10

8

arturo

I made my way to my apartment balcony, my head feeling like it was splitting open. My whole body on fire, as tears continued falling down my cheeks. Unable to shake Sofia from my damn mind. Unable to stop thinking about her.

I looked out at the city skyline. The tall skyscrapers, the river, the roaring engines, the wind lapping in my face, the bright lights, the city life.

After all these years…

I'd learnt to forget Sofia.

Learnt to live without her.

I thought that I was doing well on my own…

Helping with my brothers businesses.

Helping my Pops in his retirement.

Making my Mom proud…

But the truth was…

There had always been a void within me.

A void that hadn't been filled.

A void that only Sofia could fill.

I thought that I was fine…

But seeing her again now,

Looking hotter than ever,

Married and doing well for herself…

Was just reminding me of what we could have been.

Reminding me of how much I'd lost.

Reminding me that I couldn't keep such a phenomenal woman.

Her being here in the city…

The beautiful, busy city of London.

The city where all my memories lay…

Was screwing with my mind to the point of no return.

Was it selfish of me to want her to be mine again?

To wonder what would have happened for us…

If we were still together?

I didn't know.

All I knew was that her husband wasn't going to stand in my way…

I let out a sigh, folding my arms as soft rain started to pour over the city. Pit-pattering onto my face and my naked chest.

I wondered if her husband was treating her right.

I wondered what she'd been up to after all of this time…

I wondered if she ever really lost feelings for me.

I couldn't forget the smile that she always had on her face.

Whenever she looked at me…

Whenever I made her laugh.

The way that her body would tremble underneath my touch…

When we'd skip a university lecture to drive down to the beach…

And I'd run my fingers down her back while we both gazed at the skyline.

The way all it took was kisses to make her moan and whimper.

Begging me for more…

But knowing that she couldn't.

Because our time was always cut short…

She'd run back home to her parents.

We never went all the way…

Never slept together.

Just thinking about her would get me all hot and bothered…

My chest heaved upwards and downwards as I ran my hands through my hair exhaustedly.

I was going to need to do some digging about her husband.

But for now…

I had a ball to get ready for.

I didn’t want to go, but Riccardo kept insisting on it…

And I needed to keep my mind off of Sofia somehow, anyway.

9

sofia

“Are you ready for the ball yet, Sofia?” Bruce called out. “We need to leave.”

I made some finishing touches to my make-up, before I walked into the living room, my heels click-clacking on the floor.

“I'm ready, Bruce,” I sighed.

Bruce scrunched his face as soon as he saw me, and stormed over to me, anger written all over him.

“W - what's wrong?” I stammered shakily. “Is the dress not nice?”

“What were you thinking, Sofia?” Bruce roared. “The cleavage is so fucking inappropriate. Don't you know that your parents will be at the ball?!”

I felt my face fall, my heart hammering against my chest. Feeling upset and miserable all over again.

“They will be giving my father a headache if you turn up to the dance looking like this!” Bruce spat bitterly.

I was tired of being Bruce’s lap-dog. Now, he was making me so angry, that I couldn’t even hide how pissed off I was anymore. With the way that he spoke to me and treated me. I had to defend myself.

“Why are you never satisfied with anything I do?” I shouted angrily. “If you have such a fucking problem, why did you marry me?!”

I screamed bloody murder, not able to hide the rage inside of me. My blood boiling to the point it almost dried up.

I was so sick of this.

So damn fucking sick of this.