Fifteen Years Wasted, Now I’m Done Chapter 07

Fifteen Years Wasted, Now I’m Done Chapter 07

Ryan paid a PR team to scrub the topic off the trends. Blocked the related keywords.

But he couldn’t stop people from talking.

I stood at the gate. Mask on. Listening to the conversations

drifting past me.

“I think there’s more to this story.”

“This is insane. Apparently that Hadley girl has done this more than once. Ruled her little friend group like a tyrant. Drove off several girlfriends. The actual victims came forward and spoke up.”

“Fifteen years they were together. She tore them apart.”

“And the guy’s trash too. He wanted both.”

I lowered my eyes. Pulled my mask up a little higher.

Those words reached my ears. They stirred nothing.

My phone buzzed.

Ryan’s texts.

[Hailey, you’re not at the hospital? The nurse said you left.]

[Where did you go? Home? I brought your favorite clam chowder.]

[Pick up, okay? Let’s talk. Really talk.]

I didn’t reply. Powered the phone off.

The plane taxied down the runway.

The city lights below shrank. Became scattered dots. Then the clouds swallowed them.

I reclined my seat. Hid my exhausted body under a blanket.

Fifteen years. Like a dream.

Time to wake up.

Time for a new life.