As the steam fills the air, my walls go up. Who the fuck does he think I am? Some pushover? Has he met me? Maybe that's who I’ve become with him. Someone who lets her fiancé cheat on her and turns a blind eye. No fucking way! I’m going to pack my stuff tonight and I’m out of here. What have I got to stay for anyway? I've got no life here now. He was my world. Over the last six years, my friendships have dwindled down, and I didn’t care, because I had him. He was my best friend. How wrong was I. Now I have nothing, no friends, no job, no Jessie.
Chapter One
Elena
Sweat beads on my forehead. I wipe it away with the back of my hand as I roll on the last stroke of paint. I’m done! I drop the roller in the tray underneath me and jump off the ladder, stretching my arms over my head. My back is killing me. I need to book in a massage this week, if I can make it out of my safety zone of my parents’ house. I take a step back so I can inspect my handiwork. Much better!
The dark blue my childhood room was painted in, from my moody teenage days, was just depressing. When I was a teenager this room was my sanctuary from the bitches I was dealing with at school. A place to look up at the little glowing stars I had all over the ceiling and dream about how awesome my future was going to be as an interior stylist when I got out of this town.
It was also a place to think of him, the boy that filled my dreams, the one I wanted so badly but could never really have. He was perfect. Not just because he was six-foot-two with abs of steel, the cheekiest smile you have ever seen, and grey eyes like silvery moons that twinkled with mischief, but because he was my hero. From the day we started high school, he was there looking out for me. No matter how bad things got, he was always there to stick up for me. Without him and my brother Drew, I wouldn’t have made it through high school.
It's weird being back in this room. It brings back all the feelings from the past. The ones I had buried long ago. I was so busy with my life in Sydney, I had almost forgotten how obsessed I was with him... Almost.
The last three months have taken a toll on me emotionally, and I have spent way too much time in this room locked away from reality, just thinking. I thought I would be able to pick myself back up and get on with my life, no problem, but even leaving the house has become a challenge. The more time I spend in here, the harder it is to leave.
Today is a new day, and I’ve woken up with renewed purpose. I'm not feeling sorry for myself anymore. Today is the first day of my new, more exciting life, so why not start with a room makeover. I think my parents were glad to see a glimpse of the old me coming back to life. An hour after I announced to them that I was making over my room, my dad was there with a tin of paint, paintbrush, and roller.
It's now an off-white which is perfect with the rustic beach-coloured timber floor. I spent the morning online shopping, and I’ve ordered a new bedroom suite and white linen bedding. I splashed out and got the most gorgeous handmade jute rug that will finish off the room perfectly, and some pop art for the walls to add a splash of colour. I’ve probably overspent, but I figure I deserve it under the circumstances.
When the money came through from Jessie buying me out of our apartment, I had enough to do whatever I wanted. The rest I will save for starting my business. It's the most excited I’ve been since I dragged my sorry arse back home to my parents’ place in Byron Bay three months ago.
Not quite where I thought I would be at 25, back at home starting all over again. I was supposed to be getting married this weekend, but I’m not letting that get me down anymore. The way I see it, this was just a sign that my life with Jessie was going to be shit and I’m better off without him. That's what I keep telling myself anyway. That is until I jump on Facebook and see all my friends’ perfect lives. If I see one more happy post from someone I went to high school with, saying how terrific their job is or that they just got engaged or their awesome new house is ready to move into, I'll be sick. I haven’t even bothered to call any of them. I know I should maybe attempt to get out of this house, but it's too embarrassing.
Maybe my life being turned upside down just when I thought it was all coming together is punishment for being such a terrible teenager. I have to watch everyone else live their best lives while mine has completely turned to shit. Man, I was an awful teenager. When I look back at the way I acted towards my parents, it would not have been a fun time for them. Just another reason I’m not having kids of my own anytime soon. If they turned out anything like me, I'd be screwed.
I’m one of three kids. The only girl, with a twin brother Drew and an older brother Theo. I always kind of felt
