After Love

Poor Claire could never stop crying every time she came to visit. "This was my fault, Bella! I went away to look for help because I thought… I thought Damian was going to save you!

"Then, when I returned with the rangers, I really thought the girl he was helping to get into the ambulance was you… I didn't know it wasn't," she sobbed. "I shouldn't have taken things for granted!"

Bella forced a smile and patted Claire's head. "It's okay. You're not at fault."

A month went by in the hospital. Bella's condition improved, but Damian had never returned to visit her ever again.

The only thing he left was a message: [I have to be away for work over a few days. Will return to see you after that.]

Then, on the same day, Bella found an updated status on Dakota's Instagram. The girl was beaming in her photo while Damian was right next to her, passing her something as though they were living a happy domestic life.

The caption read, [Always appreciate a busy man like you lending me a hand at work!]

"Lend her a hand at work? More like lending her a good time! I bet they had an expensive candlelight dinner too!" Claire sneered.

Bella simply gripped her phone in silence.

"Hey, Bella? Are you okay?" Claire asked. "Look, I just think he's—"

"I'm fine," Bella interjected quickly. She sounded unfazed.

After Claire left, Bella lay down and closed her eyes.

-

Damian had come to receive Bella on the day she was discharged. The man had looked rather gaunt as he carried Bella in his arms tenderly, as if she were a piece of rare, fragile treasure.

Bella went to his home only to find Dakota, of all people, working in the kitchen.

It shocked her. Bella's fingers curled imperceptibly despite her calm facade.

Bella's house was opposite Damian's—she had bought it because she enjoyed being in Damian's company and wanted to do so as much as she could. Now, though, she just felt like an outsider among the crowd that had gathered at his house.

"Look, Bella. Everyone's here to celebrate your recovery," Damian said gently. He was about to explain more when a sickly, sweet voice rang out, "Hey, Damian? Where do you store your spices?"

He immediately started toward the kitchen. "Hold on. I'm coming! You won't be able to find it on your own even if I tell you, trust me!" he chuckled.

"Ugh, rude!" Dakota replied, her tone too cutesy to be anything but flirtatious.

"Oops! Just telling you the truth."

"Oh, if I managed to locate it myself, you're eating your words!"

Damian's friends immediately seized on the drama. "Oh my God, can you guys stop doing these pretend fights in front of us already? Get a room, you guys!" they chuckled. "Come on, do y'all need us to help? We're happy to!"

Some of them entered the kitchen. Bella could hear their laughter all the way from the kitchen.

She watched the rest of his friends play video games listlessly. So many people had shown up to "celebrate" her recovery, and yet not a single one of them talked to her or asked about her.

A white ball of fur emerged from next to her foot. A ragdoll cat was rubbing itself against her leg.

Claire had given the cat to Bella. When she excitedly declared that she would "henceforth be its mom," Damian laughed and ruffled her hair. "You're not even taking care of yourself right, my lady. Are you sure you can take care of this little angel on the side?"

"Well, if I couldn't do it well… I could at least get you to help!" Bella had chirped.

She watched the cat rub circles around her legs and sighed.