The Reunion

She kept on staring at the ceiling for hours with nothing but emptiness. It was already midnight but she couldn't sleep a wink. She turned to see Ella snoozing, her mother sleeping beside her.

A few hours ago she had opened her eyes to see herself resting on a bed surrounded with worried faces. She then realized that she had gotten admitted to a hospital, remembering she had fainted at the funeral as she had been crying her lungs out for Miss Hannah.

'Hannah.. ' Her eyes welled up remembering her beautiful Miss Hannah-smiling while showing her visible wrinkles as she stared at Adrienne with pure love in her eyes. 'Why god.. just why. Am I not allowed to be loved? Aren't I allowed to love? Why do you have to take all the people who I treasure the most out of my life! What did I do so-to deserve this!? Tell me god.. please..' She couldn't control it any longer and burst up as she cried through the night in muffled sobs.

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Months passed by. Almost a year passed away ever since they got married. Adrienne was not acting normal. Her body was present but her mind wandered elsewhere which even she herself didn't know. Eric began to get more and more flustered seeing her state. Even though he didn't love her, he still got worried. Once she almost died of hunger, she neither ate nor drank a drop. He had to drag her out of her room and force feed her. And like that as he realized Adrienne's fear for Eric, it became his daily routine to have food with Adrienne beside him-to not let her die. So, for the past few days, he had been taking care of her even though they had a new maid. She refused to consider her one and never obeyed her, thus Eric was left out with no choice. But she was never herself. She wouldn't talk nor glance at anyone. She always stared at an empty space in front with a blank face, without showing any emotion. Seeing her state, Eric got more guilty for blaming her for Hannah's death. So he thought of letting her go 'out' in hope of seeing Adrienne-being herself again.

"You may start preparing to go for your classes by tonight." Hearing him say so, she lifted her chin and stared at Eric in disbelief. She couldn't believe her ears. "You heard me. I'll inform the driver to take you there from tomorrow on. And stop staring at me like that." He said whilst staring at his plate. "But promise me one thing." He turned to face her as she waited for him to continue. "Don't make me regret my decision. Got it?" She slowly nodded. "Good." He said smiling-getting up to leave for his office.

All of a sudden her heart skipped a beat. This was the first time, Eric ever smiled at her. A genuine smile. She felt something weird, which she didn't know would come back after she had abandoned 'em long back. 'No Adrienne stop! It's not what you think. You're just being delusional! Don't let those petty emotions get to you.' Shaking her head vigorously, she got up, walking upstairs-towards her room. Closing the door, she started preparing for taking a nap after climbing onto her bed and closed her eyes. All of a sudden, Eric's smiley face popped up on her mind. She then started to shoo them away. And after her at most struggle, she finally got to sleep.

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"Adrienne!" She turned to the voice and saw Tanya and Leah rushing towards her, crying. They both hugged her tight and started to sob hard. "W-we are extremely s-sorry Addy!" Tanya apologized in-between her sobs.

"We really had no idea about it girl. That fucker was such a scoundrel! Tany broke up with him the moment we knew, after you left. He had been a member of it before Kendall got into a relationship with Tany. she didn't have a clue. The offer he got in making 'you' participate was more than he could ever ask for. He had made a fraud deal among one of his clients which was to bring a girl from outside. He didn't even think that you were his girlfriend's bestfriend! But don't worry Addy, we beat him to death and handed him over to the police. Now he would never ever think of doing that to any girl!" Leah explained before taking a step back to look at her.

She took a long breath and exclaimed. "It's okay. Months had passed and I had already forgotten about it so dont worry. I'm fine now, look!" She showed them, turning around.

"You are not.. " Tanya started to cry again, noticing Adrienne's hollow eyes. Sighing hard, Adrienne asked if they could meet after class as she had a lot to explain.

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"Sorry for your loss Addy.. "

"Don't worry about it. I'm okay now." She smiled, reassuringly.

"But the fact that you are already married was an utter shock to us. And that too to the one and only Eric Johnson. The one with a millions of estate. Does he take good care of you? I heard he's a real asshole to his employees. Say one word and imma go ki-"

"Leah. He's not as cold as the rumours state. He's been a good husband and looks after me well." 'I wish' "You guys saw him at the club right. He was the one who rescued me from that old man. That itself shows how much he cares."

"We are so glad to hear that babe. I'm so happy and thankful to god for granting you with such an amazing married life. Hope you always stay the same, forever. We love you so much." Tanya moved to give her a kiss-on her cheek, followed by Leah.

"Argh~ I wish god grants me with one like yours."

'You don't want that' Adrienne fretted. She wouldn't want her friends to go through the same. 'At least let my friends live a life as they like. Please bless them with a partner who would make them happy forever. I would love to see that'. She smiled thinking about her own miserable life. No one should go through that. She can endure all the problems her friends would face, in the upcoming future. Let it all come at her. After all, her life is meaningless, let she get to live for others.

"Anyways!" Tanya snapped her from her thoughts. "We're so happy to see you again Addy, after so long!"

"Me too!" she said, chuckling.

"But Addy, the exams are coming up soon and you got a lot to learn. Since its been months. We are about to step into our next year soon." Hearing about exams was giving her a headache. She had no idea what they had been teaching half the year. Preparing few months before exam was what Adrienne had been doing since high school. She was getting tensed. "Dont worry girl, we'll fill you in with the portions. You'll do great!" They cheered her up which helped as she felt herself calming down.

"Thanks a lot peeps. You have always been a great help."

"What are friends for!" They laughed together walking outside the café as she waved at Tanya and Leah, bidding them goodbye as she got into her car. Adrienne really enjoyed the day. She felt like she could get herself back. Be her usual self. Maybe she was moving on from grieving for long. It's a miracle how our buddies could change you so quick. She was happy to have them both by her side. She smiled through the whole ride to the mansion. Ignoring the driver's multiple stares looking at Adrienne as if she had really lost her mind, he was just getting worried.

'Happiness can hurt sometimes if it's short lived' The sudden thought made her frown. She sensed something. Something bad. That she was yet to experience something really unpleasant. Which would shatter her completely.