he can utter another word, I turn to make my escape. I’m done with this, done with life. I feel nothing but void. Andrew Black has won, and I never expected anything less, no matter how hard I tried to believe otherwise.
“Get your stuff,” Wyatt growls. “I don’t want your skanky arse back here.”
I stop, resting one arm over the car door, and turn to him, not really seeing him. “It doesn’t matter. None of it does. The only thing that mattered was the figurine you smashed. But like everything else in my life, it’s gone.”
“Get your stuff, Evelyn,” he grits out, and I flinch, feeling that name to my soul. I hate it when I’m called by my full name and he knows it. He just didn’t know the reason. Andrew was the one who took that away from me too.
I see the sliver of doubt in his eyes when I blank him, getting into my car. I don’t try to turn in the carpark but instead reverse out, spinning at the end of the road to face the main road out.
Once I’m out of sight, I pull over to the side of the road, and through the tears I grab my phone, typing out a text to Rebecca.
EVIE: Andrew beat me here. I don’t know why or what he said, but they hate me. I can’t do this anymore. He’s won, Becca. He always does, and I’m tired of fighting him.
Turning my phone off, I then throw it down on the passenger seat before pulling back onto the road. I have a destination in mind.
When a girl loses the love of her life, whether that be from a break-up or from death, she needs her mum. Every girl does. And right now, I just want her to hug me and tell me everything is going to be okay. That won’t happen, but I’ll take just being in her presence right now. My heart is shredded.
I’m stupid. So unbelievably fucking stupid. I knew Wyatt would be mad, even furious, but I expected him to hear me out, to love me enough to listen.
I wipe at my eyes once more when the tears cloud my vision as I pull into the care home car park.
It’s full since visiting hours have started. I find a spot towards the back, next to the river. It’s the same river that goes under the bridge we drive over to get to the care home.
I shiver as I get out of the car, still feeling frozen from my interaction with Wyatt. I close my eyes, giving myself a moment before heading towards the entrance, not meeting anyone’s gaze as I do.
Family members walk around to the side entrance, but I bypass them, going straight to the reception area since I’ll need permission to go in. I’m not in the mood to be denied and there is no way I’m going to leave here without seeing her. It has been too long. I have tried twice since my last visit when Wyatt accompanied me, but they turned me away each time. Now, I’m not in the mood to listen to their bullshit. I’ll barge my way through if I have to.
Lucy, one of the nicer receptionists, doesn’t look wary like she normally does when she sees my face. She’s one of the ones who hates the confrontation, and if I had to guess, she doesn’t like turning me away. She is the only one who seems to have a caring bone in her body, and she is wasted in a soul sucking place like this. However, seeing her watching me with confusion and concern… a tingle shoots up my spine.
Did Andrew make do on his promise and hurt my mum?
“Before you tell me no, I’m going to straight out tell you to ring the police to escort me out because there is no other way I’m leaving without seeing her.” I take a deep breath, feeling more tears gather. “I need her.”
My gut clenches at her pitying stare.
“Let me call Mrs Ballenger.”
I reach out, gripping the edge of the high desk area. “No. Please, just let me see her.”
She scans the room before standing, leaning in closer. “I’m really sorry, Miss Wilson, but your mother passed away five days ago.”
I take two steps away from the desk, shaking my head. There is a roaring, ringing sound in my ears and I can’t make out what she is saying.
“No!” I whisper, slumping forward.
“I’m sorry, I assumed you