Chapter 20
I woke up the next morning believing I was in the palace again. I rolled over looking for my phone on my night table. There wasn't one there. I turned over in my sofa bed and my heart sunk. Everything from yesterday came flooding back into my memory. I opened my eyes and found myself in Sarah's apartment. My eyes immediately swelled up with tears. I wiped them away quickly and took a deep breath. Today was a new day. It couldn't be as bad as yesterday.
Today would have been the day that Eddie and I left for our romantic vacation together. Tears welled up into my eyes as I thought of how I should have been spending my fall break- with the man that I loved- instead of single and nursing a broken heart.
I got up and put on some yoga pants and a sweatshirt. I wanted to go for a run. I needed to get out of the apartment and try to clear my head. Most importantly, I needed to stop this pain in my heart. I knew that I would not be able to simply turn it off, but I needed to distract myself. Hopefully, running for a little bit would help me do that.
I walked into the kitchen to get some cereal to find Sarah and Clara talking. I assumed they were talking about me since they got really quiet once I walked in the kitchen.
"Are you going out today?" Sarah asked me, surprised.
"It's either that or stay here and feel sorry for myself all day long," I replied pouring some milk into my cereal. "I'm going to go out for a run after breakfast," I said. "I need to distract myself."
"Well, I think you want to a look outside," Sarah said.
I went over to the window. Damn it. The press had found me.
"Shit," I said. "They found me."
"Is there anyway to get rid of them?" Clara asked.
I was quiet for a minute.
"I have to go out and talk to them," I said remembering what Eddie had told me once.
"But are you up for that?" she asked.
"No," I said, wanting to cry again.
"I think you need to see the paper from today," Sarah said handing it to me.
"Paige Morgan ordered to leave palace," I said reading the headline out loud.
"Well, that's actually accurate," I said looking down at the article.
"American fiancé of King Edvard of Denmark, Paige Morgan, was ordered to leave the palace yesterday afternoon according to unknown sources. The couple apparently had a heated argument in regards to Morgan's current scandalous picture which ended with her being ordered to leave. Morgan is reportedly having an affair with Jake Smith, an American student studying medicine at the University of Copenhagen. The palace had not been able to be contacted for a comment," I said putting the newspaper down.
"How are you going run with them out there?' Sarah asked. "How are we going to leave?"
"They don't know who I'm staying with. They aren't that good. Someone saw me walk in here yesterday with my bags. That's how they know. I'll leave first and hopefully that will distract them from bothering anyone else."
"Are you going to talk to them?" Sarah asked.
"No, I'm not ready," I said looking down. I could feel the tears swelling up in my eyes again. Today wasn't going to be any easier than yesterday. Reality had sunk in, and I was more angry than anything today. Angry at whomever did this to us, angry at Eddie, and angry at myself for loving so much and allowing myself to be hurt so deeply.
Chapter 21
"Paige Morgan!" I hear several journalists yell my name as I walked outside.
"What happened between you and King Edvard!?" I hear one yell.
"Is the wedding officially called off?" I hear another yell.
"Who is Jake Smith?" Someone else yelled.
"Excuse me," I said trying to get through the crowds. Don't cry, I told myself over and over again.
I heard about one hundred more questions being thrown at me. I was so overwhelmed. I just needed to go somewhere- anywhere. I wasn't going to stay in the apartment all day long feeling sorry for myself. Today was the first day of my fall break, and I was going to enjoy some of it!
"Excuse me," I said again trying to get through a bunch of reporters huddled together. They weren't going to let me go anywhere.
"I really need to get going," I said trying to push through them. It wasn't working. I was on the verge of tears and ready to snap at them. I was literally biting my tongue.
"Paige Morgan! Just one question please!" Someone yelled.
"Okay," I said quietly. "Just one question."
"Did you truly love King Edvard?"
"Of course, I love him!" I exclaimed with a little more emotion that I had planned on. It came out more like a snap.
"Do you still love him now?" Someone else yelled.
"Of course, I do," I said trying to remain calmer this time.
"Then, why did you cheat on him?" I hear someone else yell.
"I didn't cheat on him. Someone framed me. That picture isn't real," I said. "Excuse, I need to get going," I said pushing my way through. They let me go this time. I quickly wiped a tear forming in my eye although I'm sure someone had already captured it. I looked up and saw a camera right in my face. I quickly turned away and finally got out of crowd.
Once the crowd of reporters was out of my sight, I began running. I was running fast, with force and with passion, letting out all of my anger, frustration, and hurt. I thought about Eddie, and I wondered what he was doing now. I wondered if he was angry today, too. I wondered if he was thinking about me. I began to run faster, with tears now clouding my vision. I quickly wiped them away before someone saw them. I was running, and I didn't know where I was running too. I felt a few eyes on me as some recognized me, but I was left alone by all. I was out of breath, but I began to run faster as though the fast I ran that Eddie would somehow leave my thoughts, mind, and heart.
My instincts were right when I was in class with him back in Wisconsin. I should have never have gotten involved with him. I should have just remained friends with him and fought my attraction. If I did, then I would not be in Denmark right now, completely heart-broken. I would have been at John Hopkins, continuing on with my life as Eddie continued on with his. We would have both been happy today. We both would not be suffering from a broken heart...
I found myself nearing the palace. My body was simply used to going in that direction. I saw it come into view, and I purposely turned myself around and began running in the opposite direction before more painful memories began to invoke my mind. Part of me wanted to go and yell at him for not believing me while the other part of me just wanted to see him again. I felt more tears creep up into my eyes, and this time, I let them fall as I ran away from the life that I used to know. The Paige that I used to know, and the life with the man who I loved- the life that I would have had with him. We were supposed to have children together and grow old together. Now, he was simply someone that I used to know.
