Chapter 79 The break-up

Chapter 79 The break-up
Lyra’s POV

I lay in bed for hours, weeping my eyes out.

Mom had helped me bandage my burned hand.

But I wasn't crying because of the pain in my hand; it was the one in my heart. I could still hear his father’s words.

He will marry Mia when we graduate college.

My heart had cracked when I heard it.

I knew he didn't want it, but at the same time, could he say no to his father?

My phone had been buzzing for minutes. It was Salvatore’s texts, but I didn't bother to answer.

I felt like I had lost. My heart was shattered completely.

My head lifted as my door suddenly opened. It was Mom. I quickly turned around to hide my teary eyes.

“Oh dear,” Mom said in a sympathetic tone, “Don’t cry. I know it hurts, but it was an accident. It has happened to me before. The pain will go away in a few days.”

“I know,” I choked out. “I’m okay. It just hurts a little,” I said, referring to the wound even though I knew it was the least of my problems.

She sat beside me, her hand on my hip. “Do you want something to eat?” she asked.

I shook my head and sniffed. “I’m not hungry.”

“Water?” she asked again.

“No,” I said.

“Oh dear…”

“…Can I have some privacy?” I cut her words short.

She fell silent for a moment. “Did any of them say something to you? Offend you?” she asked, her tone curious. “You seem to be hurting, and I don’t mean because of the burn. What is it?”

I shook my head. “I’m okay. I’ve just never been burned before, that’s all,” I choked out again.

She patted me gently. “You will be okay,” she whispered and got up to walk away. As soon as the door shut, my phone suddenly began to ring. I picked it up. It was Salvatore.

I immediately tossed the phone away and buried my face into the pillow, listening to it ring over and over again. I didn’t answer.

Hours later,

I didn’t remember when I fell asleep that night, but the ringing of the intercom in the room woke me from sleep.

I lifted my head and wiped the corner of my mouth. I had drooled a little. With my eyes still half closed, I staggered toward the phone and picked it up.

“Hello?”

I heard gentle breathing, but no response came.

“Mr. Sinclair?” I said, but still no response—just breathing. “…Salvatore?” I finally said.

“I’m sorry,” his voice came after a moment of silence. “I just wanted to hear your voice.”

I sighed but didn’t say a word. To be honest, it felt good to hear his voice.

I waited for him to say something else, but he didn’t speak.

“Anything else you want to say?” I asked.

“I don’t know… I’m scared I’ll say something to push you away,” he said.

I stayed silent, my fingers gently picking at the hem of my shirt. I loved him. I really did. But I hated that no matter what we did, in the end we would still lose. “I want to break up, Salvatore,” the words came out of my mouth.

“Lyra, tell me you don’t mean that.”

“I’m sorry, Salvatore,” my voice cracked. I struggled to hold the tears back. “But I would only hurt myself if I stayed with you,” I cried.

“Lyra, please. Can I see you?”

I shook my head. “We can’t see each other anymore,” my lips folded into a downward smile as tears flowed down my cheeks.

“Lyra…”

Before he could finish his sentence, I placed the intercom back and turned around. I placed my hand against my chest and gripped it tightly. It felt as if my insides were ripping into shreds.

I slumped into bed and continued to cry my eyes out.

The next morning,

I was too weak to get out of bed. The door pulled open and I heard Mom’s footsteps.

“Oh dear, it’s time for school. Are you still asleep?”

“I don’t think I can go,” I said without turning back. “I feel sick.”

She sat beside me and placed two fingers on my neck, then moved her palm to my head. “You’re not running a temperature.”

I moved her hand away from me. “I feel sick.”

“You can’t go to school today? It’s okay. I’ll get you some medication,” her tone empathetic.

“Don’t bother. I just need to rest,” I spoke.

“Well, I should make food for the Sinclairs. I’ll get back to you later,” she finally said and walked out of the room.

I lay in silence for a few seconds before I finally reached for my phone. The battery had died. I got out of bed and plugged it into a socket. My heart dropped when my eyes caught my figure in the mirror before me. My eyes were red and swollen from tears.

Soon my phone turned on. I swiped through it. There were hundreds of messages from Salvatore.

“I don’t want this to end,” he said. “I love you, Lyra.” “Let’s talk, Lyra.”

I swiped through them, unable to read them all.

I unplugged my phone and tossed it on the bed. There was no need to have it on when he was the only thing I looked forward to.

I got back into bed again, staring intently at the ceiling. No thoughts in my head. All I could hear was my heartbeat and the loud ticking of the clock on the wall. Just like that, hours passed.

Mom walked in again. This time her eyes looked tired. “Come downstairs and get dinner. You should take your medication,” she said.

I nodded and got out of bed. I followed her out of my bedroom. As we walked downstairs, the door to Salvatore’s bedroom creaked open.

I halted in my tracks, fearing to move an inch and even more afraid to look back.

He was staring at me. I could feel it.