one day you're just not checking in on each other anymore.

Grabbing my phone out of my purse, I decided I needed some type of distraction. If I let my thoughts get to me now then I'd start to second guess everything.

My phone began to ring in my hand. Sterling's name popped up on the screen and I felt like all the air had practically been sucked out of my lungs at that moment.

Part of me really considered answering him. However, I decided against it. I'm already having my doubts about going and if I give him the chance to say anything I'll crumble almost instantly at this point.

"Is this seat taken?" An older woman's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

I looked up at her, making eye contact. "No, go ahead."

"Thank you." She pleasantly smiled. "So where are you off to dear?"

"Miami." I willingly answered because it couldn't hurt to make some more conversation. "What about you?"

Her smile grew wider. "Miami as well. My husband and I are going on vacation there, it's the first big trip my Joseph has been able to plan for us in years."

"That's awesome." I continued to make conversation with her. "My name's Isabelle, Isabelle Avildsen."

"Nice to meet you Isabelle." She stuck her hand out for me to shake, I took it just as she introduced herself. "I'm Lily Higgins, my Joseph is off getting an update on the flight details but he'll be joining me shortly."

"Sounds good." I responded pleasantly to her.

"So, what takes you to Miami?" Lily studied me for a moment, waiting for my answer.

"Work." I explained. "I've gotten a job out there."

Mr. Tipton had offered to send me over on his private jet, but I declined. I have no issues going on a plane on my own. Besides, I've accepted enough from the Tiptons and I don't want to have any other handouts.

"Just work?" Lily raised a brow, it was like she could sense there was more to the story. "Are you sure about that?"

I exhaled a low sigh. "I've got some things I need to get away from I guess."

"A boy then?" Lily pressed further, not that I minded. She's a stranger just here to keep me company for now.

"Yes." I confessed. "I'm going through a bad break up with a man, I don't want to risk seeing him around. It would just cause more problems than there already are."

"What's going on?" Lily asked, then she paused for a moment as she realized she may be asking too much. "I'm so sorry dear, I don't mean to pry. I just have a bad habit of being a bit nosey, I really do apologize."

"You're fine, I don't mind." I reassured her before I vaguely answered her question. "He had this ex that wouldn't let him go, we were trying to figure out how to move past it and then all of a sudden he shut me out. I could tell he was hiding things, I tried to get him to come clean but he just wouldn't do it."

"I see." Lily nodded. "Do you suspect he was messing around behind your back? I had a friend that happened to once, she took that man for everything he had. Rightfully so considering he ended up being a total pig."

"No." I instantly shook my head.

Sterling may have cheated with me, but I don't believe he would cheat on me. When things got carried away with us while he was with Elise things were very different. He was a broken down man who had just had his first love thrown back into his face, it was a little understandable that he got carried away without thinking.

When we got together, there had been a change in him. He was handling things better and thinking clearer. I felt like I could trust him and he never gave me a reason not to until the night he left and wouldn't tell me what he was up to.

"Well, I am an old woman." Lily's face softened. "My Joseph and I have been married for forty years, we've been down some tough roads. May I offer some advice?"

"Sure." I shrugged, it couldn't really hurt at this point.

"Sometimes significant others can be stupid." She was blunt, but she continued on. "That goes for us too. Sometimes we like to jump to conclusions without having all the details. For example there was one time a charge on our account that I couldn't figure out. Joseph knew but he wouldn't tell me, I threw a fit over it of course. A couple days later a package came that had a dress I told him I wanted, I felt pretty dumb then."

I wasn't sure how exactly this was supposed to be helping me. It's not like this secret Sterling was harboring was going to be as simple as him just buying a dress. This secret was something much bigger.

"When a man is hiding something it's because he wants to surprise you, he feels guilty, or he's hiding it for your own good." Lily continued on. "But to us, we jump right to the guilty verdict because we get scared and sometimes that makes us end up feeling stupid."

"I see." I nodded as now I understood the purpose of her story.

"So, if it wasn't because he was guilty of something it has to be one of the other reasons, right?" She asked, looking at me.

"Yeah."

Sterling was keeping quiet to protect me, but he still had the chance to tell me but he didn't. I can't let him think he can walk over me like this over and over again. I still have to leave because that's the only way he'll learn.

"Oh Joseph." Lily's eyes lit up as they met her husband's. "Any update?"

"Yes." The older man nodded. "It would appear that the flight to Miami has been delayed, they won't tell me why but it sounds serious."

My stomach practically dropped as I listened to him answer her. I was so close to getting out of here so soon, and now there's something else that's been thrown in my way.