A Love Trap

"Ellie! Stop... talking... like that!" he spluttered.

Francis might have been with a lot of women, but he took nobody seriously. Those women knew it and they didn't mind.

But Ellie was different. He never thought of treating her badly.

He could not fathom why she had to hurt herself like that.

He was really upset. Not because of what she thought about him, but because of how she saw herself.

The worst part of it was that she called him "Mr. Francis." The fact that she called him "Mr. Francis"

hurt him the most.

Ellie closed her eyes and pursed her lips. She didn't say anything.

Francis grabbed both her shoulders and forced her to look at him. "Ellie, please tell me you're joking." He looked at her, his eyes firm with pleading and frustration. "Please tell me you didn't mean any of what you just said."

Francis' eyes spoke sincerely to Ellie.

She couldn't take another look at him. She needed strength to say what she was about to say, "No, I meant everything I said."

Francis could see right through her lie. He shouted, "Look me in the eye and tell me again! You didn't mean any of that, right?"

Ellie looked into his eyes, her visage as fierce as the crunching in her chest. "I meant it. I meant every bit of it. You may leave Mr. Francis."

Ellie pointed to the door gesturing for Francis to leave.

"Fine!" Francis clenched his jaw and gnashed his teeth in anger.

He let go of her and turned around to leave.

The thud that came from the shutting door made Ellie flinch. As the door closed, the room fell into silence.

Ellie could only look at the direction where he had gone.

arms to hold herself. Her tears started

facade she had shown him

by herself now. Everyone had left for real. She was

L City

none of that ever happened.

was home when she arrived. She assumed that they went out for some groceries. She wanted to surprise them and didn't call. But when it was getting dark, and they were still

the neighbors but never really got an answer. All of them just

started to panic after she didn't hear anything about her grandparents for the whole day. She went

about them at first. She

her that her grandparents had passed away and it had

of a sudden. With their age, it took their lives very quickly.

to tell Ellie. They said that they might fight it through and they didn't want to make her worry. They also told them

the story, she didn't believe

their last visit to J City. She didn't believe that any sickness could just

had known, she would not agree to let

mourned until she decided to return home.

on the bed, holding her knees, her head buried between them

it was so hard for her to

something first." He places a breakfast

at him, surprised,

looked miserable. Her eyes were red and swollen, but she couldn't keep her tears from falling

what I told you last night? No matter what happens, I will be with you. You are not

with a blank expression.

she should trust

when he told her she would not be

took over

what

huge traumatic mark on her. She

was different. She didn't hate the idea

but she was happy when

she couldn't see him, she felt lost. She wasn't sure about what she was feeling, but she