Dear Dad
Ella sat on the edge of her bed, an empty pill bottle in one hand, a vial of clear fluid in the other.
She thought back through the plan as Bart had explained it to her. She’d sent the text to Mary and then placed her phone in the drawer where she could easily find it. Hopefully, her friend would get there first or else her dad could figure out she and Bart were up to something.
The note was on her nightstand. It had seemed so weird to write to her family as if she were actually about to take her own life, something she’d never even considered before, not even when she was locked in the attic. It seemed like there was always something to live for. But thoughts of what life would be like if Rome was no longer in it made it much more reasonable to understand why someone might decide to end it all.
She glanced over the note, wondering what her dad would say when he saw it. Even a few weeks ago, it would’ve broken her heart to even consider causing her father any sort of pain. But she’d seen a side of him recently she never would’ve fathomed existed before. Would he cry when he read it, or would he just be angry that he missed out on an opportunity to strengthen an alliance?
Dear Dad,
If you’re reading this, then I’ve gone through with it and ended it all. Since you’ve refused to allow me to make my own choices and be with the man I love, I’ve decided I’d rather not live at all. I hope that you will accept your choices that have forced mine and will continue on with your life. It’s hard for me to think that you will mind much, since you didn’t care enough about me to want me to live the life I wanted to. Be happy in the life that you’ve chosen, and do your best to reach out to Rome’s family to let them know this absurd feud is over. Do not continue it on my account. I am just another victim of your vanity.
Sincerely,
Ella Verona
It was clear by her word choices how she felt--that she wasn’t pulling any punches with him. He’d likely never heard her speak that way before, but then, he hadn’t done much listening in his lifetime, not to her or anyone else.
Satisfied that she’d done what she could do and that it was now all left up to Bart, Mary, and fate, Ella studied the vial. She’d have to put it somewhere that Mary would see it when she walked in so that she could hide it. Bart hadn’t mentioned that. Perhaps she should try to hide it herself…. If she tried to put it with her phone, she’d never make it back to the bed in time.
Deciding she could no longer worry about that, Ella took a sip of water from the glass next to Teresa’s empty pill bottle, took off the lid so it would seem more likely that’s what she’d taken, and removed the top of the vial.
Slowly, she raised the vial to her mouth. The liquid was bitter; she could smell that before it even parted her lips. Ella swallowed it back and lay down on her pillows in one fluid motion, putting the lid back on so it didn't get lost.
Almost immediately, the world became fuzzy at the edges. She felt her breathing become more and more shallow as her heartbeat slowed. Ella felt herself slipping away into oblivion. Her last thoughts were of Rome. She prayed she’d be alive again before he heard about any of this. Otherwise, she might open her eyes to a world where there was no Rome.
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