Love Unspoken

The same taxi that had arrived earlier was still parked outside, with Quinn dutifully assisting Juliet in loading her sparse belongings into the vehicle's trunk.

Juliet didn't possess much of value; her bedding was speckled with mold and her clothes were worn to the point of disrepair.

Yet, she clung to these items with a desperation born from years of transience, a fear of being left without even the most basic necessities.

Quinn, empathizing with Juliet's plight, transported all her belongings back to the villa. She carefully stored them away in the utility room, a space that had become a temporary refuge for Juliet's few possessions.

Perhaps it was the lingering effects of her recent illness, but after the exertion of moving Juliet's items, Quinn felt a wave of dizziness wash over her.

The room spun violently around her and, unable to maintain her balance, she collapsed onto the floor. Juliet, having just changed out of her worn clothes, dropped her crutches in alarm and rushed to Quinn's side. "Quinn!" she exclaimed, helping the fallen woman to her feet.

Quinn had hit her head during the fall, causing a throbbing pain that made it difficult for her to open her eyes. "What happened?" Juliet asked, her voice filled with concern. "Why did you faint so suddenly?""I probably have anemia," Quinn admitted, her hand weakly gesturing in explanation. She had recently lost a child and was still recovering from her illness; anemia seemed a likely consequence. "Stop worrying about everything," Juliet insisted, guiding Quinn towards the comfort of the couch. "Rest, and I'll make you a cup of sweet ginger tea."

Quinn, looking up at the face of the woman who had shown her such kindness, found herself smiling genuinely for the first time in what felt like an eternity. Juliet's clean, friendly countenance provided Quinn with a sense of reassurance and warmth she hadn't realized she needed.As Juliet busied herself with preparing the ginger tea, Quinn took the opportunity to check her phone.

Disappointment washed over her as she realized there was still no response from Abigail. She glanced at the shopping bag next to her, knowing it contained a brand-new phone, identical to her current one. With a sense of resignation, Quinn transferred her SIM card to the new phone, packed the old one into its box, and stored it in the drawer beneath the coffee table.

As she opened the drawer, her gaze fell upon the untouched divorce papers, their presence a silent reminder of her failing marriage. She stared at the words 'Divorce Agreement' for a moment before shutting the drawer, her heart heavy. With her new phone in hand, she texted Abigail before deciding to call her. Abigail had been drinking heavily lately, answering her phone with a drunken slur, barely aware of who was on the other end."What now? Will you people ever leave me alone?" Abigail's harsh words took Quinn by surprise, leaving her momentarily speechless.

Abigail seemed to realize something then, her tone softening slightly. "Oh, it's you. I'm sorry, I've been getting non-stop calls. Preachers on the internet telling me to turn myself in, haters enjoying the drama..."Abigail laughed then, a bitter sound filled with pain. "People only show their true colors when you're down and out, huh?"

If you're loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for the complete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! Quinn felt a pang of sadness for her friend but found herself unable to offer any words of comfort."How do these people hide their true colors so well?"

Abigail mused aloud. "Now, listening to them just makes me sick. Compared to them, I'm actually starting to like Alexander. Isn't that funny?" Abigail's tone suggested she was finding humor in the irony of her situation. 'At least Alexander has the decency to be upfront when something bothers him, unlike those backstabbers. 'Abigail's voice held a newfound clarity as she continued, "Now I get it.

There are not just good and evil people. There are also monsters, all kinds of them." She shared a recent experience, "A few nights ago, I was walking down the street when a group of thugs appeared. They pelted me with rocks and snapped pictures of me, all while parading under the façade of righteousness. Before that..."

Abigail paused, "I had just gotten off the phone with someone who claimed to be my best friend." Quinn listened in silence, taking in Abigail's raspy voice, stripped of its former wildness and defiant vigor. Now, she just sounded bitter and desolate. Abigail's heartbreak stemmed not only from the lives she had inadvertently taken but also from the betrayal of once close friends.