*1 month later*
You'll never understand why Ethan did what he did that day. Nor will you understand why he stood up and left after planting a kiss on your forehead. Leaving you sat lifelessly.
You don't like thinking about that day, the fear, the look on his face.
Time has passed slowly, since being on your own. Emotions have been heavy, and moving on hurts.
So much has happened to you. You've placed yourself in a high paid job with a graphic design company, as a result of your artwork's success.
It's based in the city, finally, things are really looking up for you.
Seeing as you're focusing the majority of your time in the city, you also decided to move into a new apartment up there full-time.
You ended your lease this month, and are planning on moving out in 2 weeks. At least your mind has been busy. It makes everything else a lot easier to deal with.
In other news, you've been sober for the past month. No drink, cigarettes, drugs... you've been completely clean. It's given your mind a sense of ease.
Ethan usually pops into your mind from dusk to dawn, whilst you're laying in bed, your mind wanders. It isn't really sadness anymore though, it's more fear.
You continue to replay what happened in the alley, Brooke and everything he became.
It's like a new form of motivation for you. To get away from him, and everything he is.
For the first time in a long time, you feel refreshed, and excited about life. You're happy to be here.
***
You've been pretty productive with your packing process, seeing as you did the majority of it on your own. Pretty much everything apart from the essentials is packed. You're so eager to leave.
Today is just like every other day this month... packing and selling, but today you wanted to focus on removing all furniture from your balcony, seeing as you won't have one in your new apartment, and you hardly use the seating out there anymore, as you've quit smoking.
You throw on a grey hoodie, with your black gym legging, and you twirl your dirty blonde hair back into a messy bun, accessorised with a scrunchy. You have already sold your outdoor furniture set. The buyers are due to pick it up tomorrow, so today all you need to do is dust it off and bring them inside, ready to send it off.
You place your warm cup of coffee on the kitchen unit before connecting your phone to your blue tooth speaker. *Play Urs By NIKI*.
You grip the sliding glass balcony door and pull it open to allow the flow of warm air through into your lounge area before you step out and begin to dust off the furniture. You begin by picking up the now clean table and carry it inside, humming along to the song.
You rest it carefully against the wall, next to your apartment door. As you step back from the door, your body seizes up as you flashback to the moments Ethan was bagging on the other side of the door, a month ago.
You sway your head, trying to shake the memories from your vision, the trauma prints on your skin with goosebumps. You step back from the door, abruptly before turning back towards the balcony. The sunset glow warms your body up once more until the bumps on your arm are softened.
You stack the two remaining chairs on top of one another before lifting them up, preparing to walk them back inside. Your humming was interrupted by the sound of a cough. I don't know why, but for some reason, this grabbed your attention, your curiosity couldn't help but make your body turn to face the noise.
Now you know why.
Your eyes are met with Ethan's shirtless body, leaning crossed armed over Grayson's balcony, glaring in your direction.
You squint your eyes, followed by a frown as you glare at him up and down before turning, to walk back inside your apartment. You felt the hair on the back of your neck spike as your stomach churns in discomfort.
The feeling of unease overwhelmed you.
As you step through the door, you couldn't help but peer once more around your shoulder back at Ethan.
You stand still, holding a stare with him, as he continued to stand up, still locked in your gaze with a sinister smirk draped across his face. He continued to place a cigarette into his mouth.
Your body hardened. Why couldn't you move, you were stuck, glare still fixated uncomfortably, as you watch him, hold his smirk as he turns and walks back into Grayson's apartment.
You slowly turn your vision back in, towards your lounge area, before slowly stepping through.
You reach for your speaker as you stop the music.
The silence was loud.
This feeling was hard to describe. It wasn't flattering, it wasn't butterflies, it was panic, an overwhelming sense of unease. His face looked evil.
You reach your hand backwards, to pull to balcony door shut, without turning back. The goosebumps are prominent across your body.
"Fuck" you release as the door collides with the frame and you feel your sense of safety secure itself once more.
