Chapter 14 #4
I didn’t continue reading. Tears were running down my face without me realizing when I had started crying.
As I read his messages, I kept recalling what I had seen.
It was impossible that it was a setup; he was with his friend, he had named him when he called while with me, and that friend knew the woman who was accompanying them.
Besides, I had seen how they laughed, including him.
There was no doubt that he was terribly drunk, but for him to make me believe it was a setup, that was really low.
He wasn’t aware that I had seen him personally and that I had followed them to his house, I suppose that’s why he had tried to save the situation by inventing that lie.
I couldn’t believe he was such a bad person. How had I been so wrong about him?
I put the phone on the nightstand and it immediately started ringing. It was Henry. I wasn’t going to answer. At some point he would realize that he couldn’t keep insisting, that I no longer believed his words. I turned it off again.
I rested my head on the pillow trying to sleep, but my mind wouldn’t stop thinking about him and what had happened.
I couldn’t stop longing for his body when making love to him, sleeping next to him, his warmth, his kisses, his caresses, and even his laughter.
When Henry laughed, the whole place lit up.
I shook my head from side to side, denying it.
I had to make an effort and do my part to forget him.
It was time to put things in order, to take control of my feelings and emotions. It was time to turn the page.
I don’t know if it was the jet lag or the anguish that was tormenting me, but that night passed very slowly and I could barely get any sleep.
When I woke up it was nine o’clock and my friend had already gone to the university. I got up and found a note from him on the table.
I didn’t wake you because you were sleeping like a log.
There’s coffee ready, I made it strong just how I know you like it.
There’s lasagna for your lunch or you can prepare something or go out to eat.
There are very good restaurants and cafés nearby where they serve excellent coffee.
I’ll be back around five. If you need anything don’t hesitate to call me.
Turn on your phone. I love having you with me. Sean
I smiled reading the note; being with him gave me the peace I needed during these days.
After breakfast, I put on comfortable clothes and went out to explore the area.
The neighborhood was one of the most popular in Paris.
I walked leisurely, taking in all its charms. The area was distinguished by its elegant hotels, mansions that preserved the charm of previous centuries, its small cobblestone streets, and its carefully maintained aesthetics.
After walking for a while, I ended up at Place des Vosges, one of the most beautiful and iconic squares in France.
In the center of the square, the gardens, of great beauty, invited you to take a rest, so I sat there, connected my AirPods and started listening to one of my playlists.
“Fire on Fire” by Sam Smith began to play.
I don’t know if it was the romantic music that softened my heart, but I went to Henry’s messages and continued reading the ones I still hadn’t opened.
“I’m at the hotel. Come to the lobby”
“I’m going up to your office”
Between that last message and the next one there was a difference of more than an hour.
I remembered the fight he had with Bastián and imagined that, if he had gone to my office, the confrontation would have been during that time.
Imagining them fighting made me shudder.
It hurt. It hurt that they had hurt each other, it hurt that everything had ended like this.
For a few minutes I stopped reading and observed the people walking by.
I noticed that several of them were looking at me intently, and at that moment, I realized I was crying.
I wiped away my tears angrily; I didn’t want to cry.
The song “Somewhere Only We Know” by the English band Keane began to play. The beautiful song made me think about everything I had experienced with him; it had been a short time, but without a doubt it had been intense. One part of the lyrics says “This could be the end of everything”.
“This could be the end of everything,” I said out loud, and I thought about our ending. I had imagined that our relationship had an expiration date, but I never imagined that we would end this way, with lies, betrayal, and disrespect.
I went back to the messages and continued reading. I knew they would only cause me more sadness and anger, but at some point I had to do it.
The next one was a voice message. I listened to it:
“You left me…you didn’t believe me. I can understand your distrust, but I think I deserve for you to hear my version.
However, you left without listening to it.
I’m not guilty, I never cheated on you. I don’t know how it happened, but we were set up, me by being drugged and you by being sent those photos.
I also know that you saw me, your brother told me.
I’m sorry about all this, but I’m not the traitor.
If at some point you want to hear what I have to say, I’ll be here willing to explain it to you”
His voice sounded subdued and sad like I had never heard it before, and it also sounded sincere. Could it be that he was telling the truth? But his friend knew the woman, I saw them greeting each other. I didn’t understand anything.
Again tears blurred my vision. Could someone really do something so cruel?
I read some of the following text messages:
“Where have you gone?”
“Is this how our relationship ends?”
“I just ask you to listen to me
Answer the phone, please”
I dropped the phone and began to cry bitterly.
I covered my face with my hands and cried out everything I had been holding inside without trying to contain the tears, I let the anguish invade me and come out forcefully.
And to think I believed I had already shed enough tears and that he didn’t deserve me crying anymore, as if I could stop them!
I don’t know if the people near me noticed, but no one approached.
I ended up with red eyes from crying and a heart shattered by grief.
Time passed, but I didn’t notice, I forgot that I was sitting in a square, I forgot everything except Henry and his words.
It was the sound of the phone that brought me back to reality.
It was him. It was clear that we needed to talk; at that moment I doubted everything.
I picked up the phone with trembling hands and answered his call.
“Henry,” I said, trying to keep my voice from revealing the anguish I felt.
“Dalina... it’s good to hear your voice,” he affirmed, with a weary voice.
“I just listened to your voice message.”
“I know. Where are you?”
“That doesn’t matter.”
“It matters to me. I want to see you.”
“I’m not in the country, I went on a trip.”
“So it’s true... your brother told me, but I didn’t believe him. I thought you were simply hiding from me.”
“We don’t lie.”
“Neither do I, Dalina. Do you understand what happened or do you still not believe me?”
“There are things I still don’t understand,” I admitted honestly.
We remained silent for a few endless seconds until he spoke again.
“You still don’t trust me,” he stated, but his voice wasn’t that of an offended or angry person, it was that of a sad one.
“It’s not easy to trust you after what I saw.”
“Help me understand, tell me what you saw,” he asked.
“I saw you leaving the bar with your arm around that woman and your friend, the one who called you when you were with me.”
“Waylon was at the bar because I went with him and another friend. But how do you know Waylon?” he asked.
“I didn’t know him, but I heard when the woman mentioned his name while thanking him, I assume she was thanking him for his help because he was the one who got you into the car.
That’s what I don’t understand, Henry. If you were with your friends, how can you tell me that someone set you up?
Are you saying your friends set you up? Why would they do something like that?
I don’t understand,” I said, shaking my head.
“I didn’t understand anything either, but since I remembered I was with them, I called them both.
Lisandro couldn’t provide much information because he left as soon as that scammer arrived, but Waylon helped me a bit more because he stayed with us until we left.
You need to understand that when the woman came to our table, I was already drugged, they probably put the drug in the drink I ordered when I arrived, but my friends thought I was drunk, though I don’t know how those idiots didn’t realize I never get drunk on just one beer, they’re useless.
Anyway, the woman came to our table and introduced herself as Dalina, my girlfriend. ”
“What?”
“My friends knew about my relationship with you, but they didn’t know you, so they believed that woman was you.
She not only pretended to be you, she kept giving me alcohol until I couldn’t even stand up and told my friend not to worry because she was going to my house to stay with me.
That’s why Waylon helped her get me to the car.
The car keys and house keys were with me, so it wasn’t difficult for her to take them.
After that, I have no idea what happened because I don’t remember anything, but I know she entered my house because she stole several things and my wallet. ”
“I can’t believe it...”
“I’ve already filed a report, they haven’t found her, but it won’t be difficult because there are cameras that recorded her and there are photographs.”
“I also received several photographs of her in your house... you’re both naked in your bed.”