Chapter 19: chapter 19
Julie
Slamming my bedroom door shut, I twisted the lock, shutting myself away from the chaotic emotions that echoed in the hallway. My mother's frantic pleas outside were like distant echoes in my stormy mind. "Go away! Leave me alone!" I shouted, unleashing the pent-up frustration that had been building within me.
The knocking persisted, and in my fit of rage, I flung the door open, ready to confront my mom again. But to my surprise, it wasn't her standing there; it was my dad. His eyes glowed with a mixture of anger and disdain, unleashing a level of hatred I hadn't seen before.
"Give me your phone, all your cards, and the house keys," he demanded, his tone cold and unyielding. I reluctantly handed over my belongings, feeling the weight of his disappointment. "You'll get them back when I see fit. Consider this a lesson."
"Dad, you can't just take everything away from me! I'm not sixteen anymore," I protested, a surge of frustration coursing through me.
"Your actions suggest otherwise," he retorted, a stern expression etched on his face. "Go downstairs, apologize to your mother, and maybe you'll learn some manners. This attitude change needs an explanation."
Suppressing my anger, I muttered a reluctant apology and headed downstairs with my dad trailing behind. Mom was in the kitchen, tears streaming down her face. Guilt gnawed at me as I forced out an apology, "I'm sorry, Mom. I shouldn't have screamed at you. But I won't be part of Sara's wedding; I can't pretend everything's okay."
Retreating back to my room, I overheard noises from Sara's room. Curiosity led me to push open the door, revealing Alex arranging something in a cabinet. My touch on his shoulder startled him, and in a strange turn of events, I stumbled, falling on him, our lips meeting by accident.
Breaking away, I panicked, "I'm so sorry. This didn't mean anything. We should forget it happened." His gaze, however, betrayed a sense of familiarity, a connection beyond the accidental kiss.
In the aftermath of our accidental kiss, a wave of embarrassment washed over me. I attempted to rise, avoiding eye contact, but Alex gently lifted my chin, meeting my gaze with understanding. "Why so shy all of a sudden?" he teased, his eyes holding a spark of curiosity.
My cheeks burned, and my heart raced uncontrollably, convinced that Alex could hear the pounding beats. "Hmm, I'm sorry. I really didn't mean to scare you," he said, a sincere apology in his eyes.
Yet, amid the awkwardness, there was an unsettling sense of familiarity. As I gazed into his eyes, a realization struck me – this felt like more than a random encounter. His touch, his kiss, echoed something deeper, as if I had lived this moment before.
"What are you thinking about, princess?" he inquired with a smile.
Attempting to dismiss the strange sensation, I responded, "Hmm, nothing." But as I tried to break away, Alex pulled me back into another passionate kiss. In that shared moment, the boundaries blurred, and I found myself kissing him back, lost in the intensity of the connection.
He groaned softly as the kiss deepened, our tongues dancing in an unspoken understanding. When we finally parted for air, all I could muster was a breathless "Wow." Alex, locking eyes with me, questioned, "Why do I feel like I've kissed you before?"
Caught in the web of conflicting emotions, I smiled and replied, "Well, then you're not the only one. I sense that familiarity too." Despite the shared acknowledgment, I knew the gravity of the situation. "Let's leave what happened here and act like it didn't. You're my sister's fiancé, and this was a big mistake. Please, let's just forget our lips ever met." With that plea, I rose, attempting to distance myself from the uncharted territory of emotions that lingered in the room.
Attempting to find solace in sleep, I couldn't escape the haunting questions that lingered in the dark corners of my mind. The night stretched on, and as I lay awake, I questioned the chaos of my life, yearning for a moment of peace that seemed eternally elusive.
Despite the late hour, the turmoil within me refused to settle. Thoughts of what transpired, my family's reactions, and the unintended intimacy with Alex circled relentlessly in my mind. The quiet of the night became a canvas for my racing thoughts.
Unable to shake off the chaos, I pondered the unfortunate events that seemed to cascade one after the other. Why was serenity such a distant notion for me? The clock ticked away, each passing second a reminder of the turmoil that dominated my life.
In the solitude of my room, the silence was deafening. I needed an escape, even if only for a few hours. The moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting shadows that danced in tandem with the unsettling rhythm of my thoughts.
As I lay there, I couldn't help but recall the conversation with my mother. Her attempt at an apology echoed in my mind, mingling with the bitterness I harbored for always feeling secondary in the eyes of my family. The words she spoke lingered, creating a tapestry of both pain and fleeting hope.
It wasn't just about being Sara's maid of honor; it was a poignant reminder of the perpetual imbalance that had defined my relationship with my parents. My heart longed for understanding, but my experiences had built walls around it. The tears that escaped in the quiet of the night were unspoken words yearning to be heard.
The echoes of my father's harsh words reverberated in my mind. His disdain was a weapon he wielded effortlessly, a sentiment I could never comprehend. Was I truly the unwanted burden he perceived, or was there a deeper reason for his animosity?
In the midst of my internal struggle, there was a part of me that craved acknowledgment, a yearning for a connection that had eluded me for so long. The complexities of familial ties weighed heavily on my shoulders, and the tears that stained my pillow held the untold stories of a daughter seeking validation.
As the night unfolded, I grappled with a sense of isolation. My room, once a sanctuary, now felt like a prison. The walls, witness to silent struggles and muted screams, seemed to close in on me.
The first light of dawn offered little relief. The events of the night, the strained family dynamics, and the unexpected encounter with Alex left me emotionally drained. The prospect of facing another day, with its uncertainties and unanswered questions, felt like an insurmountable challenge.
The only solace came from the soft breathing of my daughter, Angel, asleep in the adjacent crib. In her innocent slumber, she embodied a beacon of hope, a reminder that amidst the chaos, there was a reason to persist. A video I had recorded on my second phone the one I didn't give to my dad.
With the morning light filtering through the curtains, I braced myself for another day, unsure of what lay ahead. The tumultuous night had left an indelible mark, a poignant chapter in the ongoing saga of my life.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone