Chapter 1

New Life

I opened my eyes to a beautiful Sunday morning, I was happy. I have the perfect boyfriend, he was sweet and caring, he made me laugh when no one else can. I have parents that support me to no end and siblings that annoy me until the crack of dawn. Finally, I can say that I am happy. I smiled as I got up from my queen sized bed.

I made my way to the kitchen, living alone has its perks, I only cook for one. I made myself a light breakfast and put on my jogging pants and sports bra and went for my morning run.

I was full of sweat as I went inside my apartment.

"You look hot" I was greeted by my blue eyed boyfriend sitting so casually on my living room, clearly I lost track of time, again.

"You look hot yourself" I said checking him out. He was in his usual way of dressing, black suit and pants, together with his black leather shoes. His blonde hair was slightly disheveled and his body was still the same, you know, lean but not muscular. "I lost track of time again, didn't I?"

"Yes, yes you did but you can make it up to me." A hint of mischief in his eyes. He walked in my direction and I backed away, I didn't care if he was my boyfriend, I stink of sweat!

"Maybe I should shower first" I told him and walked towards the bathroom and locked it before he could protest.

After a short shower, seeing as I'm already late, I went to my bedroom and got dressed. I settled for my sky blue sundress. I tied my hair in a pony tail and put on some mascara and some eye shadow for my dark brown eyes.

"Babe, you ready?" He called out from the living room.

"Yeah, be right there" I went out of my room and walked towards him, he was reading a newspaper from the coffee table. "What are you reading?" I asked as I sat on his lap and kissed him, there goes my lipstick.

"We should go." he ended the kiss all too sudden but I paid no attention to it, maybe he just has a problem. We went out for lunch to my favorite bistro and savoured the sweet smell of pasta and chicken. We sat at a table for two and his next words had me hate one of my favorite spots in the world.

"Babe, we need to talk."

I looked up at him from my menu and put on a curious face "What's up?"

"I have something to tell you." He sounded scared and nervous.

"Okay then, what is it?" My curiosity was peeked. Is he going to break up with me? Oh no!

"I'm moving." And just like that, my appetite was gone. You know in movies where time seems to slow down and everything you worked hard for crumbled to the ground? Well, that was what I was feeling at the moment.

"Moving where?" He's leaving me? Tears were starting to form in my eyes but I refused to let them fall.

"I'm moving to Europe." He said with a sad smile on his face but I can see it his eyes that he's happy. He wants to leave. Am I not a good enough reason for him to stay?

"Why?" He's really leaving me. I feel like every single bit of my happiness faded away and I'm afraid I can't bring it back. Just when I thought I had it all.

"The company I'm working for opened a new branch in Europe and they wanted me to manage it." He said slowly, waiting for me to react. The truth is, I didn't know how to react. Do I scream at him? Should I throw something at him?

"Er-" I was speechless, I didn't know what to say, how to respond. I am not used to guys breaking up with me, usually, its the other way around.

"Babe, talk to me." He looked so sincere and sorry and there it was, pity. I hate being looked at like I'm one pitiful human being. I'm supposed to be happy remember? I woke up happy and now, I don't know what I am. Sad? Depressed? Angry?

"What do you want me to say?" I choked out, thankfully the tears were kept at bay.

"Anything." He looked at me with pity and I can't stand it.

"Uhm, congratulations, that's one big step." I tried my best to smile but failed miserably.

"Thank you, it certainly is." There it is again! The smile that says he's happy to be going!

"So, uh, when are you moving?" My voice sounded raspy, like I choked on sand paper and it was stuck there forever.

"The day after tomorrow." He smiled sheepishly and then realization struck me like a lightning bolt.

"And you tell me this now?" I raised my voice. People were starting to look at us but I didn't care anymore.

"I'm sorry, I was looking for a way to tell but I didn't know how." He tried to calm me down but I was already fuming, the sadness that was once there was replaced by anger.

"So, all the talk about our future was all a lie?" I narrowed my eyes at him, is he kidding me? We talked about it almost everyday! He was the one who started the talk of our future and now, he tells me he's leaving?

"It wasn't a lie and this opportunity only comes once in a blue moon, it was a great opportunity." He tried to explain but I was already out the door and into the busy streets.

"Good luck Greg, I hope you have a happy life." I mumbled it more to myself than Greg. I let out a sigh and started walking. I needed to get away.

The air was suffocating, I can't believe he would tell me this days from leaving. I thought we actually had something, I thought we could build our own family together. This is messed up, I need a drink, I don't care if it's too early for a drink. I know I won't be able to drive home by myself and I was too scared to go out alone so I called my best friend.

"Amy, can you come meet me?" I wanted to cry but there was no tears.

"I thought you were with Greg" She sounded surprised. I wouldn't blame her, I was supposed to be with Greg.

"I'll tell you when you get here." I tried to compose myself, atleast something's in my favor today.

"Where is here exactly?" She asked.

"A bar named, uhm, The Crown" I was standing in front of it, the name was purple but the building was lavender, nice. It looked so girly and weird but it was the first bar I could find, I don't even know  how I got here, instinct maybe.

"Okay then, be there in 5."

I waited for my best friend, I also waited for the tears, the depression of the break up, the heart break but in never came and it was surprising.

"Ysabel!"

"Hey" I hugged her when I saw her, she still looked beautiful, her wavy blonde hair ending just below her shoulders, she has dark brown eyes and upturned nose.

"What happened to you?"

"Greg and I kinda broke up." I looked at her and her mouth hung open. I let out a small giggle and she narrowed her eyes at me.

"What? Why?" She put her hands on her hips and waited for me to tell her everything but I needed alcohol in my system.

"Can we get a drink first?" I needed alcohol in my system before spilling out everything to Amy.

"Sure."

We entered the bar and it was almost empty except for one or two men drowning their sorrows with alcohol. We settled in a booth and Amy ordered beers.

"Talk" Amy commanded.

"Greg is leaving." I shrugged and took a swig at my beer once the waitress settled them on our table.

"Why?" She took a swig as well, she looked like she wanted to be sober in order for her process everything I'm about to say.

"Work." I answered in my monotonous voice.

"When?" Boy, she has a lot of questions.

"Day after tomorrow." I took another swig of my beer and slumped on my seat.

"So you broke up."

"Yes."

"Why? Can't you try the who long distance relationship thing?" She knew me better than anyone so she knows my answer to that question.

"I don't think I can live that long not being able to see him." I looked out the window, what am I going to do now?

"Understood, so what do you want to do?" She smiled at me and I knew she wanted to cheer me up.

"Get drunk." The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them.

"Tell me why first." She was testing me. She knows me too well why I wanted to get drunk.

"Well, he's leaving, he's not man enough to tell me the truth, he avoided talking to me about it until it was days before he's leaving which made me think he wanted to avoid the whole break up thing and seeing me cry."

"Huh, why aren't you crying?" She finished the last of her beer and ordered another one. Aren't I supposed to be the one getting drunk?

"I don't know, I've been waiting for the tears but it never came, maybe I'm in shock."

She laughed at me, "Maybe you just didn't love him that much for a heart break."

"Maybe" I emptied my first bottle of beer and ordered another. This is the start of a very lonbg night.

We drank beer until 7 in the evening and decided to hit up some of the clubs in town. We went to a club named Clara and it surprised me that there were only a small amount of people, it was Sunday and it was back to work tomorrow so it's understandable.

We found an empty table and ordered shots, after like 5 or 10 rounds, I needed air, anymore shots and I'm going to puke. I got out of the cub and stood there, just letting the air blow my dark brown hair. I closed my eyes for a minute and breathed in the fresh, cold night air.

"Are you okay miss?" Someone asked me from behind.

Do I look like I'm not okay? "Yeah" I simply replied, I'm not in the mood for men, I'm tired of them, just when you think you're finally getting your happily ever after, they up and leave. No, I'm building up walls around my heart. I won't let myself fall for another man that easily.

"Ysabel!" Amy yelled as she got out of the club, she's more wasted than I am.

"Amy?" Shock was evident in my face as she clutched the shirt of the man beside her.

"Meet Colton" She introduced a guy taller than her for about 3 inches, black hair, blue eyes, good looking too.

"Hi Colton." I shook his hand that he offered.

"Ysabel, is it okay if I let Colton take me home? I don't think I'm too sober to drive." Her speech slurred which indicates she isn't lying.

"Okay Amy, I'll see you tomorrow." I gave Colton a knowing look and he understood. I just hope they use protection.

I sighed, there goes my ride home. I might as well start walking. "Miss?" Great, he's back.

"What?" I turned around to see toned biceps, wow! Am I that small?

"Want a ride home? You look like you need it" He offered. His green eyes glimmered beneath the moonlit sky. Glimmered? Seriously?

"No thank you, I don't ride with strangers." I started to walk away again when he caught up with me. Why does this creep keep on bothering me?

"I'm Seth" He offered a hand.

I contemplated on what to do and finally "Ysabel" I told him as I shook his hand.

"So we're not strangers, about that ride." Man! He is persistent.

"Why would you offer a ride to a complete stranger, scratch that, a woman you just met?" I raised an eyebrow at him and I can't help but admire his features. His slightly disheveled light brown hair covered his gorgeous green eyes. He must be more than six feet tall and I'm just a mere five feet and 6 inches.

"I don't know the answer to that myself." He scratched the back of his head.

I chuckled and told him "You could be a serial killer for all I know" I playfully told him.

"Tell you what, how about I give you a ride home, then you decide if I'm a serial killer."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Okay then, beats walking home."

"Follow me?" His broad back was so inviting, how can a back be inviting? Pull yourself together! He led me towards a sleek black jaguar.

"This is your car?" I sounded surprised, amazed at his choice of vehicle, he must be loaded.

"Yes, this is my baby, this is the first car I bought." His eyes lit up like its Christmas.

"It's beautiful" I'm no car expert but this was definitely an expensive car.

We got in and I showed him directions towards my apartment.

"So Ysabel, what made you go to a club tonight?" he looked at me like he really wanted why I wanted to go clubbing.

"I had a shitty day" I simply told him "What about you? You look like the type who doesn't go to clubs." I took him in again! His eyes were so perfect, his chiseled lips to his toned biceps. I gulped. Dangerous.

"You're right, I don't, I only went there to look at the atmosphere."

"To look at the atmosphere? No way." I crossed my arms across my chest and narrowed my eyes at him.

"Okay, you caught me, I went there to break up with my girlfriend." He looked serious for a moment, maybe he loved her.

"So you went to a club to break up with a girl, harsh." Maybe I'm not the only one having bad luck with relationships.

"Well, I wasn't planning on it until I saw her tongue down someone else's throat." He bit out.

"Ohh" was all I could say.

"No worries, I don't love her anyway." He beamed at me, if his smile was light, I would be blind right now.0

"What is love?" I dumbly asked "Don't answer that" I said almost too quickly, stupid question.

"Well, love for me is when you can't do anything right because that's the only person occupying your mind."

"That's sweet."

"Thank you." I smiled at him and he gave me a grin in response.

"I think we're here."

I looked up and saw my apartment. "Thank you Seth, I'll see you around."

"I'll see you Ysabel."

I smiled at him and got out of the car and into my apartment. I shut the door the one place I called home was now blank to me. There were pictures of Greg and I everywhere and I wanted to throw them all away. The tears I was waiting for finally came and I couldn't stop it.

Tears still flowing down my face, I walked towards my bedroom and stripped my dress. I lay down my bed and cried my eyes out.

How could he do this to me? Three years and it was all for nothing, we talked about a future, a family together and it was all a lie. He lied to me when he said he will never leave me. He kept this from me and told me days away from leaving, I couldn't believe it. He knows I don't do long distance relationship because I can't deal with the heartache. With the longing of being in his arms. I can't live worrying if he ate, if he got some sleep. I don't do long distance relationships. I don't do relationships. Period.

I won't let a man take over my life anymore, I can't let someone else in and then they leave me altogether. I don't think I can survive another heartache, another heart break. I loved Greg but with him busy at work all the time and me working in a hospital took us apart. We never had the time for each other. We grew apart and we didn't even know it, that's why I didn't cry earlier, I've been hurt a lot when we fight and we don't really deal with out problems, we just let time come in. We never talk about our problems because we never really had the time.

I woke up the next day and thought, it's time for me to move on, Greg certainly did. He's starting a new life in Europe and I can't be the one holding him back just because I have relationship problems. I won't let someone in that easily, but maybe someday, in some way, I'll let someone in, just not now. I will always love Greg and he will always have a place in my heart, he made me happy the last three years and we can't take that for granted.

I then decided, I have to move away from this place. Leave everything behind, clothes, all my stuff, these are all a part of my past with Greg and I can't let my past come between me and my future. I called Amy and told her I'm moving. We're going to shop for a new set of wardrobe tomorrow and she'll help me pack my stuff and give it to charity.

I then sat down on my desk and started writing my resignation letter to the hospital. I will still work at a hospital, just not this one.

Here goes nothing, I'm starting my new life and I'm excited for it.

-----BETTER-----THAN-----DREAMS-----

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Greg on the side :)