the mysterious Morris family

002.claire

Brian stood in stunned silence, his heart racing as he stared blankly at Mabel. The woman he had loved fiercely now seemed like a stranger, her face twisted into a smirk that sent chills down his spine.

“Brian, please leave my apartment. You know I can charge you with attempted robbery,” Mabel threatened, her voice dripping with malice.

“Mabel, you’ll regret what you just did. I promise you this,” Brian said, his voice low and shaky as he turned to leave.

“Wait, Brian!” Mabel called out, her tone shifting abruptly to one of mock innocence. “I’ve already been regretting it! Brian!” She feigned remorse, her grin betraying her true feelings.

“Really?” Brian asked, disbelief etched across his face. People could change, he knew that, but this felt different.

“Yes, Brian! I regret it already!” Mabel insisted, her eyes wide with a false sincerity.

“So, you’re ready to take me back?” Brian reached out, longing to touch her, but she dodged his hand like he was a disease.

“Don’t touch me, you loser! Do you think I would accept you back? Pathetic! For your information, I’ve been dating Krayon for the past two years,” she spat, each word slicing through him.

In an instant, she leaped into Krayon’s arms, kissing him passionately, their laughter echoing in the room. “You can’t afford my bangles. What am I even saying? In your lifetime, you could never buy my bag!” Mabel mocked, her words punctuated by Krayon’s chuckle.

Brian felt as if the ground had been ripped from beneath him. He had never faced such humiliation, not even from his first girlfriend, Aisha, who had left without a word.

“Now leave my house, loser!” Mabel shouted, her voice like a whip cracking through the air.

With one last glance at the girl he once loved, Brian turned and walked out, his mind reeling. He could barely focus on the road as Mabel’s taunts replayed in his head like a relentless loop.

He decided to park near the bridge that separated the bustling areas of the glorious city from Orwell University. As he stood in the middle of the bridge, he gazed down at the vast river, its surface shimmering under the moonlight. The tall, evergreen trees swayed gently, their leaves whispering secrets he wished he could hear. Hours slipped by unnoticed as he wrestled with despair.

*Am I that bad?* he thought bitterly. *All the girlfriends I’ve had leave in the end. First Aisha, without a goodbye, and now Mabel. What kind of ill fate is this?* The self-loathing felt like a weight pressing down on his chest.

By the time Brian returned to his apartment, dawn had broken. He had no time to sleep. After a quick shower, he dressed for work. Looking at his reflection in the mirror, he saw a faded shirt, worn from countless washes, and torn trousers that hung loosely. His slippers looked like they were begging for retirement. *I look like a beggar,* he thought. *Just my outfit is enough to drive people away.*

As he walked down the street, he felt the weight of stares on his back. Embarrassment flushed his cheeks, but he masked it with bravado.

At Mades, the local eatery, Brian began his shift by mopping the floor.

“Hello, Brian!” Claire greeted him, her smile brightening the dull atmosphere. “Good morning!”

“Morning, Claire,” he replied, forcing a smile despite the turmoil within him.

“You’re always the first to come to work,” Claire noted, her voice cheerful.

“Time waits for no one. Whatever you do, do it with passion,” he replied, trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy.

“Thank God I found the two of you,” Mr. Roland, the owner, chimed in, his face alight with excitement. “Is anything the matter?” Claire asked, sensing his enthusiasm.

“Guys, we just received an exclusive order from Helena's Heaven for pizzas and drinks!” Mr. Roland announced, his voice brimming with joy.

“But I thought Helena's normally sells food and drinks?” Brian asked, confusion creasing his brow.

“You guys know that Helena's Heaven isn’t just a restaurant; it’s also a hostel,” Mr. Roland replied, exasperated.

“We know!” Brian and Claire chimed in unison.

“The sweetest part is that they’ve already paid in advance, so you two need to hurry,” Mr. Roland urged, his impatience palpable.

“But sir, today was supposed to be my day off,” Brian complained, hoping for a moment to catch his breath.

“You don’t want to go?” Mr. Roland asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Sir, don’t worry, we’ll go. Don’t mind Brian; he’s just tired!” Claire said, shooting him a glance that dared him to argue.

After loading the goods into the trunk of the car, they zoomed off towards Helena's Heaven.

“Brian, you’re not in a good mood. What’s wrong?” Claire asked, her eyes narrowing with concern as she glanced at him.

“Nothing, just woke up from a bad dream,” he replied, hoping to deflect her questions.

Recognizing his reluctance to discuss it, Claire dropped the subject, and they drove in silence. The day felt painfully slow to her, and in a bid to lighten the mood, she switched on the music player. Her favorite song, “Give Me One for the Road” from Davido's timeless album, filled the car.

As Claire sang along, her voice bright and cheerful, Brian felt a wave of anguish wash over him. Each note seemed to echo Mabel’s words: “You have always been working hard, but your money has never been enough, and you can never make money that would be equivalent to Krayon.”

Those words spiraled in his mind, igniting a headache that pressed against his temples like a vice. His focus wavered, and the car began to swerve dangerously. Claire's eyes widened in fear, nearly causing a panic attack.

“Brian! Are you okay?” she shouted, gripping the seat.

“I’m having a little headache. Can you drive while I rest?” he managed to say, fighting to keep his eyes open.

“Okay,” Claire replied, quickly taking the wheel as Brian leaned back, hoping to shake off the fog clouding his mind.

They continued down the road, with Brian drifting in and out of sleep, the words of Mabel haunting him.

“Wake up, Brian! We’re here!” Claire’s voice jolted him awake.

“Ugh, let me sleep a little longer,” he groaned, still too dazed to move.

“Come on! We have no time to waste!” Claire insisted, tugging at his arm until he reluctantly climbed out of the car.

As they approached the trunk to unload the food, Brian’s heart felt heavy. Each step felt like a reminder of his failures, of the love he had lost, and the life that seemed to be slipping through his fingers.

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