3. Sarah: Betrayal

I woke up to the sound of Alex's voice, his words dripping with insincerity. "Hey, beautiful, I'm so sorry about last night. Can you ever forgive me?"

I turned away, my eyes still swollen from crying. The memories of his fists, his anger, and his cruel words still lingered. I couldn't bear to look at him.

 "Forgive you?" I spat. "You've been saying that for months, Alex. But nothing changes. You just keep hurting me."

"Come on, Sarah, don't be like that," he said, his voice laced with condescension. "I love you. I would never intentionally hurt you."

I laughed, a bitter sound. "You love me? You don't even know what love is. You only love control, power, and manipulation."

Alex's face darkened, and for a moment, I saw the real him. The one who hated opposition, who hated being challenged.

"I'm late for work," he said, his voice cold. "We'll talk about this later." But he persisted, placing a tray with breakfast on my lap. The smell of eggs and bacon made my stomach churn. I pushed the tray away, and he rushed out of the room.

I got out of bed, my body aching from the beating. I cleaned up the house, trying to erase the memories of the previous night. I scrubbed the floors, washed the dishes, and vacuumed the carpet, but the pain lingered.

As I finished cleaning, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. My eyes were sunken, my skin pale, and my cheek bruised. I used to be full of life, my cheeks rosy. But now I looked like a shadow of my former self.

I took a deep breath and tried to shake off the feeling of hopelessness. I needed to get out of the house, clear my head, and think about my next move. I decided to go grocery shopping, hoping the fresh air would do me some good.

I walked through the bustling streets of downtown Manhattan, surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the city. The sounds of car horns, chatter, and construction filled the air as I made my way through the concrete jungle. The warm sun beat down on me, casting a glow over the towering skyscrapers.

I passed by street vendors selling everything from hot dogs to handmade jewelry, their calls of "Get your coffee here!" and "Best deals on sunglasses!" filling the air. People rushed past me, briefcases and bags in hand, hurrying to their next destination.

I turned onto Central Park West, the sounds of the city giving way to the serene green oasis of the park. The trees towered above me, their leaves rustling in the gentle breeze. I walked along the path, taking in the sights and sounds of nature. Children's laughter echoed through the air as they played on the Great Lawn, their joy infectious.

As I walked, I felt a sense of calm wash over me, the stresses of my life momentarily forgotten. But as I turned the corner onto 5th Avenue, my peace was shattered. Alex's car was parked by the curb, and he was standing next to it, his eyes locked on Claire.

My heart sank. What was Alex's car doing here? And why was he with Claire, his ex-girlfriend, the one he had cheated on me with before?

I felt a wave of nausea wash over me as I approached them. They looked like they wanted to tear each other's clothes off, their bodies inches apart. I wasn’t blind to the lust in their eyes.

And then Claire saw me, her eyes flashing with triumph.

I felt a wave of nausea wash over me. I knew the history between them. She was the girlfriend he had before he entered into a relationship with me. She was the one he kept going back to. He vowed that he would cut all ties with her.

But here they were, together again. And it was clear that their passion for each other had never faded.

I remembered the nights I had spent crying, the days I had spent wondering if our relationship was worth saving. And now, I know the answer.

"Well, well, well. Look what we have here. The little wife," she sneered, her voice dripping with venom.

I felt a surge of anger and confronted them. "You're cheating on me, again!" I shouted, my voice echoing through the street. "You're a disgusting liar, Alex!"

Alex turned his back to me and so did Claire. They continued their public affection without acknowledging me like I was just a screaming voice in the wind. I wanted to rip her blonde hair from the roots, but she wasn’t the main focus of my ire. She wasn’t the one who pledged to love and protect me three years ago at the altar, she didn’t owe me anything! She was just the outlet because I knew deep down I couldn’t put my hands on Alex without consequences.

People were starting to stare, and I can’t blame them, I was shouting like a woman gone mad and looked like one too in the middle of a busy New York Street!! Yet I couldn’t stop. Alex had brought this crazy, hysterical woman out of me and my life was crumbling before my eyes. I didn’t care who was a front row witness to the wreck.

I turned and raced away, my vision blurred by tears. I didn't see the car coming. I didn't hear its tires screeching. I only felt the impact as it hit me, sending me flying through the air.

I lay there, dazed and disoriented. Alex and Claire were still standing across the street, wrapped in each other's arms, oblivious to the horror they had caused.

I tried to call out for help, but my voice was barely a whisper. I saw people passing by, but they just kept walking.

I felt my consciousness slipping away, and I couldn't do anything to stop it.

Was this the end?

Everything went dark.