With enough time until Annie came home from work, Giselle stood inside the apartment that was formerly theirs. Ian and hers. She felt reminiscent and melancholic as she strolled through the place, brushing her fingers across the sofa and the small table that used to hold the picture wall. Her gaze wandered across the room and out of the window. The other part of the apartment complex on the opposite side of the small lawn looked lifeless apart from a couple of windows with curtains. Her path took her into the bedroom and she opened all of her wardrobe doors before she fell down on the bed on Ian's side. Less than half of the wardrobe was empty now, she had always used up more space than her ex.

After a couple of minutes, her way took her into the kitchen and the various drawers, the pantry and the fridge. Most of the storage spaces were empty now and had been moved over into Annie's place. They prepared food there most days anyway and Giselle only spent time in her apartment when it was required by some circumstance. In a little less than two weeks, this place wouldn't be hers anymore. She pulled herself up on the kitchen space. Her legs pulled to her chest, she threw a glance back out through the window while leaning sideways against the fridge. After a minute, she called the moving company. Her situation was explained quickly and they settled on Thursday the following week. Moving on such a short notice without a definite destination wasn't without merit. Since the company lacked work, she got a better price regardless of where everything went in Blackwater. Then she called the owner of the storage space and reserved a unit for a week. She promised to call by next Monday whether she'd take it or not. It incidentally was the deadline for telling the moving company where to bring her stuff, too. It all fell into place. She'd start packing on the weekend after work. Maybe with Annie's or Laury's help.

When she had left work, she'd left Laury in a crappy mood and now she felt quite bad and responsible. Since her phone was already in her hand, she sent a message to Laury.

Giselle: "Hey. I'm sorry about last weekend. I didn't want to worry you. Not intentionally. I just forgot while staying in with Annie. Sorry, dear. On a positive note, I got the moving company and the storage space sorted. I'll be moving out next week on Thursday :sweat_smile:"

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It wasn't much, but it made her feel better. Giselle sat for another ten minutes on her spot on the kitchen counter and stared out into the cloudy sky. With a deep sigh she went over to Annie's place and started to prepare dinner. Yet another day of salad. Somehow Annie loved salad in all kinds and variations and as the guest, she just went along. It wasn't like she despised salad, but it became a little much. And today would be different, she decided that much on a whim and took out toast, more salad and cheese to make herself sandwiches. It'd be a nice distraction from salad and Annie wouldn't mind since there was salad.

The rest of her early evening, she spend on the phone with her mom. The update on her life was significant. And overdue. "What do you mean you're selling the apartment? Giselle, where are you gonna go? I could've helped you out with some money!", her mom told her emotionally. This wasn't going to be easy. "It's okay, mom. I wouldn't take your money even if you shoved it down my pants", Giselle countered and barely escaped her mother yelling at her, "Fine, fine. No need to be rude. So how's the search for a new place going then? I hope you got something lined up?". "Not really, the market is tough". "Bah, I could've told you that before. When I said to live your life, I didn't mean you should just sell everything!", her mother complained. "I know, mom. It's not like I wanted to...". "Are the buyers at least paying you a ton of money for the place? And are you going to get any of it or is Ian taking it all?", the voice tuned down in volume, worry showing through the question. Giselle answered calmly, "Ian took the car, but left me the apartment. It'll be my money". "That's a relief. Finally some good news. And when are you going to move again?". "Next week, Thursday". "Right, if you don't find anything, you can always stay here for a while. We're family, Giselle! Don't be a stranger", the woman on the other end of the phone offered, the voice calm and determined, like the caring mother that she was. "I might...", Giselle cleared her throat, feeling slightly ashamed now, "I might take you up on that. I don't want to move in with my girlfriend just yet". "Deal. I gotta go now, sweetie. I am off to see the girls, it's Monday evening, y'know?". "I know, mom. Take care. And thanks!". The phone clicked and the connection ended abruptly. Of course her mom would be there, as always. The person she could rely on when everything went down the drain. Family was worth something, sometimes. Giselle leaned forward and raised her head when a key turned inside the lock. Her love was back home. She smiled and received a kind, bright grin in response.