(ARIELLE’S
POV)
I was startled by Ashley’s question, totally thrown off guard. “I…I don’t know,” I stuttered. “For now, all I want is to return to work.”
“I understand,” she said, patting my shoulders. “Come on, let’s go back to what we were watching.”
The rest of the evening passed in a blur. The following days were uneventful and the cycle repetitive. Ashley went to work and returned in the evening while I stayed at home, doing almost nothing.
I missed my job, and made up my mind to return to work, damning my mother’s and Ashley’s advice. I planned to tell Ashley when she returned from work today.
As for Jared and Sofia, I had no option but to block them on all social media platforms as I kept seeing pictures of them together at every turn. I deleted Jared’s numbers and blocked them. I would protect my sanity at all costs.
My mom was still in the dark about the divorce, and presumably Jared’s mother too. I was not going to tell either of them. I’ll let them find out for themselves, and if Jared and Sofia had the balls they could do it themselves. The familiar sound of the doorbell suddenly went off, alerting me of Ashley’s return. I rose and walked to get the door.
“I’m home!” Ashley examined her usual mantra whenever she returned home.
I smiled and we exchanged hugs and pleasantries. I let her settle down, before bringing up the topic.
“Ashley, can I talk to you about something?”
“Of course, what’s up?” She responded, giving me her full attention.
“Look, I know you’re and my mom wants the best, but I have to return to work. I have recovered fully, and I don’t feel the pain on my waist anymore. Please, let me resume work.”
“Arielle, you’ve been through so much. So much for one person to handle, you need to recover fully. Your workplace gave you enough time to recuperate, so what’s the rush?”
“I know, but staying at home is making me feel even worse. I need something to keep me engaged. Staying home, and away from what I love doing is driving me crazy.”
Ashley sighed in resignation. “Fine. Your mind seems made up already. When do you plan to resume?”
“It’s the weekend already. I’ll resume by Monday.”
“Alright, but you’re putting me in a tight corner. Your mother will come for my head if she discovers I let you resume work,” Ashley grumbled.
“She won’t. I promise, I’ll tell her I convinced you,” I said, throwing my hands around her.
“Are you trying to bribe me?” She asked, giving na a playful suspicion look.
“What do you think, huh?”
We both burst into laughter.
Afterwards, we returned to what we were doing individually. Ashley’s phone suddenly rang, and she gasped when she saw the caller’s ID. “Oh, my God, I totally forgot,” she mumbled, answering the phone. “Hi, Juliet. I’m so sorry, it slipped my mind. Oh, sure, I’m still coming, and my friend is tagging along,” she said the last words, looking in my direction.
I raised a brow, curious about the conversation. The moment the call dropped, I asked, “who was that?”
“Oh, that was my colleague at work, Juliet. You know it’s the weekend, and she invited me to a karaoke party happening in town.”
“Okay, so you’re going?”
“Yes, I am,” she responded, a mischievous look in her eyes. “And you’re coming with me.”
“I can’t” I started to protest, but she cut me off.
“No, no, no complaints. I won’t leave you at home alone.” And before I knew it, she was pulling me to my feet. I trailed behind her as we got to her room.
“Come on, Arielle. Quit being a party pooper. We don’t have all the time,” she chided, tossing out clothes from the closet onto the bed.
I stood by the doorway, still hesitant. “Ashley, I don’t know… I’m not really in the mood for a party.”
She paused rummaging her closest and turned to face me. “That’s exactly why you need to come. You’ve been cooped up in this house for weeks. It’s time to get out and have fun.”
I sighed, knowing my resistance was futile when it came to Ashley. “Fine, but if I get bored, I’m leaving.”
“Fine, deal.”
We proceeded to get dressed. Ashley insisted I wear something “party -worthy,” and so I settled for a simple black dress, while she wore a crop top and mini skirt.
The drive to the karaoke bar didn’t take long, and before I knew it, we were walking into a dimly lit room decorated with lights and filled with lively laughter.
Juliet, Ashley’s colleague spotted us and waved us over. “Hey, girls. So glad you made it.”
Ashley hugged her, and I exchanged a polite handshake. With Ashley and Juliet, the atmosphere was boisterous, and in no time they were both screaming into the microphones.
I grew worried for Ashley. She was a little too hyper active tonight. “Take it easy, Ash,” I cautioned.
But she chuckled, unfazed. “Why don’t you join us and sing?”
“No,” I shook my head vehemently. “I’m not good at singing. I sound like a frog and wouldn’t want to embarrass you or myself.”
But she wouldn’t back down. She
handed me the microphone. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Half of the people here sing worse than frogs, but they sing regardless. So just sing. Let it all out.”
Without waiting for my response, she moved over the song selection machine. “What song can you sing, and I’ll help you select?”
I was about to respond when a young man in dark shades approached us. He spared me a glance before turning to Ashley. “Do you need help with that?”
I felt goosebumps at the sound of
the voice. Why was it awfully
familiar? tried taking a good look at him but he had his face on Ashley,
and it was hard to make out his facial features from his dark shades and the dim light of the bar.
Ashley pointed to me. “I need help in selecting a song for my friend. You see, she’s an introvert who knows nothing but work, work, work. Can you help me?”
“Sure,” the young man responded. And then he turned to me, “Madam, do you know any song you can sing from start to finish. A favourite?”
I nodded. “I know a few old songs.”
“Do you know of “I’m alive,” by Celine Dion?”
“I know it, but my head is quite rusty.
“I can sing along with you if you don’t mind,” the young man offered.
“Alright,” I accepted.
We took our positions, side by side to each other, but careful to keep a safe distance.
The intro music came on in the background and Celine Dion’s face appeared on the big screen, behind us.
“It’s about to start, five, four, three, two, one go!” Ashley yelled.
My grip on the microphone handed to me tightened, and I opened my mouth and let the lyrics of the song flow out.
I get wings to fly
Oh, oh, I’m alive
When you call on me
When I hear you breathe
I get wings to fly