The Black Sparrow

LP: Chapter 12

The next few days weren’t any better for Georgina and Lucian. It was like walking on eggshells. They barely talked. They didn’t sit down and share a meal together. He came home late, and she was already asleep. No one wanted to discuss his recent trip to Italy. Lucian didn’t want to share. Georgina didn’t want to ask. Both were afraid to hear what the other had to say. That’s how it is when you love someone and don’t want to lose them. You just wait until everything gets better on its own.

Or maybe people just don’t want to take action because they don’t want to take the blame. It’s easier to lose that person than to be stupid enough to stay.

Like tonight, Lucian came home late, past eleven. He was unbuttoning his shirt when Georgina spoke. He thought she was already asleep.

“I’m tired of dancing around this. Do you have time to talk?”

Georgina was aware that his father was sick and that there were a lot of things going on with his family. But the point of being in a relationship is to have someone to share everything with. After all, Lucian and Georgina had planned their lives together from the beginning. She just couldn’t figure out when one of them had fallen into the cracks. Or maybe she knew, but she didn’t want to admit it. It all started when Lucian saved that damn woman from the alley.

“It’s late. Shouldn’t you be sleeping?”

“Are you sleeping well?” Georgina asked. Lucian sighed. “Because since you left for Spain, I haven’t been sleeping well. I’m constantly worried about you. I know you were busy, which is why you barely had time to call or message me. And that’s totally fine. But I sense you don’t want to be back here. So why did you come back?”

Instead of answering Georgina’s question, Lucian went into the bathroom. He turned on the shower and stripped off all his clothes. He stood in the shower for a long time to calm his mind. He didn’t want a confrontation tonight, but he had seen it coming. He had exhausted Georgina’s patience, and he would admit it was all his fault. He really thought he could get away from all of it and have a peaceful and quiet life with her. But he had failed, even now.

When he finished his shower, Georgina was no longer in bed. He lay down and tried to sleep, but his mind wouldn’t cooperate. He had almost worked himself to death in the office. Lucian took on additional jobs even though his head was about to burst from thinking too much. He couldn’t help but get up to look for her. He silently cursed himself for hurting Georgina’s feelings. He found her in the kitchen, sitting on the floor.

She was sitting in the dark, but in the moonlight, he could see her figure. She was holding a bottle of vodka and drinking straight from it.

“Let’s go to bed.” He approached her and reached for the bottle, but she pulled it away.

“Do you really think if we talked now, everything would be okay?"

I didn't answer.

"Did you meet someone else?” she asked out of the blue.

“What? Why would you even say that?” His veins were pulsing in his temples, and the question about whether he had someone else only made it worse. He wasn’t interested in anyone but Georgina. “Give it to me.” He reached for the bottle again, but instead of handing it over, Georgina took another swig and set it aside, far from him.

“Something changed the moment you left me in Spain. I want to know what it is.”

“You already know my father is sick. That’s all there is to it.” He remained standing in front of her, and they felt like fools talking in the dark kitchen. Lucian thought it was better that way. At least she couldn’t see the expression on his face, nor the pain etched on Georgina’s.

“When did you become a liar?”

“Come on, Georgina. It’s not like you told me everything either.” She didn’t respond. “One thing is for sure, though: I don’t have anyone else.”

A moment of silence passed between them. They remained in their positions, and no one wanted to move.

“Do you know Elena?” Georgina came up with the most annoying questions, but Lucian had to be patient with her. He didn’t know how to answer. He didn’t really know that woman. “That’s okay. You don’t have to answer. Sooner or later, I will find out who she is.”

“Why are you even wasting time on that woman? She’s not important. I saved her from those men, and I haven’t heard anything from her since.”

Georgina let out a little laugh. “Your voice croaked. You are not a very good liar, Lucian.”

“Stop with the nonsense, Georgina. How many have you had to drink? Give me the bottle, and let’s go to bed.”

“I am not even drunk, Lucian. Even if I finish this bottle, my mind will still be clear.”

“Okay. I agree with whatever you want to say. Can we go to sleep now?” Lucian asked her irritably. He was tired, and he still had an early day tomorrow. “We can talk tomorrow if you want, but now is not a good time.”

“Okay,” she replied after a moment. “Go to bed, and I’ll take the couch. My heart aches just being in the same bed with you.”

Georgina stood up and didn’t even sway. She was right; she wasn’t drunk.

“Do you know what hurts? It’s knowing the ending but not being able to accept that it’s all there is.” Her laughter was hollow. “But don’t worry, Lucian. When all of these fails, just call my name, and I will be there.” Lucian shook his head, followed by a deep sigh. “Just don’t take too long; I’m bad at waiting.”