Trapped In Lies Chapter 05
Three months later, I had lost so much weight I barely recognized myself.
The humid air of the small coastal town clung to my skin. The studio apartment I rented was on the sixth floor of an old walk-up building.
Every time I climbed the stairs, I had to stop halfway and brace myself against the wall to catch my breath.
A mirror hung on the back of the door. The woman staring back at me had tangled short hair, sharp/cheekbones, and dark circles etched beneath her eyes.
I barely recognized myself.
My landlady was kind. She knew I spent my days taking freelance translation jobs. She would occasionally bring me a bowl of homemade soup.
“Don’t work yourself so hard, sweetheart,” she would say.
I would thank her and go right back to typing.
One sleeping pill became two. Eventually, it took three just to get a few hours of restless sleep.
In my dreams, the desert wind never stopped blowing. It scraped against my skin and stung my face raw.
I would wake up to find my pillow damp with tears.
That afternoon, I finished translating a contract and collapsed onto my desk in exhaustion.
My phone buzzed.
It was a social media post from a former coworker. Dan and Hayley had held a belated wedding ceremony.
I tapped it open, and a grid of nine photographs popped up.
In the center image, Dan stood in a black tuxedo while Hayley wore a white wedding gown. They were kissing in front of a church.
The caption read: Congratulations to the happy couple! What a perfect match!
The comments were pouring in.
[Finally! Five years in the making!]
[Hayley looks stunning! Dan looks great too!]
[This wedding is straight out of a fairy tale. So jealous!]
I kept scrolling.
Then I saw one comment.
(Good thing Stella’s gone. She would’ve spoiled the whole thing.)
I locked the screen.
I opened the drawer, and the white pill bottle was still there.
I shook out ten tablets and swallowed them with cold water.
Maybe this time, I would sleep a little longer.
If I did not wake up, that would be fine too.
When I opened my eyes again, all I saw was a white ceiling.
The sharp smell of disinfectant filled my nose.
I moved my hand. An IV needle was taped to the back of it.
“You’re awake?”
A nurse walked over.
“What were you thinking? Why did you take that many sleeping pills at once?”
I tried to answer, but my throat was so dry that no sound came out.
She handed me a cup of water.
“Your landlady found you. She said you hadn’t left your apartment for two days. When you didn’t answer the door, she used her spare key.”
I took a couple of sips before asking hoarsely, “How long was I out?”
“Two days.”
The nurse adjusted the IV line.
“The police will be here later to ask you some questions.”
I closed my eyes.
Two police officers came to see me-one older and one younger.
“Stella Elba, twenty-eight years old, currently unemployed?”
The older officer glanced down at his notebook.
“Yes.”
“Why did you take an excessive amount of sleeping pills?”
“I took the wrong dose.”
“The wrong dose?”
The younger officer frowned.
“Three blister packs are missing more than a dozen pills, and you’re telling us it was an accident?”
I stared at the ceiling.
“It was an accident.”
The two officers exchanged looks.
The older one closed his notebook.
“We’re going to speak with your doctor. If you need help, you need to be honest with us.”
“I don’t need help,” I said.
They left.
That afternoon, the doctor stopped by my room.
“Your physical condition is fine, but the psychiatric team recommends a formal evaluation.”
He adjusted his glasses.
“They believe you may be showing signs of depression.”
“I know.”
“Would you consider staying for observation for a few more days?”
“No.”
I sat up in bed.
“I want to be discharged.”
The discharge process took forever.
The head nurse insisted that I sign a liability waiver before leaving.
My hand trembled badly as I put my name on the paper.
“Ms. Elba.”
She looked at me for a moment.
“You’re still young. Whatever you’re going through, it’s not the end of the road.”
I did not respond.
I simply took the paperwork and headed for the exit. Then, at the far end of the hallway, I saw someone standing there.
