THE FORGOTTEN LUNA

ADESSA.

I was staring at the ceiling, even if I couldn’t see anything in the darkness. Kael was snoring beside me. It was louder than usual, probably because he was too drunk.

I knew I should get up and leave his bed because he might not like it if he saw me beside him. However, a part of me wanted to stay because what happened between us gave me hope.

He couldn’t remember me, but his body surely knew how to move against mine.

Kael would always start slowly and carefully in our lovemaking. Then, he would amp up his pace and take me wildly. He knew all the right places to touch me, and he knew all the right words to say to make me whimper in ecstasy. And he did all of that tonight.

I think I should stay and sleep beside him.

I couldn’t wipe the smile on my face even after I closed my eyes and hugged him tightly. He purred softly before he turned to his side, facing me and wrapping his arms around me, tucking my head under his chin as he would usually do.

It had been too long since he hugged me, and I knew I would definitely have a good sleep tonight. So I let his warmth envelope me, cocooning me to sleep.

…….

“Aaah…” Kael’s grunts woke me up.

My eyes snapped open, and my body immediately jolted. I sat up to look at him. Fear coursed through me because I remembered he was in a coma, and I thought he was having a seizure until everything that happened in the last 24 hours sank in.

My eyes darted to the clock on one of the shelves, and I saw it was already three in the morning.

His eyes were closed. It looked like he was dreaming.

“Aaah…” He continued moaning, and sweat was forming on his forehead. His groans sound so sexual, like the one he would let out when we were having sex.

Is he having wet dreams?

I raised the blanket and peered inside, letting the light of the moon cascading from the window light up the area I wanted to see. I was right — he was sporting a hard erection.

A smile curled on my lips before my eyes widened because, suddenly, his fingers wrapped around his manhood. He kept groaning as he began moving his hand up and down.

The sight and sound coming from him caused tingles to spread throughout my thighs. It excited me, but before I could decide what to do next, he mumbled something.

A name.

And it wasn’t mine.

“Desiree…” It was so low, but enough for me to hear and enough for me to freeze.

My mouth hung open as I dropped the blanket I was holding, and I inched backward on my butt, away from his side. My lips quivered as I stared at him.

“Desiree..” He repeated.

I didn’t hear him wrong. He was moaning her name.

My heart shattered as my eyes watered. I carefully got out of bed and picked up my clothes, which Kael tossed everywhere around the room before slipping them on. I didn’t even give him a second look as I walked out of the room and headed for mine.

So many thoughts were running through my head while my body moved on its own, grabbing every private belonging that I planned to take with me and stuffed them inside my small luggage.

I made a fool of myself again.

Why did I ever think he enjoyed having sex with me last night? I was so lost in my own ecstasy that I didn’t notice he didn’t even once utter my name while we were in the act. All along that he was touching and fucking me, he thought it was Desiree under him and not me.

My tears had stopped falling as the pain in my chest was replaced by anger.

I had no one to blame but me. I kept living in my own fantasy that one day, Kael would fall in love with me. He didn’t when he knew everything about me, so why did I think he would when he couldn’t remember me?

I didn’t know what to think anymore. All I knew was I was a victim of a cruel game or circumstances.

I looked around the room, making sure it was as tidy as when I came in, before I walked out of the door and through the corridor.

I trod down the stairs and along the hallways of the house, which had witnessed the smiles and laughter that I shared with him. Even our random fights were a memory to behold.

The one year wasn’t bad. It just wasn’t meant to last forever.

My heart was heavy, but I knew I didn’t want to stay here anymore.

Before Kael, I was on my own, and I managed to survive. I could do it again. I learned a lot during my stay, and I was grateful for that. I learned to be confident in my skin and not let anyone take advantage of me. I will make sure to put it to good use.

It was the same reason I needed to leave. I would not let him and Desiree, or even Miranda, make fun of me.

I tilted my head up and refused to shed more tears, nor did I give in to looking around. I didn’t want more memories clouding my head. I should focus on making new memories.

I didn’t bother to call a cab, as I knew there were many passing by even at this hour, as Kael made sure transportation was accessible 24/7 for those who didn’t have cars or the capacity to drive.

I would have to walk around 200 meters to get to the next taxi stop, but I didn’t mind. I needed air. I needed to breathe.

I had no idea where I would go from here. The apartment owner I spoke with this morning could give me the key to his vacant room in three days as he was out on vacation. So, in the meantime, I needed to find a hostel where I could stay.

I didn’t have so much money with me. I only had cash as I didn’t take my cards. I left them all in Kael’s office before I went to bed. I also left the wedding ring that he gave me on his table, as it was his family’s heirloom. It was his mother’s before he gave it to me on our wedding day.

I was still halfway away from the taxi stop when the sound of screeching tires reached my ears.

I immediately jumped out of the way and into the bushes because it felt like it was heading my way. I hissed loudly as I landed on my butt, and at the same time, a black van stopped a few inches from where I was standing earlier.

I pushed my body up from the ground despite the pain I felt. I was about to knock on the car’s door when it slid open, and before I knew it, I was pulled in, and I landed on someone’s body.

I struggled and screamed, but I guess it didn’t help as the door was already shut, and my hands were immediately bound on my back before a cloth was tied around my mouth, suppressing me from making any sounds.