A Lifetime With You by Athrhteera

10 GIFT Alena

The next couple of days began to take a toll on me. It had almost been two weeks since I left home and Matteo.

I had been alone most of the time except for when Mama or Alexei came to visit. They never came empty handed and I appreciated that, as much as they came to give me endless advices, they didn't want me to starve. My days were spent in the living room watching TV or in the bedroom, reading books. I had thought it was best to keep my phone away even though I wanted to turn it on and check my socials. Alexei came walking in with another bag of groceries, heading straight towards the kitchen.

Ever

since Mama and Alexei came to stop by regularly, I had gave them the passcode to the door. It was easier for them to drop by whenever they wanted to; especially when they decided to come early in the morning, sometimes I was still asleep in bed. Then, I began to realise just how much they ended up invading my privacy. Mama always knocked on the door or rang the doorbell when she came even though she knew the passcode but as for Alexei, he treated it like his own house. "You surprised me," I muttered as he sat on the sofa beside me.

Alexei sighed deeply before staring ahead at the television.

"Why?"

You

could've knocked."

gave me the passcode."

"Well, you're using it really well."

He smirked, turning to look at me before pointing at my bowl of fresh strawberries. "Can I have some of that?"

"No."

"No.Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

My dear brother decided to ignore my answer as he took the bowl away from me. He didn't have to ask in the first place if he decided it was better to just eat them without my permission.

We had a lot of things in common. One of it was that we both loved strawberries.

"I bought these so technically, they're mine." He shrugged, dipping in the chocolate sauce before eating them.

"You left them here. So, they're not yours."

Whatever."

"Do you

mind sharing?"

"You should learn that first."

I groaned," "Give them back."

We managed to compromise by sharing the strawberries as we watched the television. None of us said another word and we decided it was best to enjoy the silence rather than throwing another batter.

I had made myself comfortable on the sofa with my legs being wrapped with my blanket, it felt nice even though Alexei was

here to distu

to disturb my peace.

"Just admit it, Alyosha... you miss me." I glanced at his direction.

He scoffed, "You know me too well."

"So, it's true? You miss me?"

"I miss it when we were teenagers. When we didn't have to worry about anything but ourselves," he replied.

"You still worry about nothing but yourself."

"Really funny, Alena. Explain why I'm here, then?"

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anywhere else than here but I continued to stare at my brother, knowing for a fact that was true. He could be in New York or here he was, stocking up my fridge and keeping me company. I knew my brother to admit he was never perfect but he was never selfish, too. Alexei loved me, sometimes more than he loved himself.

He just had a different way of showing his love.

Mama a

asked you to be here, didn't she?" I asked.

"Not today, she didn't. That's all on me."

breathed, a smile plastered on my face. "Thank you, Alyosha. Really."

An hour had passed and we didn't realise just how fast time went by. Alexei was busy scrolling on his phone as he answered a few calls while I finished the rest of the strawberries. The reality show on the television kept playing the next episodes but I had somehow lost my interest. "Have you

decided when to come home?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Not yet. Why?"

"You've been away long enough."

"Not enough...

I guess."

"Give me the remote," he pointed.

Once the remote was in his hand, he quickly changed the channel. My eyebrows furrowed at the flat screen and it didn't take me long to realise what or to be exact, who was there.

Matteo, my husband, was having a press conference regarding his company. My eyes kept focusing onto him, even though the words he uttered were unclear. I didn't pay much attention to what he was saying, only to him. Only him.

I stared at the television, trying to hold back the tears.

He seemed different, a bit skinnier as if he had lost some weight. The darkness under his eyes were visible, the shape of his face was slightly sunken and his brown eyes seemed lifeless. They used to be full of life.

I knew Alexei was looking at me to see my reaction but I pretended not to care.

!

Matteo was live. Flashes were clear on his face as they took pictures of him.

"You miss him?" Alexei broke the silence, making me turn to look at him.

"Was that intentional?"

"I just want to see him on TV."

B***t." Admit

"Admit it, you miss him. Why are you suffering yourself?"

"It's none of your business, Alexei.

"Fine. You're right, it is none of my business. Your marriage has nothing to do with me but as your brother, I'm showing how much I care about my sister." He stood up, "I knew how much I hated him when he first came into your life but I saw the way he treated you, Alena. Saw the way he was there for you. How could you look pass that?" "Why are you saying all of this to me?"

1

You saw it yourself. He looks miserable!"

"Like he hadn't slept for days."

"Exactly, and you're okay with that? You're fine with seeing him like that?"

I shook my head, failing to hold back my tears. They streamed down my cheeks and even though I tried my hardest to wipe them away, they were too much; it had been awhile since I cried and I had thought on maintaining that but I guess I failed miserably. It was horrible to see him like that.

It was torturing me, too.

Matteo was always well-kept, filled with charisma. The Matteo on the screen just now, was a different person. He seemed out of place, confused and even drained. I hated seeing him like that, knowing I was the cause of it. "Alena..."

"That's enough, Alexei. Just shut the f***k up,"

"You're

not listening to me."

"I am. I heard every word you said!"

"Stop thinking about yourself, Alena. You're hurting the people around you."

"You know what, Alexei? Just leave."

"What?"

"Just leave. Just f*****g leave because I don't want you here anymore!"

Alexei sighed, taking a few steps backwards. The words must've felt like knives.

Eine."

Then,

I was left on my own as he walked out of the house. I could hear him start the engine before he drove away and for once, I really felt alone. I had enjoyed my own company for the past few days but now, all I wanted was to run into Matteo's arms. All I wanted was to apologise and feel his warmth again-l regretted my decision on leaving. Why was I too selfish? 09:19 P Oct 25 G

I ran up the stairs. straight into my

bedroom.

As I searched through my stuff, I couldn't find my phone anywhere.

That was when I realised, I had left it in the car after turning it off

I immediately went down again, straight outside and to my car. My phone was on the backseat and I didn't waste another second to turn it on, waiting for the screen to light up.

As soon as the screen went on and I could see my lockscreen, many notifications came in.

My phone couldn't stop buzzing until the latest text, sent a couple of hours ago.

Once my phone was unlocked, I slowly scrolled through my notifications. A few were from my friends and family but most of them were from Matteo-ever since the day I left, he hadn't stopped calling me nor texting me. When I had left, his texts were obvious: he kept asking about me where I was, how I was doing.

After

a

a week, he had stopped asking but instead, went on to update about his days. Tears began to fall down my cheeks as I read them, one by one. I didn't realise. I had spent almost thirty minutes in the car to read his texts alone. 'I miss you Will you please come back to me, Alena?'

"This house feels empty without you. I can't breathe.'

'I have a meeting later at 2pm. Just want to let you know.'

I

'I just arrived at the office. Wearing your favourite tie.

'Alena, I miss you. I miss you so much."

'Come back home, baby."

'Come back to me.'

'I

I love you.' The texts were short and simple but he never missed to send at least ten of them everyday. Every night, he never missed to tell me how much he loved me, yet I never bothered to read any of them because I was too focused on myself. I had hurt him. I forgot he needed healing, too.

I forgot

I leaned back on the seat, crying.

I

I stared at the lockscreen, a photo of him. It was a photo I took when he wasn't looking and believe me, he was drop dead gorgeous. My husband was always attractive; if God had favourites, I was sure my husband was in His list. My hands began to tremble as I scrolled through the texts again.

It took me by surprise when my phone beeped and I quickly looked down, to find Matteo's name.

'I miss you, baby. More than I do yesterday but less than tomorrow!'

That was it.

That sent me into tears and before I knew it, I felt my heart broke into a million pieces.

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