Even from the street, loud sobbing from the first floor of the white marble apartment could be heard. It seeped through the window that Alycia hadn't bothered to close when she read Thalia's letter. At first, all she felt was shock. She had no idea Thalia had this in her. And Alycia really hadn't noticed how much Thalia had changed from the girl she had met five years ago at a gas station.
It didn't take too long for the words neatly printed in Thalia's handwriting to really sink in, and that's when the sobbing had started. Not long after, Alycia had fished out her phone from her satchel. Her hands where shaking as she dialed the number of her closest friend, before raising the phone to her ear and trying to control her labored breathing.
Elise answered on the third ring.
"Hello?" Elise's voice was soft, and kind of scratchy, as if she just woke up. "Alycia?"
Alycia took in a shaky breath, gripping her phone so tightly her knuckles turned white. "She's gone, Elise." she managed, choking down another sob.
Springs creaked on the other end of the line, and Alycia could picture Elise sitting up on her old mattress. "What do you mean?" she said, probably confused. "Who's gone? What happened?"
"Thalia," Alycia said, bringing a hand to her face in an attempt to swat away the tears rolling down her face. "Thalia's gone. It's over."
Silence hung heavy in the air. Alycia figured Elise was trying to process what Alycia had just said. Only a few seconds later did Elise speak again, her voice grave. "What happened, Alycia?"
Alycia hiccuped a few times before she managed to find an answer. "Thalia decided it's time to move on. I bet she's got new dreams she's trying to fulfill too. God, Elise, it hurts." she spoke softly, taking in rugged breaths every now and again. She reached over the desk she sat at, tugging Thalia's note towards her. "She-she left me a note. Called Anya to help her pack her bags, went downtown and closed the bank account. Something about it not being another shrink or compromise... Good lord, Elise, what do I do?"
"Nothing," Elise hummed, an air of confidence in her tone. More springs creaked as she moved again, probably getting up this time. "You do nothing. You'll just end up hurting yourself."
"But.. Elise, she thinks the problems are mine." Alycia hiccuped, trying to dry the newly fallen tears falling down her cheeks. "Hell, Lia's probably feeling just fine, but I'm not."
"Alycia," Elise said, and a clattering sound could be heard in the background. It sounded like a pot of some sort. "Crap," Elise muttered, sounding father away from the phone, before coming back full force. "Sorry. Alycia, you gotta let go. If she left, she didn't deserve you."
"What about the lies, Elise? What about the things she swore, god, she swore so many things to be true." Alycia prompted, pausing and getting lost in her own thoughts. "What about her, Elise? What about Thalia?" she breathed, voice close to a whisper.
"Thalia will be Thalia," Elise hummed, voice far away again. "Did she say any other reason why she left?"
Alycia shook her head to clear her thoughts. But it didn't help. They clashed together, hurt from Thalia's note, confusion as to where she went wrong, outrage that slowly dimmed into sadness... and Alycia couldn't sort one out from the other. "She's sure something wonderful died. Then again, Thalia decided it's her right to decide too, so I guess that's why she has secrets she doesn't confide. She decided not to." Alycia spoke slowly, before pent up rage started to show itself in her words. "So she can go and hide and run away. She can run away and find something better then me, cause that's what she decided she wants. Something better. Something simple."
Elise stayed quiet, getting the feeling that Alycia wasn't done talking. Really, she wished she could be of more help, but she was miles away at the moment, and couldn't afford to get a plane ticket just to give Alycia a hug and a back-rub.
"God, maybe... what if she gave me a day? Brought back the lies, hung them on the wall so I could see why she decided we have no chance. But I guess not, cause Thalia's over, and I don't know where to turn. I'm covered with scars, for gods sake ! And I did nothing to earn them, Elise. Nothing. Maybe there was supposed to be a lesson the learn, but that wouldn't change the fact she's gone, and I'm here and Elise... Elise why does it hurt so bad?"
An audible sigh was heard across the line, followed by the sound of shuffling, and then Elise's voice. "She was your wife, Alycia. I'd be scared if it did anything other then hurt."