Chapter 28
Ariel
I thought I knew pain before. All those times Greg would punch or hit me. Beat me up until I was on the verge of death. None of that compare to the pain I’m in right now. My heart feels like it was ripped right from my chest. My baby is gone. All the dreams I had for us are gone. All the hope I was filled with before is gone. There is nothing but pain and darkness.
The cops came by to say that Greg was getting arrested for assault and murder, and I felt nothing. I should feel piece. He’s finally going to where he belongs. But I feel nothing.
Teddy came by a couple more times. I should’ve felt hurt, angry, confused when seeing him. But I felt nothing.
Mr. Andrews and Veronica came by and pretty much demanded I move back to the ranch. I should’ve felt annoyed, upset, and argued that I didn’t want to go back. But I felt nothing.
I was told I can go home tomorrow, and I couldn’t care less. All I can think is that I wish I would’ve died too. I wish I was dead. At least that way I’d still be with my baby girl.
When Veronica takes me back to the ranch, I head straight to my old room and lay in bed. I have no energy to do anything else. Veronica tries to get me to eat, but I refuse. I just want to lay down and do nothing. When I have to use the bathroom, it takes everything in me to get up and go.
Five days later, Teddy finally forces me to get up and take a walk. He seems surprised that I don’t fight not to go with him. “Veronica says you refuse to eat. I think you may eat if it’s at your favorite restaurant.” He says as we walk up to a Chipotle. I find myself feeling shocked. First emotion I’ve felt in a while. He smiles at my expression. “After I pushed you away and caused you to leave. I got in my head that you might come back if I put your favorite restaurant on the ranch. This used to be an old ranch restaurant with farm fresh food. It hasn’t been used in years. A couple days after you left, I contacted the CEO of Chipotle and convinced him to have one here. I showed him the amount of people coming to the ranch every day, and after he visited himself, he agreed.” I almost smile at his pure insanity, but I refuse to let myself. He walks me in, and at the counter, there’s an order waiting for us. He pulls out my go to order. He remembered my favorite thing to get. Even after all these months. My heart starts to feel a little something, but I stop it. I can’t forgive him. Not after everything he said. I’m not even in a position to fall in love again. I thank him, and eat the burrito, but right after I go back to my room. Back to my bed. Back to feeling nothing.
For the next week, once a day a bag of my favorite foods shows up with a handwritten letter from Teddy.