The Love That Passed

Colleen’s POV

Jared left the room. I tried not to think about what had happened and the feeling that they gave me. I didn’t want a heart attack at this moment because I still look forward to my surgery. I want to live more and enjoy the time with my mother whom I now know has loved me ever since.

It takes long but never too late because I am still here capable of making things better. Then there’s Jared, even if he did what he did earlier, I still want to be with him. I am sure of it. Stacey was right, he may have pity me, but at least I made myself happy in my last days. They can be happy all they want when I’m gone. Somehow, doing this, I still achieved my goal. And that is to live my life to the fullest happily.

I close my eyes and finally, thank God that I feel better now. One thing about my sickness, I had to accept everything if I didn’t want to worsen myself. When I don’t feel hatred anymore, then my heart is at peace. Bath, I think I need to bathe so I got up from bed and went to the bathroom. I needed it to feel refreshed but did it really fast and took a nap after.

When I woke up, it was Jared’s face that I saw. “How long have you been there? Is there anything you need?” I asked him. His face was stoic and I don’t know what he was thinking.

“You said, you’re not going to sleep. But I had been here for two hours already which means you were already asleep for at least that time.” he said. “Are you feeling better now?” he asked.

“Yeah, I feel better. I had no plan on sleeping but after taking a bath, I felt my eyes getting heavy and didn’t realize that I was already asleep.” I replied.

“Betty had prepared our dinner, would you like to eat it already?” he asked and then I nodded as I got up from the bed. “What are you doing?” I asked when he was trying to help me to get up.

“Helping you get up,” he replied casually.

“No need, I can get up by myself. I am not some bedridden patient and I can still take care of myself.” I told him and he distanced himself, “Look, just because I am sick means you need to support me every time I make a move. I am still capable of doing some basic things and have been doing that for how many years already.” I added as I didn’t want him to think that I didn’t want his help or didn’t want him to be near me.

“I understand,” he replied. still with a stoic face.

“Thank you.” I said and then went to the bathroom for a call of nature and looked at myself in the mirror. I looked fine and OK so I got out of the bathroom and headed for the door to go to the dining.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

We were eating when he talked. “You don’t need to worry about Stacey anymore, I already talked to her.” I nodded after hearing that. Because I already decided not to think about her as well, that’s why I was calm and collected. I notice him staring at me.

“What’s wrong?” I asked him and he shook his head.

“Nothing, just trying to make sure that you are not going to think about her or anything that is related to her.” he replied and then we continued eating.

“Colleen,” Betty said and handed me an envelope that has my name on it. I took it and looked at her, “I found it in the mailbox.” she replied and I nodded. There was no sender and I was sure that it’s not good news. I never used this address because I didn’t want him to think that I was so eager to flaunt his wealth to my friends or whatever. I put it down and continue eating.

“Are you not going to take a look at it?” Jared asked, he must be curious as I saw him staring at me when Betty gave me the envelope.

“Whatever is in there, I was already sure that it’s bad news or something that may hurt me.” I told him and I continued eating.

“So you are not going to open it?” he asked and I nodded. “What if it’s important?” he asked again. I sighed and look at him,

“Did this come from you?” I asked him and he shook his head. “Then it is not important.” I said after.

“Why did you say so?” he asked again, I guess he was really curious so I told him,

“I don’t use this address as my home address. The people who knew I was here were Mommy Claire, Ingrid, you and the maids. You said it didn’t come from you, I was sure that Mommy Claire and Ingrid will never send me this as well because they had no reason not to put their name. And most of all, they knew that surprises are not good for my health.”

“If that’s what you want,” he replied and we continued eating. When we’re done, we get back to our bedroom and he brings the envelope with him. If he were to ask me, I would just throw it away because no matter what happens, I am not going to open it.

Two weeks had passed and Jared had not talked to me about what happened to him and Stacey. he didn’t explain to me why he had to come with her when I was with him.

I tried not to think about it because I didn’t want to have that chest pain again. I had to be more cautious of my health now that mom was back. I wanted to be with her more often and Diane was so happy when the three of us met in my old apartment.

They wanted to bring me home with them and meet mom’s second husband. Diane said that her dad was the best, that’s why he still found my mom. I smiled at the thought that she appreciated my mom’s effort and I’m sure and I can see that she was happy now and so am I. This happiness that I am feeling gives me hope. Hope for life that I look forward to because I am going to do everything just to make it happen.