Let's fix this! That's what Sam had said on the phone. How he'd want her to fix this started to nag at her. Giselle woke often in the following night. Sweaty, restless. The longer it went on, the more she started to realize, that she was the cause of it herself. She was not ready to make a decision, but her circumstances demanded answers. Her brain pushed the pressure back. Down into a corner at the furthest reaches of her mind space and she commanded the pressure to stay there.

Morning routine was just that. A routine. Something that had been done countless times and would be done countless more times. The mind didn't even properly register it anymore. Breakfast while scrolling through Instagram. Brushing the teeth while laying out clothes for the day. Hopping into the shower. Stepping in front of the mirror to dry the hair and make an effort to ignore the fat on the waist and hips. Listen to the hairdryer scream at her until her curls were in a manageable state. Use styling cream for the hair and some light makeup for her tired face. Put on the clothes that have been set out in the bedroom and double check her handbag for utensils.

She set an alarm to call All About Hair later, she needed a haircut, since her curls had reached a length they became annoying. Maybe this time she'd be bold enough to halve their length and wear a chaos cut. Maybe.

Without anyone distracting her, she was done half an hour early and sat on the sofa, deciding what to do now. Her gaze wandered around, but she couldn't come up with anything. She shrugged and got up, put on her shoes, locked the apartment and left for the bus. For once she could drop by the bakery and grab a coffee to go. From the looks of it, it was quite pleasant outside, despite the early hour. Summer gave its fullest. And the forecast only supported her assessment.

There was noise in the stairwell. A female voice echoed through it, she thought she'd recognized the voice. Yet she couldn't see anything. She hurried down the stairs. The door on the ground floor, that lead outside, fell into its lock with a loud snap. The staircase had windows to the street, for lighting and air circulation purposes. When something moved outside, she glanced out.

Her jaw dropped and she blinked twice to make sure she hadn't seen a ghost. Down on the street, walking to a car, was a tall, blonde woman in a business suit. Celestine.

If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

Standing there, staring out at the street, Giselle took a while to compose herself. What would Celestine be doing ....? Before her thought finished, she remembered the voice that seemed familiar. Annie. Why did Celestine and Annie go down the stairs together? Had they become friends? Or more?

Something twisted in her stomach. Her face turned into a grimace. That bitch! How could she!

With her hands running down her tummy and thighs, she tried to brush the anger off. Her attempt to do that made her painfully aware that she was jealous. The memories of rejection were still fresh in her mind.

When the car finally drove down the street, she sighed and trotted down the stairs to the bus stop. The surprise of Cel and Annie together still held her in its grip, so she took out her phone.

Giselle: "Hey Laury. I just saw Celestine leave Annie's place. What the fuck? Also I'm a bit early and can pick up coffee for you if you want one.."

That made her feel better, but the response took a while and the bus had already reached downtown. Giselle spent her ride staring at other cars on the street. Morning traffic seemed to get worse, despite the summer and many going on vacation.

Laureen: "Morning. Get me a cappuccino. I'll be there as soon as I can. Hold tight! :hug:"

The message brought a relieved smile onto her face and she got off the bus one station early to drop by the bakery. With two cups of steaming hot cappuccino, she reached Dean's attire for the gentleman twenty minutes before opening hours and saw Laury hurry down the sidewalk. Her high heels didn't make it easy and her graceful walk was in shambles. "Hey, just had to get rid of my date. That my cappuccino? Awesome! I didn't get coffee at home!", Laury said and was panting visibly from her rush to get here. They walked to the side entrance, away from the crowded street.

"Your date? Do you mean that guy from the cinema?", Giselle inquired with a raised eyebrow. "That's the one!", the coworker replied casually. The brunette shook her head and sipped from her coffee and curiously eyed her coworker from top to bottom. The woman was glowing slightly. She ended with two raised eyesbrows.

Laury suddenly changed from casual to compassionate, "So Celestine is sleeping with your lover now? That sucks!". When Giselle shrugged helplessly, she found herself in the embrace of her coworker. "It's okay. The wounds are fresh and had no time to heal", Laury soothed her, but she shook her head and whispered, "Ian's brother expects me to fix everything. I don't know how, Laury. And I can't let go of Annie either. I sleep like crap. I cry all the time. I'm a huge mess! How am I to fix any of this?".

Her coworker pulled out of their embrace and looked at her teary eyes. The back of Laury's hand wiped the first tear away and she said sternly, "Because you're strong and you never give up!"