21 Need for resolution

Switching to the other call:

"Alright. What's up, Anna? Tell me now," Lillian bid goodbye to her girlfriend and then connected with Anna.

Anna asked if it were alright to cut the call with her girlfriend.

Lillian assured her that they both only kept flirting over the phone. Anna knew of her antics and exhaled to normality. Moving on to their conversation,

"I know you heard me already. Giselle came to visit me yesterday," Anna spoke.

"So, she's back, huh?" Lillian sighed to despair.

Anna went on to reveal the invitation to Giselle's party over the weekend. Lillian mused over the party for a minute, but soon her mind crept back to the thought of hearing the name often right now.

All these years of living without hearing that very name put Lillian in a very distressed mood. However, overhearing it now adds a novel touch to it.

"Yes, it's been so many years. Giselle told me that she is going to invite only a few people to whom she would like to report her return," Anna explained.

Lillian chuckled to the amusement of not included in that little group Giselle listed to invite.

"And?" Lillian asked, hoping to hear something that might mend the pain in her heart.

Anna felt pinched, hesitating to speak anymore.

"Spit it out, Anna. There is no point in holding back now, am I right? Tell me what the hell she said so that I can know about her."

Struggling alongside with Lillian's rage, Anna chose to spill the beans.

"A Kid-" she lightly whispered, not to startle her friend.

"A kid?" Lillian couldn't grasp much from only two words.

"She has a kid. Giselle's a mother now, Lilly," Anna revealed.

For several minutes, there was absolute silence in between the call. Both refused to speak because they understand the weight behind it.

Lillian Grey went mute while Anna respected her silence.

…

Several minutes passed, and the call is still going on.

"Lilly?" Anna worriedly called to know if her friend was alright or not.

There a deep sigh before Lillian responded.

"Hmm- I'm here," she replied lastly.

Her voice sounded lifeless, exposing all the grief she held from hearing such devastating news.

"Are you okay?" Anna asked.

"I'm- go on, what else?" Lillian hurried Anna to complete whatever is left to declare. She is no longer in the mood for having a conversation.

Anna chuckled softly, sneering into the storming misery surfing her friend's fate. After all, Anna knew what happened and can discern Lillian's suffering.

"Well, it came as a shock to me as well. To see the child she gave birth to-" Anna exclaimed.

"Anna, stop it," Lillian interrupted harshly shutting down Anna from going further.

Anna flinched from the sudden abrasive response.

Lillian understanding the way she reacted, took a few breaths to calm herself from exploding.

"So what's up with this party? Are you going to go?" she asked, voluntarily steering the conversation away.

Anna admitted to going to Giselle's party.

"Hmm…"

"You should see this invitation, looks like her child drew it herself," Anna quoted as she chuckled from remembering.

"Hmm… send me," Lillian replied.

Lillian kept sighing throughout the conversation.

When it came to the point where Anna felt that this was not the end purpose of her call, she falters, trying to handle the burden shouldered upon her.

Anna continues.

"Well, listen. Giselle asked about you. But I didn't say anything. It's not my concern to interfere between you two. I told her to meet you directly."

Throughout the conversation, Lillian listened silently. She didn't utter much. Anna told her that Giselle's back with her Kid, a daughter named Lia. And that she will start working here and might continue to live here. Anna kept talking about her invitation to the party and the conversation they had. Lillian, who listened to them attentively, finally spoke out.

"Did she say that she'll come to meet me?"

This time Anna felt sorry for her friend. She could feel the frustration in Lillian's voice. Lillian Grey spent her life waiting for her first love, and then later relentlessly dated to forget the pain she endured all to herself. The once charming girl, who dreamed of living a happy life with her loved one, was left to face the harsh reality. She met many people and had a lot of breakups. The happy life with a loved one that she dreamed once changed into many fake relationships to hide her pathetic self.

Anna hesitated before giving the reply.

"I have no idea," Anna replied coldly.

"Hmm... well, a kid means she got married without telling me, I should have realized it sooner. I should have known that I'm out of her life. You keep telling me to move on and forget about her. But...."

Lillian felt sick. It was like her life just got sucked the hell out of her soul. Anna knew what she went through. All those days back then, Lillian would get drunk and make a mess everywhere she went. It was Anna, who stayed by her side and helped her from getting drawn into any adverse activities. However, she couldn't stop Lillian from becoming a player. Unable to stop her friend from such things, Anna gave space to their friendship and stepped back, letting Lillian do whatever she desired. Maybe it was for her good. At least she can forget what happened in the past and move on to her life at present.

Anna believed that these broken relationships might help her overcome Giselle and that she would finally quit sulking over the past. Despite the given space, Anna would regularly keep an eye on Lillian's dating life and often advise to stop spoiling her life and try to live for herself. She hoped that Lillian would soon settle with a steady relationship.

Easier said than done.

Lillian continued speaking.

"...but I frankly can't take that idiot's face away from my mind. Every time I go out on a date. I see a resemblance to her judging me as if I'm the one cheating on her. I know, I get it. It's merely my imagination. Still, I didn't care about that and went on many dates."

"She keeps killing me with her presence, and I specifically went out on dates to stop myself from brooding over her absence in my life. However, in the end, it didn't work. No matter who I dated or tried to love, Giselle would always end up eating my soul."

Anna listened to her friend complaining; She controlled herself from preaching Lillian until she was unable to hold it in and burst out her thoughts.

"I told you to stop making a mess out of yourself and go for counseling or something," Anna exploded at last.

She continued without holding back this time.

"Change yourself - in a good way. Lillian, you are a great writer. I accept that. But look at you. Are you living happily? You've been into a lot of relationships. And Giselle is still a hindrance to you. If you can't give up on her, then I'm telling you, you will never be happy," Anna confronted.

'Give up on her? Give up on that idiot and let me forget about her?'

Lillian appeared dazed. She couldn't give Anna a proper response and kept dragging. However, Anna was getting impatient.

"Listen! I only called you to tell this; I had met Giselle. She invited me to her party, which I am planning to attend. Now, I don't know if she is going to meet you or not, but if you wish to convey something, let me know, I'll pass it on for you. That is the least I could do for you," Anna said.

"What happens with her is something you have to deal on your own," she firmly protested in giving Lillian a chance to find happiness.

"I can't think of anything right now, Anna, I have a million things to say to her. Do you wish to help me with that?" Lillian sadly smirked at her agony.

"I'm sorry. I can't do a million things. Anyways, let me know if you come up with something. I'm hanging up, take care. Bye," Anna replied.

She cut the call after sending her message and sharing all the things he intended to share it with her best friend.

**

"A message, huh!" Lillian murmured to herself.

Resting on her bed, she replayed their conversation in her head.

The already soaked in painful memories, she couldn't take it anymore. It felt numb, thinking that the person she loved dearly went on to get married and has a kid.

'Who did she marry?' –Lillian thought.

All of these caused her mental uproar. She came downstairs to pour herself a drink to ease out the worries.

As she did, Lillian heard her mobile sound pop out loudly.

It was from Lucy. She emailed all those pictures from the trip.

A lot of pictures from the Vegas trip:

In front of the Museum,

A hot romantic kiss while watching Zumanity,

Delicious lunch at The Bellagio Hotel plus the beautiful photographs from the garden visit,

Watching the sunset with you at The Grand Canyon,

Refreshing spa therapy,

A romantic dinner, and finally that night with you.

A series of pictures hinted Lillian Grey of the new girl that is in her life now.