Chapter 296: Truth Told
Derek had almost made it a month without Emily by his side. For that almost month he had been able to fool himself into thinking that he was alright. But all that it had taken to expose that lie had been having one more encounter with Emily.
He had returned to the penthouse after seeing her and had become quick friends with the bottle. A decision that he had known was the wrong one from the very beginning, but he had still gone through with it. Even worse, after he had woken up from the first drinking binge with his mother there.
Derek had not stopped after she had left. He had continued, proceeding to get supremely wasted. Which was why he currently found himself at the bottom of the stairs. Staring at what seemed to be a mini shrine on the first step.
He also had Emily’s coat around his shoulders. The material barely covering him. On top of the bottles of alcohol, Emily’s embroidered piece had been placed on top of the glass.
His mouth tasting like something had died in it and stayed there for a few weeks, his head feeling as though somebody had taken a jackhammer to it.
Derek stared at the little setup that he had made. Reaching behind him, he took off Emily’s coat, and stared at it. It was wet in places. Had he been crying, and then put it on or had he spilled alcohol on it? Bringing it close for a sniff, he was relieved to find that. Whatever the wet patch was, it was most likely tears.
Looking from the coat to the embroidery piece, Derek scratched his head.
What had gone on? What had he been thinking?
It almost seemed as though his drunk self had been making an altar out of Emily’s things. Praying that she would come back.