A Touch of Cinnamon

Let Me Explain

Aria:

Sophia finally managed to drag me out of the house. I wasn't my normal self today. Instead, I was dressed much darker than normal. My band shirts were replaced by a plain black cropped hoodie with a low cut front. My normal black jeans were now black leggings. My red and black flannel sat wrapped around my waist. As for my normal combat boots, they were replaced with black heeled boots. I didn't feel normal yet at the same time, I felt myself adapting. However, I feel as if I'm floating in a sea of nothingness outside of my body. I could see myself and I hated what I saw. I see someone who's entirely broken not like glass more like a mirror. I was still a mirror but instead of being perfect I was cracked and shattered. The pieces remained in place but I was unsalvageable. I could see others in the reflection. I could see the many versions of myself people wished I were.

"Aria, snap out of it," Sophia says shoving my shoulder, pulling me out of my haze. I lift my head from against the window. She looks over at me before turning back to the road.

"What," I mumble.

"Are you gonna tell me what happened?"

"I already told you my mom--," she cuts me off.

"That's not what I meant, I know you're depressed about your mom but I know you, theres something more that you didn't tell me."

"There's nothing else."

"I know you wouldn't face this alone, where's Wes?"

"In California."

"Why?"

"We broke up," those words hang heavy in the air. I could feel the lump start to form in the back of my throat.

"What happened?" she asks quietly. 

"Isabelle, his ex-fiance, is pregnant, and it's his," I mumble.

"I'm so sorry Aria," her voice was soft but angry.

"It's fine," I swallow the lump in my throat, "I just miss him you know, his smile, his laugh, I felt like he really understood me and now he's gone." She grips the steering wheel tightly.

"He didn't have the right to leave you, he knows Isabelle can't be trusted."

"I left him, I told him he needed to be a part of the child's life, I know what it's like to be raised in a broken home and I can stop that from happening to one child, it's worth my heart break."

"That's what I hate about you sometimes," She laughs, "You never listen to the whole story."

"What?" I ask, puzzled.

"Do you know for a fact it's his?"

"It doesn't matter what I know, he believes it, you should've seen how happy he was, I could never make him that happy."

"Did you let him explain?"

"No, I couldn't look at him without crying."

"You should've let him explain."

"What's done is done, he's gone and it's my fault," I sit up, "now can we change the subject?"

"Fine."

Wes:

A Few Hours Later

I couldn't wait to see her again. God being away from her is torture. I want to keep her safe. Knowing she's so far away and in pain kills me. I need her, I walk around the strip mall where her dad sent her. I accidentally bump into someone with there head down.

"Sorry!" I gasp. They lift their head.

"Wes! What are you doing here," Sophia says in shock.

"I'm here because I'm getting Aria back," I smile.

"She's not in the best mood, she's crushed about the Isabelle thing," She replies.

"It's not mine, that's why I'm here, I need her Sophia, I miss her too much."

"You are a child Wes."

"I try, where is she?"

"She's getting her hair re-dyed." I smile slightly.

"Pink wasn't working for her?" 

"She's doing some weird thing with it, it's gonna fade from black to a dark red."

"Sexy, but Sophia, what do I do," I reply nervously, "I didn't really think this through."

"Well I mean she can't really move while she's getting her hair done, so that'd be the perfect time to explain."

"Okay, lead the way." I follow Sophia into a small salon on the corner of the street. Aria doesn't even glance in our direction, she was glued to her phone staring at something. As we grew closer I realized what it was. It was the picture she took of me the first time we were here. The same picture I had on my Instagram. I could see the frown implanted on her face like a kind of parasite. She was always smiling, I was the reason she wasn't smiling. I was the parasite that implanted that frown. 

"Hey Aria, there's someone here who has a lot of explaining for you," Sophia says. Aria looks up and notices me. She looked as if she had seen a ghost.

"Hey Aria," I smile weakly.

"How did you know I was here?" Tears were forming in her ocean blue eyes. 

"You're dad told me, and I kinda bumped into Sophia outside," I smile. I missed her so much.

"Why aren't you with Isabelle?"

"Baby, it isn't mine, I came back because I fucking love you too much to just let you leave like that."

"What?"

"I contacted her doctor, she told me it was mine because she knows I would help raise it."

"I'm so sorry Wes," She cries.

"Hey, stop crying, the world doesn't deserve your tears." She smiles a little. There's the smile I fell in love with.

"I've had a long week, having you here makes it so much better."

"And this is why I'm your best friend, I solve the worst problems, now kiss and makeup guys," Sophia cooes. Aria and I both laugh. Aria gets up and stands on her tippy toes in front of me. I lean down and kiss her gently. I was at peace now, I had my soulmate back. I could face the world with her by my side. She was my future wife.

"How is your mom?" I ask. Her face drops and she chews on her lip.

"She's...She's gone..." I pull her tightly against me. I didn't know she was facing this much pain. I had left her alone. She was facing a pain greater than I could have ever imagined.

"I'm so sorry..."