Page 1 of The Forbidden Note

CHAPTERONE

GRACE ‘GREY’JAMIESON

Six Months Ago

The card slips from my hand and falls into the bartender’s. His eyes regard me with pity as he fixes my drink and returns with it.

It must be all over my face.

The pain.

The sorrow.

It won’t be there for long. I plan on blowing the last of my savings to get hammered.

Tonight marks the end.

Or more like the beginning of the end.

I take a sip and people-watch.

A couple on the opposite end of the bar whisper to each other.

The woman giggles.

The guy smirks.

A moment later, they get up and leave.

I slide a chipped fingernail around the rim of my cup as a wound in my chest throbs.

What would it feel like to look at someone like that? To love someone like that? What would it feel like if every minute of every day wasn’t tainted in blood?

I tilt my drink back.

It’s bitter at first, but warm as it slides down my throat.

The music in the bar is loud and invasive.

Can’t they turn it down?

No, Grey. You don’t come to a bar and ask the manager to turn down the music.

I’m such an idiot.

For pulling on this short, barely-there dress.

For slipping into these stupidly high heels.

For thinking I could do this without her.

I don’t belong here.

Shewas the brave one. The one who flashed fake IDs at the bartender and didn’t bat an eyelash. Dragged me to the dance floor. Made complete fools of ourselves as we flailed to the music.

‘Damn, you take everything so seriously, Grey. Loosen up!’

Sometimes, it feels like everyone in the world is living in ‘normal’ mode. I’m the only one in Bizzaro land.