I'm listening to "without me" by Halsey. If you have the Spanish version its even better.

We are at 1k ooo🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌 and TBO is at 48k plus, thank you for sticking with this small amateur girl.

****

The drive back to Liz place was uncomfortable and quiet, tension stretched between them so thick you could use a knife to cut it. Jason knew she heard his declaration, yet she acted like she didn't and he played along with her.

He hated walking on egg shells, yet he couldn't take back the statement. It was just  words he said and she withdrew from him her silence was literally telling him she didn't feel the same.

At least if she didn't love him the least she could do was to tell him that. Anything was better than this silence so he cracked the stereo player and a stupid sad love song was playing, almost like the tunes were mocking him.

Jason switched off the stereo and drove the rest of the journey to her house in silence, he had tried making a joke at one point but the joke wasn't even funny to his ears and it was no surprise when she didn't laugh.
Immediately he got to her apartment she was out of the door muttering a quick "goodnight, thanks for the ride" and taking fast steps inside, she didn't even give him the usual hug, annoyed by how childish she was acting he drove off.

Liz took a huge gulp of breath and leaned against the door as soon as she got in, her heart was skipping too many beats around him. She sunk to the floor and wrapped her arms around herself as the tears flow. Liz knows she has to let him go now, are you kidding?b she was way messed up than any one knows.

Earlier on when Liz started filling the aching gap in her soul with mindless sex she found out something that changed her life forever, the main reason why she couldn't ever be with him.

Life wasn't fair, this pain was tearing at her heart, honestly she wasn't sure she was going to survive this.

*****

Jason was sprawled on the couch, listening to NF's 'Paralysed' the depth of the words so sad so raw it tugged at his soul and he let himself sink in it.

Today was the launch of his new company, funny enough it was the company he bought solely because she lived in the city yet he wasn't sure she was going to come.

15 unread messages, it was official Liz was avoiding him. For a second he let his finger stroke his phone screen over their date night picture.

Why did he have to tell her those words?

Around his penthouse suite the gang members milled around making stupid jokes he wasn't in the mood for.

It was soon time to pick his parents and sisters from the airport something he could have easily delegated but he needed a little fresh air from been cooped in all day throwing himself in work that didn't matter right now.

"Hey guys, gotta pick the family from the airport," the gang were busy drinking his expensive wine and could barely hear him from the loud din of their laughter.

Sheikh quickly noticed his retreat towards the door and shouted "why not let us do that for you, Xavier and I can go over there."

"Nah. Thanks man but I need some fresh air, been on the computer all day" Jason replied and picked a face cap someone threw randomly on the couch.

On the other side of the door stood Anita, the only lady in their group.

"Hey Jase" leaning forward to kiss him slightly on the cheeks.

"Wassup Tiger" he replied and she smiled, "thanks for coming the boys are inside, keep them in order please "

"Sure."

.
.
.

Mr and Mrs  Matthew stepped off the airport alongside their three daughters; Jadesola, Jacinth and Judith.

Their father Mr Mathew was a 64 year old Nigerian man with a fairly round belly which his blue T-shirt tried to cover but it still bulged out a little, His wife; Anjolaoluwa Matthews whom he adored more than life itself was a biracial Nigerian woman with an Italian mother from whom she got her distinctive set of eyes.

Jason opened his arms and hugged his baby sisters, truly he adored them. Their parent had insisted on naming all of them with names that started from 'J' which pissed the kids off most times.

"Hey J, J and J" he said smiling, the ache in his chest forgotten for a little while.

"Hi brother J" they replied. Jason laughed loudly at their meekness, his last two sisters had spent the long summer vacation with their grand parents in Nigeria and after much trouble finally decided to add the Yoruba respect to his name, it still never ceased to amaze him the jazz his grandparents did to the spoilt rats.

"E kasan sir(Good afternoon Sir)" he greeted his dad, genuflecting with his head. His father had determined to not raise american children hence instilled the real Nigerian way of life into their kids even though it bothered neighbours around.

Jason kissed his mom on the cheeks, he had a fluid relationship with her.

They pilled into his car and the ride was spent listening to the girls rattle off about how spending all summer in Nigeria sucks and Judith whose found a boyfriend.

The noise and chatter distracted him from the matters of his heart so he welcomed it, but you know how mothers could always see though their children souls so it was no surprise that after he got them settled in their hotel room his mom asked.

"What's wrong with you?" Her eyes narrowing like a mother hen would.

He shrugged casually "nothing ma, I have to go."

"Are you sure? Is it the launch," rubbing my arms slightly "did anything go wrong?"

"No mum, just get ready I'll send someone to pick you guys up" kissing her slightly, he made to leave when she pulled him into her thick hug, for a while he let myself be held and breathed in the most safe place in the entire world which was your mothers arm.

*****

Later that evening,  Jason's launch party was in full swing still he turned around searching for her probably for the fiftieth time tonight.

He still didn't know which hurts more; the fact that she didn't come after saying she would or the fact that she was still ignoring him. For a while he tamped down all feelings about her focusing instead on making sure the launch was perfect but slowly it was coming to surface.

It was almost time for him take the stage and  officially launch the place open.

Jason buttoned his tux and walked straight, head held high, face indifferent, mask on.

He tapped the little mike and began "I welcome everyone who has taken time out to be with us tonight; my family, friends, investors, shareholders, colleagues, and staff. I have a well typed up speech here but I've always been too stubborn for my own good" the crowd chuckled at the last part.

"I wasn't searching for a new business when I bought this place, it was a raw instinct to be closer to someone that matters who surprisingly isn't here, foolish right?" This time he added a sad chuckle by himself and in the crowd he spotted Pamela whom he also invited.

"We have come so far, from that boy who wrote codes for fun and created apps to making it a worthwhile lucrative business. Our tech company 'Zilch Tech' is one of the topmost in the entire country, thank you to all those who have supported this dream." A round of applause followed his statement.

"This app which we kept secret is one I still wouldn't talk about but will be going live 12:00am tonight. This San Fran new office will always be our home and creative space, where we grow and continuously be ourselves because then and only then can we begin to mine our endless potentials. So raise your glass to Zilch Tech" Immediately the toast finished he dashed down from the stage to find Pamela.

"Excuse me...," he called out through the throng of press and people wanting to talk to him, on getting to her side he looked around again wondering if she was here somewhere near Pamela.

"Hi," she gave him a smile in return.

"Well-done, what you have done with your self and this company is truly amazing" a chaste kiss landing on both his cheeks.

"Thanks" A slight scratch to his brows and he added "what of Liz?"

"I dunno, I've been trying to reach her all evening now her phone is switched off, she wasn't at her house earlier too" this statement was making him anxious.

Jason remembered reading her therapist notes and how Liz was very suicidal growing up. Knots were beginning to from in his belly as a wave of apprehension hit him.

"Maybe she got stuck at work or something, I'll let you know when I get through to her" holding his hands firmly in hers.

"That will be lovely thanks."

"You really like her right?" Pamela asked sincerely.

"I'm in love with her" he replied sounding so sure.

Pamela smiled on hearing that, "oh wow! I'll like you as my brother in-law. Be patient with her okay no one has ever broken through to her like you, if that counts for anything just hold on a little"

He smiled shyly "I will,I gotta go now."

Some memories stick with us like glue, Pamela will always remember clearly how he turned his back to her, feet's apart when she got the call.

She will always remember squeezing the glass in her hand, shards of it tearing her flesh while the rest crashed on the floor. Her lips shaking as fear consumed her.

Jason was back by her side in a second. "Pamela! Are you okay?" He asked shaking her gently.

In between her daze the words tumbled out of her mouth "Someone just called from the hospital..." Her words breaking as the reality finally hit her.

Jason stared at her ashen face, knowing fear. It was at this point he was more sure than life itself that he loved her because if something truly happened to her, he wasn't sure he will survive. Funny how in just 4 months of knowing her she turned his life upside down. "What is it?"

"They said one of Liz patients is holding her hostage in the hospital...." Hysteria settling  on her now " they said he shot and killed two people already, and they called me because I was her emergency contact."

"Oh Jesus" Pamela shouted like a mad woman as the tears fell.

Jason stared at her disconnected,  he was typing on his phone to the gang and immediately the four remaining members gathered around him.

All hell was literally about to break loose! They were bundling themselves up in their cars and gunning for East mercy hospital where she worked. Jason was holding himself together by the last thread !

Lizzy where are you? Hold on for me my love. Silent words of prayer renting space in his heart.

*****
I slammed the door on my left thumb 😭😭😭😭 the pain ehn its on another level. I almost cried😂😂 I said almost oooo before you pipu start calling me a cry baby.

Tell me in the comments what scares you the most? Let's talk mine is loosing people I love.

Love and light
Orex.