Erynn's POV:
I parked outside Saffron's house and watched from a distance, feeling more nervous than I had in a long time. I waited for my nerves to calm and watch for signs of Saffron being home. I should have asked Madi instead of rushing here. I thought, feeling foolish for waiting at an empty house.
As I was about to leave, a car pulled up next to Saffron's house and a man got out. To my surprise, Saffron emerged from the passenger side, laughing and chatting with the man as they walked towards the house, his arm draped casually around her shoulders.
A knot formed in my stomach, and a mix of emotions flooded my mind. I desperately tried to compose myself, I almost got out and confronted them but I promised Madiha I wouldn't do anything stupid. So I took a deep breath. I leaned back in my seat, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.
As I observed them from a distance, I couldn't help but wonder who this guy is. There's familiarity in their interaction, a casualness that implied they've known each other for awhile now. A pang of jealousy surged through me, but I quickly reminded myself that I have no right to feel possessive anymore. We had broken up, after all.
Coming here, I had hoped that Saffron is still single, still pining for me as I am for her. But it seemed that she had moved on. I couldn't bear to see her and potentially ruin what happiness she had found, So with a heavy heart, I shifted my car into gear and slowly drove away, I silently left without Saffron ever knowing I had been there.
——————xx————-
I drove aimlessly through the city, my mind clouded with a mix of hurt, anger, and longing. The image of Saffron getting out of the car with that unknown guy replayed over and over, reinforcing my insecurities and igniting a fire within me.
Not knowing any better, I parked my car outside a dimly lit bar, its neon sign flickering "Open". Stepping inside, The deafening music and the chatter of the bar provided a fleeting sense of distraction as I made my way to the counter. I ordered a strong drink, hoping it would dull the sting in my chest.
As the night wore on, I found myself drowning my sorrows with drink after drink, losing myself in a haze of regret and longing. The room spun, and my vision blurred. I didn't notice the woman who had been observing me from across the room.
Suddenly, a pair of familiar eyes appeared before me, and it was as though time had stopped. Saffron is standing in front of me, reaching out to caress my cheek. Without hesitation, I leaned in, craving the touch that had been absent from my life for far too long.
I wrapped my hand around the back of her neck, deepening the kiss. I ran my other hand up her bare back, pulling her closer to my chest. She tasted different, but it still made my head swim.
Before the kiss got more intense, a jolt of awareness came crashing down on me like a tidal wave. She tastes different. This isn't Saffron. Reality shattered my intoxication-fueled fantasy, and I jerked away, my heart heavy with disappointment.
"I'm sorry... I thought..." I stammered, my voice filled with regret, but the words barely escaped my lips.
The woman's expression shifted from annoyance to concern as she realized the depth of my distress. "It's okay," she spoke gently, offering a comforting smile. "Take a breath."
I forced myself to take a deep breath, summoning the last fragments of sobriety to regain control. Feeling a surge of clarity amidst my clouded mind, I gathered my strength and stumbled away from the bar. "I'm sorry..."
I went out the backdoor and the night air hit me like a cold shower, snapping me back to reality. I knew I had made a mistake, almost allowing myself to replace Saffron with a mere illusion.
The woman I just made out with followed quietly. Leaning against the wall, I took deep breaths, trying to regain my composure.
"Are you okay?" she asked gently, concern etched on her face. "You looked like you've seen a ghost."
I glanced at her, recognizing the genuine concern in her eyes. "I... I'm sorry, I thought you were my...I thought you were someone I know, I didn't mean to kiss you." I mumbled under my breath.
The woman quirked an eyebrow, crossing her arms and leaning on the adjacent wall. "Ouch, I'm gonna pretend I didn't hear that." She said.
"No no! I didn't mean it like that! It's just...I have someone."
"Oh, do tell." The woman asked, looking genuinely interested. "If you have someone then why are you getting drunk at this lame bar on a friday night?"
I looked down, my shoulders slumping. I slid down on the floor, hugging my knees to my chest, not caring if my pants get dirty. "Had someone. Not anymore." I confessed.
"I saw her again after so long, I was planning to apologize but...it seems she's moved on." I glanced at the woman with tears in my eyes when she approached, slowly squatting down beside me.
The woman patted my shoulder sympathetically. "That must have been really tough to see. It's never easy seeing someone you used to love moving on."
Tears welled up in my eyes as I considered her words. "I haven't spoken to her in months," I admitted, my voice choked with regret. "I left without letting her see me. I thought it would be easier that way, but it's just made things harder."
The woman nodded in understanding. "Sometimes, the choices we think are protecting us end up hurting us even more. Maybe you should see her again at another time, when your head's cleared. The closure might do you some good, if she's moved on, so should you."
I wiped away my tears, contemplating her advice. "You're right," I finally said, determination shining through the remnants of my pain. "I need to talk to her. Thank you."
The woman smiled warmly, relief evident in her eyes. "I'm glad I could be here for you. Maybe not in the way I wanted, but you know what, I can get laid anytime. But helping a brokenhearted hottie? That's rare." She smirked, standing up and offering me her hand. I looked at it dumbly.
"Come on, you should get home, should I call an uber for you?"
I took her hand and stood up, dusting the backside of my pants. I shook my head and said, "I'm fine, I drove here."
"Yeah but you're drunk, you can't."
I shrugged my shoulders, putting my hands in my pockets feeling chilly. "Then I'll walk."
The woman raised her eyebrows and looked at me, I stared back. "Fine," she said, raising her arms in surrender. "Suit yourself hottie."
We said our goodbyes and I watched her walk back inside the bar. I stayed behind, my mind still clouded with an alcohol haze, my vision swayed and I stumbled, leaning on the wall for support. I took deep breaths, swallowing the vomit threatening to come out. (A/N: ewww Erynn.)
The world spun around me as I stumbled through the streets, the alcohol coursing through my veins. With each step, I thought of Saffron and how I had seen her with another man. The image ate away at me, until I couldn't take it anymore. The night air feels cool against my heated skin, and the city lights blurred as tears filled my eyes. Why wait to see her, if I can do it now?
The city streets blurred around me as I stumbled drunkenly, my mind fixated on one thought alone - Saffron. And the burning question that tormented me all night, who is he? I have to know.
The rain began to fall, each droplet mirroring the tumultuous storm inside me. I let the rain embrace me, soaking through my clothes, as if trying to wash away the pain and confusion that consumed me. The cool water mingling with the tears streaming down my face and I welcomed the sensation.
With each unsteady step, I yearned to find solace in Saffron's presence. I imagined knocking on her door, her surprise and curiosity as she saw me, drenched and vulnerable. Would she invite me in or dismiss me like a stranger? Would she have that guy beside her?
With each step, my resolve grew stronger. The weight of the alcohol threatened to pull me down, but I pressed on, fueled by the longing for answers that only Saffron could provide. My vision blurred by both intoxication and the cascading rain,
I found myself outside her house, pounding on the door. the porch light illuminating the side of my face. "Saffron! Let me in!" I slurred, barely able to stand.
The rain poured relentlessly as I stood outside her door, my vision distorted and my mind clouded by the effects of alcohol. In my drunken stupor, I pounded on the door with unsteady hands, tears mixing with rainwater on my cheeks.
"Saffron!" I called out, my voice hoarse and filled with a desperate plea. "Please, just give me a chance to talk to you." The words tumbled from my lips, a jumbled mess of emotions and longing.
But as the seconds turned to minutes, there was no response from behind the closed door. My pleas fell on absent ears, muffled by the sound of the downpour. Tears streamed down my face as I sank to the ground, clutching my chest in anguish.
The rain soaked through my clothes, chilling me to the bone, but it was nothing compared to the ache in my heart. In this moment of vulnerability, I realized that I had let my pain and regret consume me, driving me to this reckless state.
When the door finally opened, Saffron was standing there, looking at me with a mixture of surprise and concern. "Erynn? What are you doing here?"
"I...I had to see you," I slurred, stumbling, attempting to stand in unsteady feet. "I had to tell you..."
But as I rose to face her, everything went black.
-———-xx————xx————
Saffron's POV:
I jolted awake in the middle of the night, my heart pounding as I hear relentless banging on my front door. Confusion mingled with concern as I rushed downstairs, my feet padding against the cold hardwood floor. As I swung the door open, my breath hitched in my throat at the sight before me.
"Erynn? What are you doing here?"
There slumped on the ground is Erynn, drenched from head to toe by the pouring rain. My eyes traced the familiar features of her face, now distorted by the blur of intoxication.
"I...I had to see you...I had to tell you..." Before she could stand, Erynn's body gave way, collapsing onto my doorstep. Panic surged through me as I rushed forward, catching Erynn's limp form and guiding her gently to the floor.
With a mixture of concern and frustration, I assessed Erynn's condition. As my hands trembled, I couldn't help but feel a surge of tenderness for her. Despite the pain and heartbreak between us, the connection we once had remain undeniably strong. Gently, I brush wet strands of hair away from Erynn's face and sighed, knowing that I have no choice but to get her in.
As I carefully cradled Erynn's unconscious body, my heart ached with conflicting emotions. What is she doing here? Showing up drunk off her mind? I couldn't help the surge of anger that course through me. Erynn had the audacity to show up unannounced and drunk, as if nothing had happened between us.
In the eight months since our breakup, I had yearned for her to reach out. I waited, hoping that one day she'd realized I just wanted her to fight for us and try harder. Memories flooded my mind, drawing attention to the countless nights I had waited by the phone, hoping Erynn would reach out, hoping she'd call and ask me to try again and fight with her. But those calls and messages never came. And I was left to pick up the pieces of our shattered relationship alone.
It felt unfair, unjust for Erynn to appear at my doorstep in such a state, as if the past months were inconsequential. The anger simmered within me, fueled by the unfairness of the situation. Erynn waltzed back into my life, throwing open old wounds, expecting to be comforted without taking responsibility for the hurt she had caused. It felt like a slap in the face. I took a deep breath, trying to rein in my anger and find some clarity.
Without knowing Erynn's intentions for showing up in such a state, I decided to take care of her first. I closed the door behind us, shielding us from the harsh rain outside, and gently guided Erynn up the stairs towards the guest room.
"Come on Erynn, work with me."I murmured, groaning under Erynn's drunken weight. "Just two more steps." I encouraged to a blacked out Erynn, hanging off of my arms. We got inside and I let her fall on the bed, removing her wet clothing until she's left in her underwear. I fetched a warm blanket and covered her, hoping it would provide some comfort.
Sitting beside her, I couldn't help but recall the love we shared and the pain I experienced when it all fell apart. I felt a flash of annoyance as I think about what she's doing here, is this just a drunken impulse with no intention behind it or...what is she trying to do?
However, as I took in Erynn's disheveled appearance and the vulnerability etched on her face, a flicker of empathy tugged at my heart. Even amidst the anger and confusion, I couldn't entirely extinguish the love that still lingered deep within.
As I watch Erynn sleep, a mixture of compassion and uncertainty washed over me. I know I need to have a conversation with Erynn when she woke up, mainly what she's doing here after all these months. But for now, all I can do is wait and hope that my life will still be peaceful tomorrow.
Unbeknownst to me, I would soon be proven wrong.
————-xxx — - - - - -xx—— ——-