Elia walked as fast as she could out of the place that was not her house anymore. Even though it hurt her to admit it, she moved forward for she refused to stay in the past any longer. She was trying to run away from the haunting image of seeing those two cheating jerks on her bed. Even if the house had remained hers, she was not sure she would have had the stomach to stay. Her home was gone, the faster she came to terms with that, the faster she could move on.
As she observed her surroundings, she saw the street bustling due to the weekend even though it was night. People had smiles on their faces seemingly enjoying the holiday that would soon follow with the hectic Monday. Amongst them, Elia saw many couples holding each other's hands and walking. It made her wonder. How many are in a true relationship? How many were cheating behind their partner's back or were they strolling around with their affair partners to begin with leaving their legal spouses waiting in their homes? Like Jake did. Were they betraying someone while their significant other stayed back home wondering when their partner would return?
Are all men like this? She couldn't help but think as such. Her father, although her mother loved him with her entire heart, tolerated his affairs, and always strived to be the perfect housewife and daughter-in-law to his parents betrayed her in the end. Her mother's grave was not yet cold and he had brought his mistress home. To the home where the three had lived. The meager attention he showed to Elia as well vanished as soon as her stepmother and stepsister entered their lives. He loved Lorna.....the child of his stepmother's ex-husband while he neglected Elia, his biological daughter.
Her father forced her to hand over her room, toys, expensive clothes, shoes, and even stationaries to her stepsister. 'You should share your things with your little sister, Elia. Only then can you be a good girl' These were the exact words he would utter whenever Elia tried to resist her stepsister's shenanigans. She wanted to be her father's good girl and craved his attention. Maybe that was what made her crave Jake's attention as time passed.
A tragic smile graced her lips, she realized she had daddy issues. Even after knowing her mother's fate, she did not change her ways from trying to please her father which later shifted to Jake.
"But I did nothing of that sort today" she mumbled to herself. Today she told Jake off for the first time. Managed to call him out on his disgusting behavior, and didn't get scared or worried about her father's reaction when she snapped at Lorna.
As soon as she came to this realization, something broke inside her. Everything that had held her back burst out. Instead of feeling sad, for the first time in her life, she felt free. A breath of relief that she didn't know about left her lips. A heavyweight pressing her heart cleared out. This time, a genuine smile formed on her face. She was free...at last, she had gained her freedom.
Elia, the little girl who had tried to please her father and the woman who wanted to love Jake broke free giving birth to the new her. Today's incident seemed to be a blessing in disguise for she finally felt the shackles holding her back loosen. She took a step away from a dread-filled life. She broke up with Jake. She did something she had never dared to do before this day.
An ugly sob broke from her throat and she sunk to the ground crying out loud. People passing by gave her weird and concerned looks but she saw nothing. Nothing mattered anymore. Elia couldn't help her happy tears from streaming down her cheeks, she removed her glasses and cried for a long time. She never wanted this to stop. She has done it. She was healing. She was proud of herself.
After what felt like an eternity, she raised herself and wiped her face. Taking a deep breath, she started to walk again but this time, with a skip in her steps. When she reached her destination, a pawn shop, she promptly went to the counter.
Without a thought, she removed her engagement ring from her finger before settling it on a glass tray, "I want to sell this ring"
The man behind the counter gave her a scrutinizing look before shifting his attention to the ring. He examined the twenty-four-carat diamond ring with his monocule before setting it back, "This ring must have cost a lot"
"I don't know, my ex gave it to me" Elia had never cared about money before. She was provided with everything by her rich father. Even though he hated her, he always stressed about the family name in high society. It would do no good for his reputation to leave her unattended.
The owner nodded, "Our shop doesn't have that kind of money, mam"
Elia frowned, "Is that so?" then she grew determined, "Then give me however much you can"
"The ring is far too valuable"
"I don't care" She dismissed him, "I want to get rid of this ring, money doesn't matter" She knew that it was wrong of her to say this when she was currently homeless with no money of her own. Yet she refused to hold onto the wretched ring that Jake had given her. She decided to figure out other matters later.
The pawn shop owner looked at her as though she had lost her mind but was smart enough to keep his mouth shut from saying anything. Profit was Profit. He didn't care about the mad woman or her circumstances.
"Here" he handed her a bundle of cash while simultaneously putting away the ring.
Elia beamed, "Thank you" For the first time, she was holding money in her own hands. There were no stepmother or housekeepers overseeing her allocated money.
With the bundle carefully tucked inside the pocket of her cardigan, she left the pawn shop and soon entered a clothing shop that was steps away from the former.