Friday
She woke up early, feeling guilty about everything. A deep sadness weighed on her, and all she could think about was going to the hospital, finding her father's body, and giving him the burial he deserved.
She finished getting dressed. Even though Nerea had given her a pill, she was still feeling discomfort between her legs, although it was less intense than the night before. Showering had been difficult—it stung every time the soap touched her skin.
She sighed and tied up her hair.
"All set," Nerea said as she walked into the room. "I spoke to the head of HR and we have two days off to take care of all the arrangements for the funeral."
"Thank you," Jade murmured, distant.
Her friend's situation broke the brunette's heart. She didn't deserve to suffer like this...
"Let's go."
The two of them left the room and then the hotel. They paid for a taxi, and before long they were walking through the doors of the hospital. Nerea took care of asking about Doctor Newman's whereabouts. They were told they could find him in his office.
They got into the elevator, and two minutes later, they were speaking with the receptionist.
"Is Doctor Newman in?" Nerea asked.
"Yes. Do you have an appointment?"
"No, but it's important that we speak with him."
The woman nodded and called him through the intercom. Immediately, the elderly doctor asked them to come in.
"Oh, Jade," the man stood when he saw the girl's expression. "I'm so sorry. We did everything we could to save him."
"I know," she whispered, sniffling.
"Please, take a seat," the doctor offered.
"Thank you…"
"What brings you here?" the man asked.
Jade frowned.
"I want to know what I have to do to have my father's body released to me," she said, trying to hold back tears. She still couldn't believe any of this was really happening.
"Jade…" The sorrow and confusion clouded the older man's face. "I thought… Oh my God," Doctor Newman covered his face with his hands. "I'm truly sorry, I don't even have the words to talk to you right now."
"Doctor, you're scaring me. What happened?"
"Speak already, you've got me on the verge of a breakdown," Nerea complained.
"Yesterday I tried to contact you by every possible means. Your mother was informed of what happened, and she took responsibility for the body. She signed all the documents and requested your father be cremated… She said that's what Lucas wanted and that you would agree. We had to proceed since we couldn't reach you."
"She what?" Jade blinked in confusion, and felt like she was about to collapse.
Her mother had done it again—made a decision without her. And this time, Jade would never forgive her for it.
"That witch," the brunette growled.
"Jade, truly, we did everything we could to reach you but…"
"Don't worry," she interrupted, standing up. Nerea did the same. "I know it wasn't your fault," she added with a small, sad smile. "This is all on me. The ashes—where are they?"
"Alicia took them," he informed her.
"Thank you for everything, doctor. Have a good day," she said, taking her leave.
"Goodbye."
She left the hospital with her friend and they got in a taxi to return to the hotel.
"I want to leave…" Jade whispered, shedding a tear.
"What?" the brunette frowned.
"I don't want to be here. I want to go far away, forget everything. I just want peace," she said, staring out the window, absent.
"If that's what you want, then that's what we'll do…"
{...}
They entered the hotel and went straight to their room. Jade packed up all her things—she wasn't going to leave anything behind. Nerea helped with everything. She tried to lift her spirits by chatting and trying to make her laugh, but it didn't help… Jade only gave half-hearted answers, and often stayed silent.
When the suitcases were ready, the blonde left the room and told her friend she was going to Maximiliano's office.
She knocked, and was let in instantly. Seeing Armand sitting at the desk reminded her that her friend had left early Monday for Aspen.
"Armand, I forgot you're helping out Maximiliano," she said.
The dark-haired man studied his friend and immediately sensed something was wrong. Though they hadn't known each other long, he'd quickly learned how to read her. She was like an open book for him—transparent and not very good at lying…
He stood up and walked over to her.
"Do you want to tell me what's going on?"
She didn't answer. She simply threw her arms around him, an action that surprised the man, but he didn't hesitate to return the hug. The blonde cried while—still clinging to him—she told him about her father's death. Without going into details, she poured her heart out, telling him what had happened with Dominick, which made Armand—who was usually calm—curse Dom with a string of profanities.
He scolded her for not asking him for help, saying he would have done it without hesitation. That only made her cry harder, feeling even worse. But Armand became more understanding, knowing she wasn't doing well at all. Once she had calmed down a bit, she wiped her tears.
"I need…" she hiccuped, wiping her nose with the sleeve of her sweater, "I want to leave this place. I need your help, Armand," she pleaded. "Take me far away…"
"Whatever you say. Do what you need to do," he advised. "Because tonight, we're leaving New York…"
[....]
5:37 p.m.
Jade had told Nerea everything, and even though she still didn't fully trust Armand, she decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.
The blonde asked her friend to go with her to her house. She needed to pick up her father's ashes, her things, and Nerea's. Armand had arranged transportation so they could load everything with ease.
The vehicle stopped in front of the house and both girls got out. Nerea gave her shoulder a squeeze and smiled at her, silently letting her know she was there for her.
Jade took out her key when she reached the door. She frowned when it wouldn't open the lock.
"Something wrong?" Nerea asked.
"It won't open," Jade replied.
"Let me try…" the brunette offered. Jade handed her the key, but it was no use. Her friend couldn't open it either, no matter how much she struggled.
"Damn it," the blonde hissed.
She banged on the door furiously, until her sister's sad eyes appeared on the other side.
"Jade!" Alicia hugged her, immediately breaking into tears. "Dad, Jade…" she sobbed, clutching her sister's shirt.
Jade broke the hug and wiped her tears.
"Don't worry. Everything will be alright. He wouldn't want to see us like this."
Nerea greeted the teen and offered her condolences for the death of her father. The three of them entered the house and sat in the living room.
"Where's your mother, Alicia?" Jade asked, her expression blank.
"But Jade, she's also—"
Jade raised her hand to silence her sister.
"I don't want to argue. I'm not in the mood for it today. Please, just answer."
"She went out with Elías a while ago. Allison's in her room, she hasn't come out since she got back from the hospital," the girl informed her.
"Perfect. Better that they're not here," Jade closed her eyes for a moment. "Alicia, I have to go," she announced, watching her sister's confused expression. "I'm leaving the city in a few hours. I wish I could take you with me, but I can't. You're still a minor, and Janeth could sue me and claim I kidnapped you."
"But why are you leaving? Are you going to leave me alone?"
"Alicia, please," the blonde sighed deeply. The situation hurt her even more than her sister. She was heartbroken and didn't want to leave her, but she had no other choice. There was no way she was staying. "Don't make this harder for me. I'm not going to give you my reasons because they don't concern you," she stated. "But I can't stay, and I don't expect you to accept it. Just… don't judge me for leaving, because I won't be able to handle it if you hate me. I'm…"
She swallowed hard, trying to hold back her tears, but it was nearly impossible. Her chest ached, her heart had nothing left to cling to. Her life had lost all meaning, but she had to stay focused.
"There's an account in your name. Aunt Martha will manage it. I'll ask her to take care of you, even from a distance. She'll give you some money each month to buy your things, without Janeth noticing," she took her sister's hands, "there's enough money to pay for a good education. Don't ask me where the money came from," she added, seeing Alicia was about to ask. "Just take care of yourself, please. I'm going to change my number, and for a while, we won't be in contact."
"But Jade, I want to know how you're doing, where you are…"
"That won't be possible," she shook her head. She knew it wasn't Alicia's fault, and that she didn't deserve to pay for her mistakes, but Jade had to disappear. "I promise I'll send you a letter. But you can't know where I am—no one can. Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on you, and if anything happens, don't hesitate to call Aunt Martha. I'll leave you a number you should only use for emergencies. Don't call it unless it's truly important. Do you understand?"
"Yes. Don't worry, I'll do everything you say," she promised.
"That's good to hear."
"Alicia, do you know why Jade's key wouldn't open the door?" the brunette asked, speaking for the first time in a while.
"Elías changed the lock yesterday," she replied, looking down.
"And as always, Janeth said nothing," the blonde muttered bitterly, shaking her head.
"That's right."
"Well, Jade, let's go get the stuff," Nerea stood up.
"Yeah. Alicia, where are Dad's ashes?"
"In his room, on the nightstand," she answered.
The blonde nodded and went upstairs with Nerea.
"Nerea, go to my room and start packing some of my things. I'll go…"
"Go on."
Jade nodded and turned in the opposite direction from her friend. She grabbed the doorknob and walked into the room.
She looked around, not missing a single corner, remembering the moments she had shared with her father. She went and sat on the bed, staring at the photo of him with her and her sister, resting beside the urn.
She picked it up and hugged it close to her chest. She remembered her father's smile, all the love he had given her, despite everything.
She placed the urn back on the table and got up. She found a suitcase where she packed some of his belongings—photos, his favorite shirt, a few books, and other keepsakes. She took the suitcase and the urn down to the car, then went back to help her friend.
"I've got almost everything ready," Nerea said, closing a suitcase.
They packed everything into the car and returned to the room for any last items they might have forgotten.
"I'm tired," Nerea flopped onto the bed. "So… you're really leaving," she murmured, staring at the ceiling.
Jade lay beside her and stared at the ceiling too.
"I have to go, Ner. I can't stay here anymore. I need to get away from all of this and find peace. I feel so awful, Ner, really—I don't think I could survive if I stayed. And even if it's cowardly of me to leave like this, I don't care. I just want to be far away," she said with a hiccup, a tear slipping down her cheek.
Nerea sat up, and so did she.
"I'm your friend, and I'll always be here for you, to support you in whatever you decide. And if leaving is what you think is best, then do it!" she said with a laugh, wiping a tear from her cheek. "It's the hormones," she excused herself—Nerea hated crying.
"Yeah, right," Jade said, hugging her. "I love you so much, Ner. Why don't you come with me? Don't worry about Armand—he's a good person, and it'll be fine."
"I can't go. Not right now. You know my grandma depends on me, and she can't be traveling. But we'll stay in touch one way or another. You'll see, you're not getting rid of me…" They both smiled.
"I'll find a way for us to stay connected," she promised. "Besides, I don't think I could bear seeing Dominick again and having him mock me. I wouldn't be able to take it," she confessed, looking down at her hands. "I don't know what would be worse—him laughing at me for accepting money in exchange for… sex," she barely managed to say, "or him rubbing it in my face that he was the first…"
"What did you just say?!" Janeth shouted, slamming the door as she stormed in. "It's all true! You sold yourself to that man like a filthy whore!"
Her eyes went wide—not because her own mother had insulted her. No. What shattered her, what gnawed at her soul, was knowing that… in a way… she was right.