Five Years, Without Meaning

I woke up with my head still feeling heavy. My vision was blurry for a moment, before finally adjusting to the bright white light in this room. The distinctive smell of antiseptic immediately filled my sense of smell. Hospital?

I blinked my eyes, trying to get up slowly. The pain in my head immediately struck, making me groan softly. I looked around, searching for someone. But, there was no one here. No Damien, no Selene.

My heart raced as the door to the room opened and a nurse walked in. The woman smiled kindly as soon as she saw me awake.

"Good news, you're awake. How are you feeling?" she asked gently as she checked the IV in my arm.

I swallowed, my throat feeling dry. "Who brought me here?" I asked curiously.

The nurse frowned for a moment, before smiling again. "There was a man and woman who said they found you on the side of the road. They didn't recognize you." She replied with a smile.

I froze.

"But," the nurse continued in a casual tone, "I did hear the woman call her boyfriend Damien." She said while tidying up the medical equipment she was carrying.

My whole body felt stiff instantly. I didn't know how to react. As if I had just been stabbed in the back, I could only stare at the nurse blankly.

So, Damien brought me here, but didn't even acknowledge who I was to him? He left me for dead after what happened?

I bit my lip, holding back the sob that was about to break out. The nurse seemed to notice the change in my expression but said nothing. After finishing her brief examination, she walked away, leaving me alone in this room.

And once the door closed, I couldn't hold back my tears anymore.

Damien was gone from me.

I took a deep breath, trying to control myself. This was enough. I wasn't going to stay any longer in a relationship that was unwanted by the person who was supposed to love me.

With trembling hands, I reached for my cell phone on the small table beside the bed. My fingers moved quickly to search for the one name I hadn't called in a long time.

Lucas.

It doesn't take long before the line connects.

"Hello, Lucas," I said in a shaky voice, fighting back tears.

"Althea?" Lucas' voice sounded worried from the other side. "What's wrong with you? You sound strange."

"I'm in the hospital," I said quietly, trying to keep my voice steady. "Can you pick me up?"

There was an annoyed sigh from Lucas. "Sure. I'll be right there."

I hung up the phone and wiped away the tears that still lingered on my cheeks. I had to get out of here. I got off the bed, pressed the emergency button, and asked the nurse to come and remove my IV and Lucas would be the guarantor.

After Lucas arrives and takes care of the hospital paperwork, I ask him not to take me straight to his place. There was one thing I had to do first.

"Are you sure you want to go back there?" asked Lucas in a disapproving tone, as soon as I said I wanted to go back home for a while.

"I'm just going to get my essentials. I don't want to be there any longer," I replied firmly while looking Lucas in the face with conviction.

Lucas's face seemed to look annoyed but eventually nodded. "Alright. I'll wait in the car."

Once I got home, I entered cautiously. I knew Damien wasn't here. It was evident from Selene's post that she was eating dinner. It was better because I didn't want to meet him.

Quickly, I grabbed the essentials, clothes, documents, and a few other personal items. I didn't bring much. I just wanted to leave as quickly as possible, before Damien returned.

As my hand reached for the small suitcase, my eyes unconsciously caught our wedding photo that was still hanging on the wall. I looked closer, staring at my happy smiling face beside Damien. It was like looking at memories that no longer belonged to me.

Without thinking, I took the photo off the wall and placed it on the bed. I didn't need to carry it with me. It no longer meant anything to me.

My eyes, unbidden, gaze down at my hand, looking at the ring that's still on my ring finger. The ring that Damien had given me in our simple proposal, with the promise that he would always love me and take care of me.

A promise that now feels empty.

With trembling hands, I slowly remove the ring. It hurts more than I imagined as if I'm letting go of a part of myself. But, I must not be weak.

Without hesitation, I placed the ring on the table, leaving it there as a symbol of the end.

"We're done, Damien. Enjoy your life with Selene," I said as I took a firm step.

I walked out of the room and closed the door without looking back. My feet move quickly towards Lucas' car.