Hazel's pov
The darkness outside seemed to mirror the emptiness within me as I stood alone, clutching a small suitcase.
The chill of the night air bit through my thin clothes, but it was nothing compared to the coldness in Ryan's eyes as he stood in the doorway, his voice devoid of any warmth or compassion.
"You're done here," he'd said, his words cutting through the silence like a knife. "You can't give me what I need, so it's time for you to go."
With a final glance at the home we'd shared, I stepped out into the unknown, the door closing behind me with a definitive thud. The street was deserted, the only sound the distant hum of a car driving by.
I looked around, my mind racing with the reality of the situation. Where could I go? I had no relatives, no friends, no one to turn to. After everything we've been through, I poured every ounce of myself into Ryan, losing sight of who I was, and neglecting everyone else.
I had sacrificed so much for him, believing love could heal the cracks in my broken heart. But now, I had nothing, not even myself.
The weight of my suitcase felt symbolic of the weight of my failed marriage, a tangible reminder of everything I'd lost.
As I stood there, tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I couldn't afford to break down now. Not here, not like this.
With a deep, steadying breath, I squared my shoulders and began to walk—a deliberate motion as I felt the cool metal of the half-pendant necklace resting against my chest.
My fingers tightened around the delicate chain, almost as if it were a lifeline. The necklace had been with me for as long as I could recall, a constant presence in a life filled with uncertainty.
There was an inexplicable comfort in its presence. As I clutched it, a soothing warmth seemed to seep into me, absorbing the weight of my pain and sorrows like a silent confidant. I often found myself pondering its origins, but no memories surfaced to explain how it came into my possession.
Whoever had placed it around my neck felt significant, almost like a ghost lingering just out of reach in the shadows of my mind. Yet, despite my efforts to dig through the fog of forgotten memories, I came up empty.
The hollowness of that realization struck me hard; I couldn't recall my childhood or the faces of those who might have cared for me.
For what felt like the first time, I found myself yearning for the kind of normalcy that most take for granted—a longing for parents to love and guide me, to create memories with.
But in that moment, I also acknowledged that yearning was just a wisp of fantasy, a bittersweet dream floating out of reach.
The city lights stretched out before me like a map of unknown possibilities. I had no destination in mind, just the determination to keep moving forward, one step at a time.
My feet carried me forward on autopilot, my mind numb and my heart heavy with grief. I didn't notice the tears streaming down my face until they mingled with the rain, blurring my vision.
The city seemed to stretch on forever, a labyrinth of lights and sounds that I navigated without purpose. I felt lost, adrift in a sea of pain and uncertainty.
As I walked, my thoughts swirled around the wreckage of my marriage, replaying the arguments, the betrayals, and the final, crushing blow. The pain was a palpable weight on my chest, making it hard to breathe. I felt like I was drowning in my sorrow, unable to find a lifeline to cling to.
In my distracted state, I didn't notice the red light ahead until it was too late. I stepped off the curb, into the path of an oncoming car. The screech of tires, the blare of a horn, and the impact sent me flying. Everything went dark.
When I came back to consciousness, I was lying on the wet pavement, my head throbbing with pain. Looks like even the driver who hit me had abandoned me. My whole body felt numb from too much pain, I couldn't feel anything anymore.
At this point, I lost hope. Ryan's words replaying in my head "You are better off dead than alive". Maybe he was right, If I died, I wouldn't need to feel pain. Smiling bitterly, I closed my eyes waiting for death to come.
After what seemed like an eternity, I felt a presence. A stranger loomed over me, concern etched on his face. "Miss, are you okay? You just got hit by a car."
My gaze drifted up to the stranger, my mind foggy. I tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over me, forcing me back onto the ground. The stranger helped me up slowly, and I leaned against him, overwhelmed by the pain and the emotional turmoil that had led me to this moment.
As I sat there, supported by a stranger's arm, I realized I couldn't keep going like this. I needed help, a lifeline to pull me out of the darkness. I needed to be strong to plan a revenge and successfully carry it out.
*********
Xavier's Pov
I drove into the main road hoping to catch some air when I caught sight of a young lady lying by the roadside. I was startled at first, thinking it might be a ghost but the pool of blood around her said otherwise.
I stepped out of the car a bit too hastily and rushed over to her side. Suddenly I stilled.
The necklace.
I thought of going back to my car to save myself the trouble. People die every day anyways.
But we have looked for this exact half-pendant necklace for over a decade yet still no sign of it.
And somehow, this dying lady was wearing it. Bringing my palm to my forehead, I cursed inwardly.
I hesitated for some time before reaching out to shake her and thankfully, her lashes fluttered open. I tried to help her up but she ended up collapsing again.
"Are you okay?" I asked gently, kneeling beside her.
She didn't answer. Her tear filled eyes stared at nothing. The pain in her gaze was so strong. The pain she carried was so clear, it was obvious in her eyes.
"Can you stand, you likely got hit by a car. We need to get you treatment". She still didn't respond. I looked at her injuries, they were still gushing out a lot of blood, alarmed, I stared up at her face but her expression was empty.
Seeing there was no point in asking, I carried her bridal style, headed for my car, and sped off hoping to catch sight of a hospital.
So many thoughts swirled around my mind. From the necklace, to the reason why she was there on the floor, and the kind of pain evident in her eyes. What could have landed her in such a state?.
I tried to think of any possible situation but nothing came to mind. As we reached the hospital, I rushed out of the driver's seat, went over to the passenger seat, opened the door, and carried her out.
She had lost too much blood that she could barely keep her eyes open. Three nurses rushed to my side with a stretcher with which I lowered her.