To Hate My Stepbrother

Ava’s POV

Getting home, I opened my door to the familiar scent of my home and I was also greeted with Miss Lucy’s purr. That seemed to be the only comforting thing around my house.

Sinking into the couch, I couldn’t help but think about how I’d bumped into Mason again after all these years.

Why does it have to be now? Why’d I run into him now of all time?

I was just starting to heal and he had to show up now, him showing up would mess with me and I knew it. Groaning, I covered my face with my palm as I rested my back on the couch while my cat laid on my lap.

He looked just as handsome as I remembered, shaking my head, I tried to get the thought of him out of it but nothing I tried worked.

His face kept popping up in my head and I just couldn’t help but smile sadly at how he looked. He was talking about being hurt but he seemed fine and as though he had his life together already.

After three years, he still remembered how I enjoyed my coffee, “gosh!” I sighed amidst my grins as I stood to walk to the kitchen.

My fridge looked empty but I was still able to fix dinner for myself and I also fed Miss Lucy. The blaring sound of my phone ringing jolted me out of my thoughts and I picked it up.

“Hey, Ava. How are you doing?” My mum’s voice came from over the phone and I shut my eyes in utter frustration.

I wasn’t in the mood to talk, I just wanted to be left alone instead of being talked to.

“I just want to know how you’re feeling and if you remembered to eat and take your meds like you’re supposed to.” Her voice came again after a while and I figured that it was because I hadn’t said anything.

“I’m tired.” I managed to let out before hanging up and retiring to bed with my cat curled up beside me. Pulling her closer to me, I held on to her tightly before letting the tears flow freely.

Managing to open my eyes, I groaned at the intensity of my headache and how bright the room was. Placing one hand on my head, I buried my face in the pillow for a while before standing up.

I walked to the mirror and I saw the eye bags underneath my eyes had gotten bigger and even my dark circles are now darker.

Checking the time, I sighed when I realized that I’d overslept so it would be of no use for me to head to work now.

I had no appetite for food and forcing myself, I emptied my cat’s litter before refilling her bowl with food again and I headed to the kitchen to make myself a cup of coffee.

Finally getting to pick up my phone, I saw a few texts from Mason but I deleted it all before even reading it. It’s been years and for my sanity and health the best I can do is to ignore him.

I’ve made up my mind already to not have any form of intimacy or bond with him as that would not only be the right thing to do but it’ll be better for me and would also help me move forward.

My phone chimed again and the text that appeared on my phone made my heart sink. It was from the lawyer that helped me with my divorce and he’d texted as regards to his balance.

How will I be able to keep up with all of this? When will I ever get to live the kind of life I thought for myself?

Closing my eyes, the playback of the day I met my ex husband played in my head and I couldn’t help but think about how we met and dated.

I wasn’t ready for a relationship but I decided to try it out anyway and hoped it would help me in forgetting about Mason. We got married and I should’ve seen all of the signs right from the moment we got married.

The day went by quickly and I went back to bed miserably. I barely lived or even did anything fun other than to drink coffee and take naps.

***

The sound that came from my bedside alarm jolted me out of my sleep and I got up to get ready for work.

“The boss asked me to hand this over to you.” The lady at the desk announced immediately I walked into the building and I reluctantly collected the paper from her and opened it.

It was a letter from my superior and I’d just gotten fired for being incompetent. I didn’t read the rest of the content when I crumpled the paper and threw it away.

“Son of a bitch.” I whispered as I walked back out of the building, my head was spinning and I didn’t need a soothsayer to tell me that I got fired because of my ex husband.

I know he’s the one who’d implemented my firing because he works in the same company but in a way higher position and whatever suggestion he offers is taken into consideration.

God, how am I going to be able to live without a job now?

I had a lot of debts that needed to be cleared off and worst my rent will be due in a few weeks and I have no idea or way to pay for it since I’m jobless now.

Dejected, I walked back home, sunk into the couch as I cried. Why does everything have to be difficult for me?

What have I done to deserve all of this? This isn’t the fairytale or close to fairytale kind of life I pictured for myself.

Clutching the pillow tightly, I cried as I thought about how wrong my life has been going and there’s nothing I have been able to do to make it right.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.