I left before Theo woke up.

Part of me feels terribly guilty for doing so, while the rest of me knows that it was for the best. The less he knows about me and my shitty life, the better.

I had woken up at about six-thirty to specifically make sure I could make it out of his place before he woke up. Considering it's a Thursday morning, I had assumed he would probably get up for work at around seven-thirty maybe eight-ish and so I knew I would be safe.

I had made sure to cover the bruise that Liam had left on my cheek before writing Theo a note and leaving it with a small stack of fifty-dollar bills as a thank you. I then grabbed my things and caught a cab to the nearest subway station.

I had almost left my phone number for him but ended up deciding against it which now I mildly regret but there's nothing I can do about it now as I can't go back and I doubt I will ever see him again.

The subway car rocks softly as I stare out the window and ponder my life decisions from the past evening.

I'm glad that things hadn't played out the way I wanted to because I was in no state to deal with my mother and her judgments last night. However, thanks to Theo and his wonderful hospitality, I was feeling slightly more prepared to face her.

Soon enough, the subway makes it to my mother's stop and I walk my way to her house. The cool morning air is refreshing on my skin and I breathe in as much of it as I can before I have to face my mother.

I had always liked where my parents had chosen to live. They had shopped around when they first moved to the city from our home state but eventually, they settled on a four-bedroom colonial-style house in Madison, Brooklyn. However, when I found out it was a four-bedroom house, I was quite baffled as to what they would do with the extra rooms. I later found out when I came for one of my summer vacations that they had taken one each to be their own personal offices and the third room they had turned into a guest room, which I would sleep in when I stayed with them. 

Their house was truly immaculate. Everything was perfect, just like my mother, who has always been a stickler for keeping the house clean and tidy, however, it had only become worse when my father passed away. It was her means of control which I never choose to interfere with.

I come to a stop outside her front gate, hesitating for a moment before opening it. The lush green lawn looks to be freshly mowed and there doesn't seem to be a single speck of dirt on the bright white fence. 

Chilling.

A shiver runs through me, memories of the night my father died rushing back to me as I slowly walk up the concrete path and the brickwork stairs to the front door. God, I had not missed this place at all. 

I give myself a mini pep-talk and pray to all gods that my mother is not in a particularly judgmental mood before knocking on the door.

I stand there awkwardly for a moment before the door opens and standing behind it is my mother, looking just as amazing as always. She's groomed to perfection in her dark blue jeans and crisp white t-shirt with her dark brown hair hair pulled back into a ponytail and her glasses neatly perched upon her made-up face. Her expensive jewellery sits daintily against her pale skin while her mouth is pressed into a thin line.

Staring at her, I notice she looks older than she used to. Although her hair is still dyed, which is something I don't think she will ever stop doing, her face looks considerably more tired. Granted, I haven't seen her in person in over six years.

"Hayley?" she asks confused.

I nod and force a smile onto my face.

"Hello, mother" I reply through gritted teeth, attempting to sound happy.

"I haven't seen you in years. What are you doing here?"

"Umm, well could I come in and tell you?"

She simply nods before ushering me in and closing the door behind me.

"Do you want something to drink?" she asks, quietly as we both stand awkwardly in the entryway together.

"A coffee would be nice" I reply continuing to plaster a smile on my face.

She nods and ushers for me to go sit down on the couch before disappearing into the kitchen to make our drinks.

Feeling cautious and uneasy, I slowly wander my way into the living room, taking in my surroundings. It's been so long since I was last here except it looks like not one thing has changed in the past six years. The grand piano still stands in the corner while the wall behind the largest couch is still covered in floor-to-ceiling bookshelves filled to the brim with brightly coloured spines. Unlike what the place had looked like before my parents moved in, they had managed to take the stark white walls and white marble flooring of this living room and turn it into something warm and homely.

"Here you go," my mother says curtly, breaking me from my trance as she hands me my mug of coffee. I take it with a small thank you before having a sip, welcoming the hot liquid.

"So..." she starts raising her eyebrow at me as she places her mug on the coffee table.

"What brings you back to my house after all these years, Hayley?"

My eyes widen at the question. Why did she phrase it like that?

"Well, umm, you see, Liam and I, we ah, we... we broke up" I manage to stutter out.

Unsurprisingly, her face doesn't change at my statement. Part of me was hoping she might have some sympathy for me but apparently not. 

"And why is that?"

"Because I walked in on him cheating on me."

"I see. Well, I did tell you that this would happen, Hayley. If you had just listened to me when I-"

"He hit me, Mom" I blurt out, cutting her off. My eyes widen once again, this time at my own exclamation. I curse internally and dig my fingernails into my palms in an effort to stop my eyes from tearing up again because the last thing I need is for my mother to see me, her twenty-eight-year-old daughter, cry.

"Oh" is all she manages to say, staring back at me.

We sit there in silence and I begin to regret even coming here.

"How often?" she asks, her tone unchanged.

"Every time he was drunk..."

"Right," she says, nodding. "I mean, I'm not surprised. He was a foul man who never treated you right and like I was saying before, I did tell you so and-"

"MOM!" I shout, cutting her off once again. Her eyes widen and her expression changes to something dark, but she stays silent.

"Honestly, I don't even know why I bothered coming here. Part of me thought that after all this time, you might actually care but obviously not" I spit, anger rising at her lack of love. I place my mug on the coffee table before standing up and gathering my things back into my arms.

"Hayley..." my mother says as she stands up too, an apologetic quality to her tone.

"No, Mom. Please, just save it. I didn't come here to get judged and berated. I came here because you're my mother and you're supposed to love me and help me with these things" I sigh.

Quickly, gathering my things back into my arms, I rush to the front door.

"Hayley!"

I don't bother stopping at her exclamation and continue out the door and down the steps.

"You know, maybe if you hadn't called your father when you did, things would be different. You've always been so troubled ever since that night" she yells, venom in her tone.

I stop dead in my tracks, her icy words cutting through me like a dagger. So she really does blame me for my father's death. Honestly, I don't know why I'm surprised. I had always had a feeling that was the case. However, hearing her say it doesn't make it sting any less. I feel tears welling in my eyes again as my heart aches a little.

I slowly turn back towards her, trying to keep myself composed.

"Maybe. But don't forget that it was you who asked me to call him in the first place" I reply quietly.

Her mouth drops open and a wave of sadness washes over her face. Yes, it was a low blow, but she went there first.

I turn away, leaving her standing there gobsmacked, and run out of her property as tears stream down my face. I guess my only option now is to hope and pray Tessa will let me crash on her face because I don't think there is ever going to be a way to repair the relationship with my mother.

Pulling out my phone, I quickly dial her number as I briskly walk back to the subway station.

"Hayley! What's up? Everything okay?" Tessa's gentle voice chips through the receiver.

"No, I'm not okay. Can I come over?" I sob, the dam breaking and a new wave of tears flooding down my face.

"Oh my god, Hayley, of course. Do you need me to come and get you?"

"No, it's okay. I'll take the subway. I'll see you soonish."

"Okay, Hayley. Be safe please."

"Of course. Thank you, Tess"

I end the call and quickly glance at the time. Considering it's nine in the morning on a Thursday, I am surprised Tessa is even at home. Maybe she has the day off? Either way, I'm glad she's at home today.

I continue to walk back to the subway station, the cool air drying my tears into salty tracks running down my face and soon enough I find myself plonked back onto the blue plastic seat of a subway carriage. 

It's going to take almost an hour including a train line change to get back to Hell's Kitchen where Tessa lives so I let my mind wander and soon find myself thinking about Theo once again. Although we had a good connection, I know it will never lead anywhere. I've just gotten out of a very serious relationship and I'm still dealing with the aftermath. Plus, he is still very much a stranger, albeit a very handsome and generous one. 

I shiver slightly as the thought of Liam pops into my head, disturbing my thoughts of Theo. I had since blocked Liam's number this morning after receiving a bombardment of calls and texts during the night and apart from needing to get the rest of my stuff from our apartment, I'm hoping that I will never have to deal with his abusive ass again.

Continuing to let my mind wander, I stare out the window at the passing scenery. Eventually, we arrive at the Atlantic Avenue–Barclays Center Station and I race through the station and manage to catch the next departing 2/3 line service with a few seconds to spare.

Puffed, I sit myself down on yet another blue plastic seat, my belongings dumped in a pile on the floor next to me. I sigh and lean my head back against the wall of the carriage behind me, closing my eyes as the lull of the train begins to make me feel sleepy.

"Hey stranger, long time no see," a deep familiar voice says, pulling me from my dozing state.

My eyes shoot open and immediately widen at the sight of Theo plonking himself down on the empty seat next to me. He looks stunning dressed in a dark navy suit and crispy white business shirt with boots and a tie of the same shade of brown as each other. His hair is styled and his face clean-shaven and the musky scent of his cologne rolls off him in a soft wave. He gives me a warm smile, mildly amused at the shock clearly written on my face.

"I- I-" I start, trying to find the words.

"Didn't think you'd see me again?" he chuckles.

I nod sheepishly, embarrassment flushing my cheeks.

"I know. I could tell from your letter and the money that you didn't think we would. Honestly, I didn't think we would either but here we are. Also, you can have this back" he says, placing the wad of fifty-dollar notes back into my hands.

I look down at the money before looking back up at him. I can tell from the look on his face that if I try to give it back to him, he's just going to give it straight back again, so instead, I just meekly slide the money back into my purse. 

"So you were in a hurry to leave this morning?" he continues curiously.

"Ah yeah, I wanted to get to my mother's place relatively early because she tends to be the least, well, herself, in the mornings" I state, trying to sound sure of myself.

It wasn't a total lie and in my defence, my mother truly is less pedantic in the mornings when she hasn't had time to plan her day yet.

"So I take it going to see her didn't go well then?"

"Why would you say that?" I say, defensively.

"Hayley, you're currently sitting on a train with all your belongings at your feet. I think if it had gone well, you would be still at your mother's house"

"Oh" is all I manage to squeak as my cheeks turn red.

He smirks and I smile awkwardly.

"If you don't mind me asking, what happened at your mother's?" he asks after a moment, the smile on his face replaced with a look of concern.

"Well, when I told her Liam and I had broken up, she proceeded to tell me 'I told you so' and when I told her he used to hit me, she still continued to say 'I told you so' and when I stormed out, she finally blamed me out loud for my father's death" I reply curtly, my mood souring at the thought of my mother blaming me.

"Shit."

"Mhmm. So I blamed her for telling me to make the damn phone call in the first place and then I left and now I'm here."

"I see" he replies nodding. "So what are you going to do now? Do you need to come crash at my place again?"

I smile at his offer. Oh, how I wish I could but I know perfectly well that no good could come over me staying at his place.

"Thank you for your offer but I'm actually heading to my best friend's place."

"Ah, that's fair enough" he replies with a smile, the tiniest hint of sadness in his tone.

Why would be sad about me not staying with him? He hardly knows anything about me and I'd just be in his way and slow him down.

"So where are you off to today then? All dressed in your fancy suit" I ask playfully, attempting to change the subject and lighten the mood.

"Well" he smirks, "I'm off to meet with a client and then I'm heading to court after that for hearings for the rest of the day, hence the fancy suit."

"I see" I reply smiling.

The subway car begins to softly come to a stop and Theo proceeds to stand up.

"Speaking of which, this is my stop, unfortunately. It was lovely seeing you again, Miss Hayley. I really do wish I could stay with you a little longer" he says, grinning down at me.

"You too, Mr Theodore" I chuckle.

I watch as he makes a face at me calling him by his full name before reaching into his breast pocket and pulling out a business card.

"Here," he says, handing me the card. "Clearly the universe thinks that our story together isn't finished yet, so if you ever need anything, just give me a call."

"Okay," I mumble as I take the card from him.

He winks at me and within seconds he is gone, swallowed by the sea of people also exiting the carriage.

I stare down at his business card in mild shock.

THEODORE CLARK.

What a lovely name. The rest of the card has his occupation, place of work and address along with his phone number and email address. 

I could just never call him. He still has no idea who I am. He doesn't have my phone number or know where I work or what I even do for work. He knows nothing about me and he still gave me his card.

As much as I appreciate the sentiment, I'd like to keep things the way it is. Hopefully, this was just a chance encounter and I would never have to see him again because I fear if I do, things might happen and I don't want him to have to deal with me and my abusive ex-boyfriend.

He's too lovely of a person to have to deal with my baggage.

Confident in my decision, I quickly slip his card into the depths of my purse before laying my head back and closing my eyes.

Hopefully, Tessa will be able to help me or at least that's what I'm praying for.

__________________________

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Hey Guys,

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please feel free to leave me your feedback as I always appreciate it. Also, if anyone reading this is from New York City, please pm me as I would love to have a conversation about life in NYC as I'm from New Zealand and so writing a book based on a place I have never been to before can be quite challenging. I've done loads of my own personal research, however, talking to a local would be even better as it would help to improve my story.

As always, if you would like to follow me on social media, my Instagram handle is allamy_duffell.

I hope you all are well and having a good day wherever you are in the world and I will see you all in the next chapter!

Love,

Allamy xx