ALICIA: A Short Romance {COMPLETED}

💘💘💘 PART THREE: Happily Ever After 💘💘💘

  I was starting to miss Richard being around. My actions must have made him not want to see me. I really wished to talk to him; to tell him everything, but that'll make matters worse. After work, I drove straight to his house, determined to make things right, and hoped he'd be around. Luckily, he was there. I just didn't know where to start from, but I gathered up courage to speak as he said nothing but listened - it seemed he didn't care as he upset concentrated on his wine than me.

  "Uh, are you even listening?" I asked with shoulders shrugged.

  I couldn't believe he was being so mad at me, till the point he wouldn't even look at me. "Do you hate me now? Wh-why are you not saying anything? Are you that mad at me that you can't even look at me?"

  "I am not mad at you, Alice. You made your choice, yeah! You don't have to apologize." He lowered his glass on the stool and got up from the couch.

  "Well, that's the problem, Richard. I just wasn't thinking straight. I was confused, okay? I didn't know what to do." I tried to explain, and he shook his head and made to walk out on me.

  "Richard, please," I held on to him. "Please don't go. I've missed you these past few days. I don't know what came over me. Please don't turn your back on me. I love you. I really do but..."

  "But what?!" He shouted and turned sharply. "What Alice?! Is there something I should know?"

  I heaved a deep breath and turned around. I wasn't ready to tell him about my father's kids. This will break his heart.

  "Alice..."

  "N-nothing." My legs trembled with heaviness. How am I to tell him that it was my stepfather that got me pregnant? No. No, I can't do this.

  "Well, if you're not ready to talk, you might as well leave!" He barked with anger in his eyes.

  "Richard?"

  "Yes, Alice. Leave! The door is open for you."

  I couldn't leave. I had to tell him. "You know, when you left Charlotte, I was really torn apart. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know how to contact you. Never for once did I not think about you, Richard. I longed to see you again, to be in your arms, to tell you how sorry for making you feel not needed. I wanted to tell you everything. But I was scared of doing so. An-and I was so naive -" The lump in my throat couldn't let me continue.

  He drew closer to me and wrapped his arms around me to my surprise. "Dear, Alice," He started and I looked up at him.

  "Wh-what are you...?"

  "Just listen." He hushed and began.

  *Dear, Alice,
     I'm leaving town and I was hoping that you could come with me. Kentucky's an amazing place to be; a place to have a whole wondrous adventure. And above all, one where we can start anew - go to college, be never apart. Mother and father said it was okay if you came along, but I just don't understand why you're making it seem as if I mean nothing to you. Missing you has become a part of my daily life, and you avoiding me isn't helping situations You have no idea what each drop of tear costs and I don't wish for you to know, because the pain I feel is more than you can ever imagine. I miss you so much, Alice, and I hope that some day you will realize how much I have, and will need me as I needed you most.

                    With hurt, 
                             Richard.*

   I really hurt Richard, my heart felt heavy as he read what he wrote in his letter. It was never my intention to hurt him. I only did what I thought was right for. "I'm sorry, Richard. I'm so sorry. I never should have pushed you away." I sobbed uncontrollably in his arms, regretting everything that I'd done. I had to let out the truth and bottle them up no more - it's high time I stopped hiding things from him, I thought inwardly and sniffed. "There's something I need to tell you, Richard. Something I should have told you a long time ago."