Chapter one
I stared at the cold glass wrapped around my bare hands. It was a rainy day here in Long Beach, California. It was surprising because it would never have rained this hard before, but right now it is. A million raindrops are falling on the soaked gray cement of this house, and I'm standing beside the window of my room as I watch it happen. I used to hate the rain because it reminded me of a depressing moment in my life when I lost two great parents due to a devastating car accident while on their way home. The rain got too slippery, which made them crash into a tree so tragically. I was 10 at the time when I lost them, and now I'm 23, and the rain has grown on me as a place of comfort for my sadness because I find it fascinating how the rain cries harder than I ever have. I think I was too numb for it to be bottled up until I'd come to a breaking point. That exact moment happened when I lost him too. He became my breaking point, and ever since then, I've cried so hard that the rain almost felt sad for me. I felt sad for myself.
which is why I need to tell my story. My story of how a guy like him ruined my life that used to be so bright and gold. The flowers used to shine so beautifully, but now I've watched them rot into cold and dark when I would pass by. It was the worst time of my life. I wish I never met him or acknowledged him the way the other girls did too. My life was destroyed because of him; I lost everything—my friends, my work, everything. People hated me because of him, and I've been hiding behind a curtain because of him. It's time for me to shine bright and bring myself back from this depressing life. I need my life back, and I need people to hear me, and it's not going to happen until the cameras are ready for me to speak about it. I'll be recorded and published for everyone to hear my part of the story. Silence isn't the choice, my defense is. The only person who stood by my side was Claire, my best friend, and she was going to be the one setting up the camera and pressing record as I sit across from her and speak about it.
"You ready, kiddo?" My grandmother peered into the room where I was. I swerved my body around to face her; her presence beamed at me with sorrow, and her facial expression glowed with sureness. This woman has been in my life since I was a little girl, she took me in with her when my parents died. We both mourned the deaths of my parents; she had lost her daughter, and I had lost both of them. It was a hard time for the both of us, but she made my life way easier, and I am so grateful to have her because I know not many do, and I wish it wasn't like that. My grandmother was always there when I needed her. As for Claire, she has been in my life since freshman year, when we bonded over Taylor Swift. She saw the mess I was in and never once gave up on me, and I know I'll never leave her side. They are both my ride-or-die.
"I'm ready," I said. I'm no longer living with unsaid things, it was time for me to stand up for myself like anyone would if they were in my position. Even though this might be hard, I'm far from ready. It's been 3 years since this happened, and it tore me apart, and people still haunt me. I've had enough. A year ago, I would've said no to this, but now I'm prepared for the worst. Whether people choose to believe me now or never, as long as I finally spoke about it and did my part, I'm fine. I just need to be heard.
"Recording starts in a minute" Claire said. Curving a smile with a thumbs up in the air, she eyes me and says, "you got this; remember that". I smiled at the confidence she has in me, "Always," I uttered. I looked over to the side towards my grandmother who gave me a nod as she stood next to Claire, who was behind the camera. I decided to record it in my room since it was a comfort for me to be in and it was better out of all the areas we chose to do it, but I felt more safe for it to be here. I had a small couch in my room that was in front of my bedroom and next to the window I was standing in front of. In my Ouyessir velvet futon sofa bed with two pink pillows
And just like that, I make myself comfortable on my couch as Claire counts down to three to let me know when to speak. A few seconds down to two and I'm about to tell my story.
Two...
three –,"Hello everybody, my name is Eleanor Jones" I breathed," a few of you may know me by the names you all like to call me or by my 'affair' with Vlad Dankworth. I know it's been a few years, but I think it's time for me to speak up and tell you my side of the narrative. Now you can either sit down and watch, or you can keep going on with your day. Whichever works just fine for me but for those sitting tight, be prepared because I'm about to tell you the missing part of the story you never heard." I breathed in again
You've got this.
You can do it. I tell myself
"It all started on July 9th, three years ago, when I first met him."
"It was the summer of my life..."
"until it wasn't."
