Within The Shadows.✅ (WLW)

24 | Alex

"Mel, I swear this is not what it looks like." Always the same bullshit excuse, always.

"You know what Nate? I would have understood if you didn't want to be with me or didn't want to get married, sure if would have hurt but it wouldn't have made me not want to know you anymore." I am surprised at how calm my voice sounds.

Sure, I did not romantically love Nate, the way that I should have, but he was one of my best friends. So, it did hurt seeing him kiss another girl, wait let me refrain. Seeing him kiss Lizzy right in front of me when we were supposed to get married in a couple of months.

"Mel, please let me explain." He continues to plead, but I have seen enough to conclude that this was not the first time he was cheating on me.

I am not really that mad at him, I am madder at myself. I have spent 3 years with this man, 5 years in total trying to be someone I am not. Someone who I can never be.

Why?

So that my parents would not feel ashamed of me at a dinner party? Or to see the look in my father's eyes of disgust and disappointment? Or was it because all I ever wanted was my parents' love and approval?

Standing here in front of Nate. I come to realize how fucking stupid I was. I left the person I love and who loves me, for two human beings who could not care less about me.

Do you know why? Two days after I caught Nate cheating on me, I told my mother the wedding was off, do you know what she said?

"You can get through this Melanie."

"Nate made a stupid mistake Melanie.

"You're overreacting Melanie"!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, that is what a mother said to her child who had just caught her fiancé cheating on her with the girl who called her fat at her engagement party.

From that day, I have not spoken to my parents, to Nate or Ava. I have just disappeared or if you want to call it running away from my problems, which works too.

Anna does not even know where I am, I keep her updated every once in a while, just to say I am still alive. Other than that,... I read books, watch Netflix, and go to the spa or pool at a hotel where I have booked a room for a week.

I just needed a break from reality, for everything and everyone. I also had to think very clearly about what I was going to do about my feelings for Ava.

I was sitting alone, drinking a gin and tonic when a very cute blond boy came up to me.

"Hallo" he greets me, he cannot be older than 10 years old.

"Hi there little man, what are you doing here?" I ask with a smile standing up to go down to his level.

"I thought you looked lonely, are you lonely?" He tried to ask but could not get the word 'lonely' out correctly because his one front tooth missing.

"Where are your parents, baby?" But before he could answer I heard someone calling from behind me.

"ALEX! Come here, baby!"

"Daddy!" Alex, I assumed, shouts, and runs to his dad. "Oh, thank God, please don't ever do that again okay." The father says picking up his son and kissing him on the head.

"I'm snowy, but this pwetty lady seemed to be very lownly," Alex tells his dad, pointing a tiny finger at me.

"I'm so sorry if he bothered you. I am Aiden by the way. Alex's father." The father said, trying to apologize. While putting him back on the ground and offers me his hand to shake.

"No no. It was no problem at all, he is quite the young man. I'm Melanie, but my friends call me Mel." I say smiling and shaking his hand. "Now Alex, you shouldn't run away from your parents, okay? What if I were to be a mean lady who does not like kids?" I ask him to raise my eyebrows.

"I'm sowwy." He says staring to fiddle with his while looking at the ground.

"Oh my God Alex, thank god!" Comes another man, about the same age as Alex's father. He picks up Alex and hugs and kisses him as well.

"Hey babe." Aiden greets the man with a kiss on the lips. And I cannot help but smile.