A little time out.

(ARIELLE'S

POV)

I was startled by Ashley's question, totally thrown off guard. "I...I don't know," I stuttered. "For now, all I want is to return to work."

"I understand," she said, patting my shoulders. "Come on, let's go back to what we were watching."

The rest of the evening passed in a blur. The following days were uneventful and the cycle repetitive. Ashley went to work and returned in the evening while I stayed at home, doing almost nothing.

I missed my job, and made up my mind to return to work, damning my mother's and Ashley's advice. I planned to tell Ashley when she returned from work today.

As for Jared and Sofia, I had no option but to block them on all social media platforms as I kept seeing pictures of them together at every turn. I deleted Jared's numbers and blocked them. I would protect my sanity at all costs.

My mom was still in the dark about the divorce, and presumably Jared's mother too. I was not going to tell either of them. I'll let them find out for themselves, and if Jared and Sofia had the balls they could do it themselves. The familiar sound of the doorbell suddenly went off, alerting me of Ashley's return. I rose and walked to get the door.

"I'm home!" Ashley examined her usual mantra whenever she returned home.

I smiled and we exchanged hugs and pleasantries. I let her settle down, before bringing up the topic.

"Ashley, can I talk to you about something?"

"Of course, what's up?" She responded, giving me her full attention.

"Look, I know you're and my mom wants the best, but I have to return to work. I have recovered fully, and I don't feel the pain on my waist anymore. Please, let me resume work."

"Arielle, you've been through so much. So much for one person to handle, you need to recover fully. Your workplace gave you enough time to recuperate, so what's the rush?"

"I know, but staying at home is making me feel even worse. I need something to keep me engaged. Staying home, and away from what I love doing is driving me crazy."

Ashley sighed in resignation. "Fine. Your mind seems made up already. When do you plan to resume?"

"It's the weekend already. I'll resume by Monday."

"Alright, but you're putting me in a tight corner. Your mother will come for my head if she discovers I let you resume work," Ashley grumbled.

"She won't. I promise, I'll tell her I convinced you," I said, throwing my hands around her.

bribe me?" She asked, giving na a playful suspicion

you think,

burst

were doing individually. Ashley's phone suddenly rang, and she gasped when she saw the caller's ID. "Oh, my God, I totally forgot," she mumbled, answering the phone. "Hi, Juliet. I'm so sorry, it slipped my mind. Oh, sure, I'm still coming, and my friend is tagging along,"

the conversation. The moment the

my colleague at work, Juliet. You know it's the weekend,

"Okay, so you're going?"

look in her

I started to protest,

knew it, she was pulling me to

party pooper. We don't have all the

still hesitant. "Ashley, I don't know... I'm not

you need to come. You've been cooped up in this house for weeks. It's time to

futile when it came to Ashley.

"Fine, deal."

-worthy," and so I settled for a simple black

knew it, we were walking into a dimly lit room

waved us over.

handshake. With Ashley and Juliet, the atmosphere was boisterous, and in no time

little too

chuckled, unfazed. "Why don't you join

vehemently. "I'm not good at singing. I sound like a frog and wouldn't want

she wouldn't back down.

"There's nothing to be embarrassed about. Half of the people here sing worse than frogs,

the song selection machine. "What song can you sing,

shades approached us. He spared me a glance before turning to Ashley. "Do you need

goosebumps at the sound

Why

him but he had his face

was hard to make out his facial features from

me. "I need help in selecting a song for my friend. You see, she's an introvert who knows nothing

he turned to me, "Madam, do you know any song you can sing from start

know a

of "I'm alive,"

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