27 - Echoes Of Past Pain

“Kyle, what the hell?!” I said walking behind Kyle as he tried to walk away from me, but there was no response from him, he kept walking away and I didn’t think I wanted to let him out of my sight one more time.

“Kyle fucking talk me and don’t walk away.” I went after him desperately and immediately he stopped, turning around to face my crumbling self, my eyes bloodshot because of the alcohol aongside with the pool of tears forming at the corner of my eyes.

“Talk to you about what?” he half yelled, “About how my family is a mess, and my mother hates me?”

“Kyle – ”

“About how my mother resents because I knew my father was cheating and I never told he.r” then he paused and ran his hands through his hair in frustration before looking back at me.

“Or how I actually knew it was wrong but I didn’t tell my mother because for some fucked up reason I wanted to be on my father’s good side, I wanted him to respect me, I wanted him to like me - ”

“You can talk to me about all those Kyle.” I cried and he shot back right away.

“Talk to you - ?” he scoffed, “When you don’t talk to me, you never tell me anything about your family. Why didn’t you tell me your dad was in jail, or that your mom died?” his eyes bored into mine but they weren’t the loving eyes that I remembered, they was a darkness to them that terrified me.

“I – I – don’t know Kyle.”

“Right.” he nodded sarcastically and tried to walk away but I stopped him.

“Don’t walk away from me Kyle – ”

“What are you fighting for Aria? I just kissed some random ass girl that I met at this fucking party – I cheated, so what the bloody hell are you fighting for?”

The tears were dropping endlessly from my eyes as he said those words and the realization was slowly dawning on me, “You did that on purpose, didn’t you? You wanted to get caught.”

Kyle smirked, but it wasn’t a kind that was mocking, it looked more like a mask to hide whatever he was truly feeling because I couldn’t tell through the blurriness in my eyes that the tears had caused, “Oh you caught me.” his voice dripped sarcasm and I felt the annoyance run through my spine that I wanted the smack the shit out of him but I managed to stay composed even though I was desperate, even though my heart kept pounding in fear that I was losing him, that he was purposely slipping away from me and there was nothing I could do to stop him.

“You’re spiraling, you’re doing exactly what your mom said and it’s unfair – don’t fucking treat me like that Kyle – I’m not some random girl you just met.”

I seemed to see the internal turmoil in his eyes, but he blinked it away just as soon as it was going to register and he closed his eyes taking a few steps away from me.

“I can’t do this anymore – ”

“No Kyle – ” I reached out to grab his hair or something but there was nothing to hold unto because Kyle was slipping away from me and the pain stuck in my throat that I was unable to breathe.

“We’re done.” he said finally before walking away from me and my chest seized in pain, my eyes blurred instantly and my feet wobbled and I wondered if it was from the alcohol or my own broken heart. I could feel the iciness spreading throughout my entire being, the pain reaching out to grab me by my throat and constricting my air that I staggered backwards. I stayed in that position for a few minutes with the tears streaming down my face until Sam found me and with one look on my face – she knew.

PRESENT

ARIA’S POV

I woke up the next morning feeling a lot better than I did last night, after Kyle had hurriedly dropped me at home I had spent a good portion of the night preparing for my pitch and another good portion daydreaming about Kyle and how good we looked dressed like we were getting married. I could only think about the sparkle in his eyes when he saw me, the admiration that tainted them and his soft hands finding ways to caress my skin every chance he got. I giggled to myself like a fool as I whipped out my phone to stare at some of the pictures that Orion had sent to me and I sent Kyle a picture with the caption

*‘Don’t we look so good together.’*

I stared at my phone, at our chat box expecting a quick response from him but nothing came through just the silence echoing back at me and I dropped my phone instantly and tried to concentrate instantly on my pitch the next day. Some seconds later, I fished for my phone again but there was still no response from him, instead I decided to text Sam because we hadn’t talked since the dinner we all had together and I was even yet to tell her about Shawn ending it with me

“Hey stranger.” I texted, it was our go-to-term when we hadn’t talked to each other in a while.

I dressed up that morning wearing a black skirt and a black halter neck top alongside with a blazer jacket and some stiletto heels, I pulled my hair up in a sleek and tight pony tail and making sure there were no loose strands because everything had to be perfect, I had to look perfect. I applied some clear lipgloss on my lips and took a sneak peak at my phone expecting a text from Kyle at least but still there was nothing and I tried to ignore the slow panic that was creeping up my chest but I had to keep my composure intact, I was going to see him at work anyways.

I walked into the company building, my heart brimming with nervous anticipation and I wanted nothing more but for Kyle to hold my hands and tell me everything was going to be fine and that he got me. But as I got in, I caught sight of Kyle walking towards my direction and I thought he was looking at me and walking towards me but my heart fell when he walked past me and when I turned around he was walking towards the Sophie – the girl that I had seen him making out with in his office and was also representing the investors that day– my heart began to pound – old memories resurfacing – you have to focus Aria. What the hell was going on?

Suddenly his eyes drifted to me and his eyes felt cold and distant – like he was actively avoiding any acknowledgement. It was a blank stare like he didn’t know me or truer still – like he was avoiding me. The familiar sting of rejection washed over me, threatening to drown out the excitement I had carried only moments before.

I gathered the courage to walk over to them and strike a conversation and probably figure out why Kyle was acting so weird but the moment he saw me approaching, he walked away - a painful sting stabbed at my chest. The memories began to flood my mind, unwelcome guests seeping into every crack and crevice of my thoughts.

*“We’re done Aria.”*

It was years ago but those words still remained etched on my brain unwilling to wash away by times passed.

He was breaking my heart all over again.