Edited
Hailey looks at Nathaniel, her eyes now softened. She knows that her friends want the best for her and her happiness even if they have to go behind her back to achieve that. Maybe Nathaniel deserves to know the truth.
Seeing him that day in her office brought back all the love and feelings, she buried deep in her heart. That day, she wanted to jump in his arms and hug him tightly. To tell him the truth. To apologize for her hurtful words, for the pain she gave him.
But the coldness and hate in his eyes told her that he would not listen to her. Coming back to the presence, she nods her head at him.
"Ok. I guess you deserve the truth. But not today. I am tired. I need to go home."
She says tiredly.
She looks at the others for a few seconds before making her way out of the office and the building.
Nathaniel turns around and looks at Kayla. Before he can ask his question, she talks knowing what is on his mind.
"Don't worry. She'll tell you. Just give her some time. Thank you for coming in such a short time and sorry for lying."
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Once home, Hailey takes a much needed bath to relax. No one knows the reason why she was absent from work. Since the nightmares continue to haunt her and taking away her sleep, she made an appointment with a famous therapist recommended by her first one, Mrs Jones.
Unfortunately she has migrated to another country or else she would have gone to her. The session with her new therapist, Mr Miller, went well. She was the one who did the talking relating to him about her life before that unfortunate night.
Her next session is in two days. Disheartened, she agreed for the next session. She hates talking about that monster. It just brings back horrible memories.
Maybe it will be easier to talk with Nathan. In a way, his comeback in her life triggered the nightmares. With her mind made, she decides to call him after her bath. One hour later, she is dialling his number. She puts the phone to her ear and waits for him to pick up his mobile. On the third ring, she hears his voice.
"Hello."
"Hey. It's me. Hailey. I hope I am not disturbing you."
"Hailey. I was worried about you. Are you ok? You seemed really tired and down when I saw you at the office."
Her heart melts at his concern. She can hear how worried he is in the tone of his voice.
"There's nothing to worry. Like you mentioned. I am just tired. Uhh. Are you free tomorrow?Can we meet?"
"Of course. Just tell me the time and place."
He responds immediately.
"Eleven o'clock. At our favourite place."
She says not specifying the name of the place. If he still has some feelings for her, he will know about the place she has mentioned.
"Ok. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Ok. Thanks Nathan. Bye."
She hangs up the call after Nathaniel says bye.
"Please God. Give me the strength to tell him about my past."
She murmurs looking up at the ceiling praying for strength and for her not to break down in front of him.
She does not know what will happen after telling him the truth. She really wants them to start over and to be together. But it all depends on him. Whether he will give her a chance or move on from her.
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Half past ten in the morning, Hailey is already at their favourite place admiring the view in front of her. No matter how much time she has been here, the view always takes away her breath.
Over the years, she has been here so many times but never has she crossed path with anyone. When things get hectic and she misses Nathan, this place takes away her worries for a while and makes her feel closer to the man she loves.
This has been their secret spot ever since they started to date. It's here that they first met. Neither knew that the other was aware of this place. When she first moved in this town, she was not herself. She needed to forget the threat that was hanging on her and her mother's head. Wandering around, she came to find this location.
Hailey wanders mindlessly trying to get rid of her thoughts about that monster. She thought that it was over and that her mother and her can live their lives without any fear. But that monster had to escape from prison set on taking revenge for being caught.
She halts in her steps when she sees the view in front of her. She moves forward not taking her eyes away from the waterfall.
"Wow."
She murmurs in awe.
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
A voice says behind her.
She turns around in shock not noticing she is not alone.
"Oh my God. You scared me."
She pants trying to calm her heart.
"I am sorry. It was not my intention to scare you."
She looks at the boy standing in front of her from head to toe.
She internally gasps at how handsome he is. He is wearing a black t shirt and dark blue jeans and white sneakers. What enhanced his handsomness is the pair of glasses he is wearing. He looks like a nerd but a very handsome one.
When she realises she is staring at him, she clears her throat and extends her right hand forward for a shake.
"It's okay. I am Hailey. Nice to meet you."
Thank God she got her new name right this time and did not fumble.
Taking her hand in his, he shakes it.
"I am Nathaniel. The pleasure is all mine."
That's how they met and became friends. After almost six months of friendship, Nathan asked her on a date and they became girlfriend and boyfriend. Being with him made her forget about her worries and that her life was in danger. She enjoyed her life with him and the friends she made until that dreadful phone call.
"Hey there."
She hears a voice whispers softly besides her bringing her to the present.
"Hi."
She replies facing Nathan who is sitting down on her left holding two cups, one in each hand.
"Here. Hot chocolate for you from Becky's cafe."
He hands her the cup in his left hand. He knows that hot chocolate helps her feel better and the one from Becky's cafe is her all time favourite unless her taste has changed.
"Thank you."
She smiles at him taking the cup from him and wrapped both her hands around it. Her heart warms at the fact that he remembers that hot chocolate helps her calm down. Whenever she is upset, sad or angry, it helps lift her mood up.
"It feels good to be here. It's been a long time since I visited this place."
Hailey looks at him confused.
"How long."
She asks.
"Graduation Day. I have been back in town since seven months but could not muster the courage to come back here. Too many memories."
He says before taking a sip of his coffee.
Hailey looks down at her cup, sadness gripping her heart. Even though he did not mention it, she knows that it's her fault that he has not visited the place. She broke his heart and coming here would just bring back memories of the moments they spent together here which would hurt him more.
"I am sorry."
She whispers brokenly as a tear roll down her cheek.
She thinks that he did not hear her but the 'hmmm' from him indicates that he did.
They sat in silence for a few minutes. Nathaniel looking at the waterfall, sipping from his cup from time to time reminiscing the last time they spent here together. They were both beyond happy and relieved that they finally graduated from high school with their friends. It was time to take the next step which was going to college.
They both applied for the same college not wanting to be separated. Thankfully their applications were accepted. They were set to move to an apartment near the college with their two best friends within the next three weeks.
Unfortunately things did not turn as they wished, as he wished, to be more specific. Two days later, Hailey broke up with him saying some hurtful things to him which he could not bear. So he decided to move to another city, miles away from the girl who caused him his first heartbreak.
On the other hand, Hailey is trying to get her thoughts in order and muster the courage to tell him everything that he has a right to know about. Taking a few deep breaths, she calms herself readying herself to relate her past to him that he was unaware of.
"I don't know how much Kayla, Fabian and Stella told you but I think it is better I start from the beginning."