Love. What exactly was it? Cassie Greene thought as lazily rolled out of her bed. She had watched her elder sister break down a couple of times after a breakup. And made her deduce that love meant pain. The first a guy confessed to her back in high school, she requested a transfer to a new school.
Done with her morning shower she dabbed her face with a little makeup before going down to meet her mom.
"Good morning". She greeted me as she sat on one of the kitchen chairs.
"Good morning sweetie, how was your night?". Her mom said as she dished Cassie's favorite pancakes.
"Same". Cassie dryly said and her mom rolled her eyes.
"You say that all the time". Her mom said turning to face the pancakes she was making.
"She's a boring Sadie". Verla her elder sister said as she walked into the kitchen.
"I'm not. I just don't have anything that interests memes".
"Exactly, twenty-four, and you haven't ever brought a guy to the house," Verla said.
"I'm not ready for a relationship now ".
"Then when will you be ready? God, Cass you are twenty-four. Your mates are married with kids." Her mom said uncomfortable with the fact that her second daughter had never brought hope to a partner. She would be more terrified if she were gay.
"I not them, okay. Verla hasn't married and you are divorced so don't pressure me!". Cassie spited out without control earning a yell from her sister. Only when the words had come did she realize how hurt she had made her mom feel.
"Apologize, right now ". Verla scolded.
"Excuse me," Cassie said leaving the kitchen.
"I'm warning you, Cassie. If you won't apologize then don't bother coming back tonight!." Verla yelled after her.
If only they knew how their love life had been affected then maybe they wouldn't be as pressuring as they were. Cassie thought as she walked out of the front door. She was more than forty minutes early to work as she grumpily walked down the pathway.
She bet Josh her boss, would be very impressed by her earliness not that she usually came late.
She worked at a publishing company as the head editor. She loved her job, reading people's work was more comforting than having to face them in real life. To be honest she was a strong romantic but...
"Hey, Cassie. Good morning. I didn't know you took this boss to work."
Jeremy her co-editor said as he joined her at the bus stand.
"Good morning," Cassie said as she tried to lighten her mood.
"So there's this book I'm working on and I think it's very good. The author is a college student and...".
"What genre is the book?". Cassie asked.
"A sci-fi but it's a good thriller". Jeremy said.
"Sci-fi isn't what we need now Jeremy." Cassie dryly said as she stepped into the bus.
"I promise you, it's good..."
"Sci-fi's are good but they don't last in the market. No one wants to read a bunch of alien science dumb shit!". Cassie busted out without realizing it.
"I'm sorry Jeremy. I'm not myself right now." She said regretting her outburst.
"I noticed". He said taking a seat behind her.
Cassie sighed as she wished things didn't have to be snappy for her this morning.
"Jeremy...". Cassie tried to say as they walked into the office building.
"Seriously, Cassie I don't know what's wrong with you. Lately, you have been more aggressive. I know things can be a little messy but you should learn not to vent your anger on others." He said stopping her from apologizing any further.
She took the stairs instead of the elevator. She needed an immediate space from people right now.
By the time she got to her office, it was seven-thirty.
"Hey, Cassie". Her boss Josh said not to let her rest from her long exercise.
"You quite early." He said falling on the white sofa in her office.
"Yeah, how's your family?." Cassie asked making sure she was in her right mind.
"Ella's doing great. My two daughters are expecting a younger brother." He brightly announced.
"Oh my gosh! That's amazing. Josh, Ella is so wonderful." Cassie said forgetting her troubles for a while.
"Yeah, my darling is very wonderful. Anyway, I came to tell you about an event. I was invited but I don't think I will be free to attend. It's a very important event and I don't want to miss it. So please could you go in place of me?. The host would appreciate it."
He said.
"Sure, anything for you Josh. Gosh, I'm so happy for you guys."
"Yeah, I know. Thank you so much for agreeing. I will send you the address." He said getting up to leave.
"Anytime ". Cassie said before he disappeared from her office.
She didn't see herself in Josh's place. And even if she did, she knew it wouldn't last.
She thought. The ring of her phone draws her out of her delusional thoughts.
"Hello". She said as she heard a familiar voice reply, she froze.
It was Her Dad, he had left home after he separated from her mother when she was eight. She could vividly remember calling out to him begging him not to go but he left.
Her mother was broken for years, she abandoned her responsibilities and let her and her older sister do whatever they liked.
Valerie was fourteen then and she brought the boys back home. Her mother didn't care as long as she disturbed her. One day, Valerie was making out with one of the boys she brought back. Cassie caught them and when she ran to her mom she told her to stay the hell out of her room.
On the evening of that day, the boy launched at Cassie threatening to hurt her if they didn't give him what he wanted. The boy was a street thief Valerie knew not of, they gave him what he wanted and bruised Cassie with his dagger.
They were left in poverty for two years until her mother recovered from her separation from their father.
"What do you want?". Cassie asked. She found out that he remarried another woman while she was in college but hadn't told her mother.
"Your mum, she's with me". He said and Cassie blinked her eyes in surprise. Why the hell was her mom with him? Where was Valerie? and why was he telling her now?
