The day my world turned upside down

After a long shower, I felt relax and back to my old self. I was excited about my plan to go home. I decided to run outside to buy some gifts for Mom and Aunt Brie. It would be my first time visiting home since I moved out here.

As I was walking back to my apartment, I saw him leaning on his car. When he saw me approach the front of the house, he immediately walked towards me, partially blocking my path.

"Back again to cause more trouble." I looked at him with so much distaste. "Sorry to disappoint you, but Daniel is not here to witness your despicable performance, but then again, you already knew that."

What was he doing here? What could be his game this time? She thought.

"I deserve that." He ran his fingers against his hair, not moving away from her path.

"Please get out of my way," I tried to get around him, but just as I thought that he would let me pass, he grabbed my wrist and stopped me from my tracks.

"Please, hear me out. I'm sorry about what I did. I was over the line. I had no right to humiliate you like that." He was now standing close to me. His words were barely a whisper, but I could hear him clearly as he leaned close to my ears.

I began to scold myself because, after his appalling actions, my body was still responding to him. The little connection on our skins was sending shivers in my spine. I did not want his effect on me, and I despised him more for making me feel this way. I had to shake myself to get out of his spell.

"Wow, the great Nathan Hayes saying sorry. There must be something wrong with you," putting much cynicism in my words. If he thought that, his appeal would work on me. Then again, he had another thing coming.

"Come on. Give me another chance to prove how sorry I am," as his hold on me loosened. Here was my chance. I snapped my hands away from him and swung them across his face. I was fuming. After what he did, he thought he could show his face and ask for forgiveness.

"You've gotta be kidding me. After all the things you did and said. You want me to forget it and forgive you. Just like that," moving a step back away from this appalling man. The nerve of this guy. I wondered what made him think that he could easily show his face to me, and in turn, I would fall on his feet and accept his apologies.

He was rubbing his cheek and jaw. It must have hurt since I could still feel the sting in my palms. Internally, I was congratulating myself for standing up to him.

"There was a reason why I did all those things." He remained calm as he accepted what I did without complaining. I did not see the usual self-righteous guise in his eyes as I looked at them. In its place was something else that I could not fathom. As if his eyes were in an internal battle.

"Well, I don't care about your reasons. You tried to sabotage my relationship with Daniel." I had to look away before those eyes swallowed me up and drowned me into its depth.

"I'm sorry," he said again, moving slightly away. Finally, getting the hint that he was not welcome.

"Please leave me alone," I begged him. I could not deal with him anymore. I was just too emotionally exhausted. I run into the house, not letting myself looked back.

He did not say any more words nor tried to stop me from leaving either. I shut the door, securing all the locks before going straight to my room.

Alone, I tried to forget my encounter with Nathan. Instead, I focused on his face, Luke on the painting on my table. I think I did alright despite my lack of practice. I took it and hoped that it would calm me down.

Luke's eyes were my favorite. I could stare at it all day, but somehow Nathan's face came to view. That could not be right. Leave me alone, I shouted in the silence of my room. I placed the canvas back on the table and grabbed my phone.

Calling my mom to tell her of my plan should change my foul mood. Hearing her voice did uplift my spirit. She was very exhilarated to see me again soon. I reckoned how hard it was for her to let me go when I moved out, but she did it anyway. She did not try to stop me. Only gave her blessings.

I had many questions I wanted to ask her, but that could wait. She held the key to what was happening to me, and I trusted that she had her reasons for keeping it from me. She was my mom. She only had good intentions in her heart. She must have done that to protect me, just like Harry had done when he was alive.

"I'm just dropping by the diner in the morning before catching a flight. Maybe you can fetch me at the airport." I was saying through the phone.

"Ok. I can't wait to see you tomorrow," Mom enthusiastically exclaimed.

"I'll see you, Mom. I have to go." After a few endearments, we said our goodbyes.

I packed light, selecting a few things to bring with me. I still had my old stuff back at home, so there was no need for much. For the first time after a long time, I felt untroubled. Staring at the face on the canvas, I could sense that everything was coming into pieces. Answers were almost at my grasp.

His face with his beautiful blue eyes calmed me down. I fell asleep staring at those eyes, giving me the best sound sleep I ever had, ever since that fateful day I woke up.

The day my world turned upside down.