Page 48 of Chasing Hope
“Sorry, Evie, but I don’t believe you.”
With shaking hands, I find the courage to stand up for myself. “Then you’re dead to me,” I whisper before ending the call.
The moment the phone disconnects, the weight of everything that transpired hits me at once. My knees give way, my body falling, and before I can try and gain control of myself, a startled, shocked sob breaks free.
Disgust coils within my stomach along with such unending pain, the heaviness of it drags me under. Her words are rocks tethered to my ankles, my final undoing. I’m pulled into the depths of the ocean and I fear I’ll never breech the surface for air again.
The sound of the patio door opening behind me isn’t enough to rouse me from my despair. Nothing can stop the ringing of my ears. Nothing will ever be able to erase those seven words from my mind.
It’s stuck.
On an endless loop.
Sorry, Evie, but I don’t believe you.
The last shred of my heart that was beating, that was clinging to life with everything it had, dies, and all it took was those seven words.
“Dove? What happened?”
Matteo’s voice is full of concern. It even sounds as if he’s hurting just seeing me in pain. But I can’t tell him. I can’t tell anyone.
Because look at what happens when I do.
My mother, who I thought would protect me forever, doesn’t believe me. My supposed best friend and partner betrayed me.
No one believes me.
The steps forward I made today in feeling like myself again crumble like ash in the wind.
Matteo is suddenly behind me on the balcony floor, wrapping his arms around me and cocooning me. He runs a hand down my hair, trying to whisper soothing words, but he can’t fix this. Even my mother calling me back and apologizing wouldn’t fix this. She can’t take back the words she said, and I don’t think I can ever forgive her for it.
I don’t think I should.
“It’s okay, Dove. I’ve got you. Just breathe.”
But he doesn’t have me. He’s holding a shell of who I used to be, and he doesn’t understand that until I choke out through my tears, “She just clipped my wings.”
Chapter 13
Matteo
One Day Later
Ipoke my head into Evie’s bedroom. It’s still pitch black, the curtains firmly shut. “I cooked your favorite—lasagna. Would you like some?”
“No, thank you,” Evie croaks, not moving from the cocoon she created for herself in the sheets.
My throat is thick, my heart heavy as I look into her dead, lifeless eyes.
The spark that had rekindled has officially been snuffed out.
There is no longer any light within Evie Ellington.
Chapter 14
Matteo
Two days Later
