Karina:
I stormed into the dimly lit bar, my heels clicking against the wooden floor with a rhythm that matched the furious pounding of my heart. Everyone turned to stare, shocked to see me here. I didn’t care. My eyes scanned the room until they landed on him—Ethan—slouched over a table, a half-empty glass of whiskey in hand, his tie loosened and his face flushed. His friends looked uneasy, shifting in their seats when they saw me approach. I stopped in front of him, crossing my arms as I tried to keep my composure.
Ethan looked up at me with an irritated expression. "What are you doing here, Karina?" he slurred, his voice tinged with annoyance.
I ignored the looks from his friends and took a deep breath. "I’m here to pick you up, Ethan. It’s our fifth anniversary, remember? I’ve been waiting for you at home, but you never showed up. And now, seeing you like this—drunk out of your mind—you clearly can’t get yourself home."
He laughed bitterly, leaning back in his chair. "I don’t want you to take me home," he said, his words sharp despite his drunken state. "Katherine’s back. My first love is here. Do you know what that means, Karina? It means I don’t want you anymore."
The words hit me like a punch to the gut, but before I could react, one of his friends stood up and placed a hand on Ethan’s shoulder. "Ethan, man, calm down. You’re drunk. You don’t mean any of this."
Ethan shrugged him off, glaring at everyone in the room. "I’m not drunk! I know exactly what I’m saying. I’m in my right mind," he spat before stumbling back into the couch, nearly passing out.
My throat tightened, and I felt my chest constrict as I struggled to hold back the tears threatening to spill. Before I could turn and leave, Katherine approached me. She looked pale, almost as if she had seen a ghost. "Karina," she said softly, her voice trembling. "I didn’t know… I didn’t know he had a fiancée. I swear I wouldn’t have come to see him if I’d known. Please, believe me."
I clenched my fists at my sides, trying to keep myself from breaking down right there. "It doesn’t matter now," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "Just… make sure he’s taken care of. I don’t want to see him again tonight."
Katherine nodded, guilt etched all over her face. "You should take him home," she said, her tone almost pleading. "He’s your fiancé."
I shook my head, my voice trembling as I spoke. "No, Katherine. He’s not my responsibility anymore. Not after this." I turned to his friends, my gaze hardening. "You take care of him. Put him in a hotel or something. I don’t care. Just make sure he’s fine because I don’t want to see his face again."
They nodded reluctantly, looking just as shaken as I felt. Without another word, I turned on my heel and walked out of the bar.
As soon as I stepped into my apartment and shut the door behind me, I collapsed onto the floor, the weight of everything finally crashing down on me. I couldn't hold it in anymore. My chest tightened as sobs broke free, uncontrollable and raw. I pressed my hands to my face, trying to muffle the sounds, but it was no use. It felt like the walls were closing in, the silence of the room amplifying my anguish.
He had never really loved me, had he? They say drunken words are sober thoughts, and if that was true, then everything we had was a lie. I cried until my chest hurt, until there were no more tears left to cry, and even then, the emptiness in my heart remained.
My phone buzzed on the table, startling me. I wiped my face hastily with the sleeve of my sweater, sniffing as I reached for it. My heart clenched when I saw "Mom" flashing on the screen. I hesitated for a moment, debating whether I should answer. But I knew she wouldn’t stop calling until I picked up.
“Hello?” My voice cracked, shaky and uneven.
“Karina?” Her voice was soft, but there was an urgency in it. “Are you okay, sweetie? I’ve been worried sick about you all day. You haven’t called. You didn’t text. What’s going on?”
Hearing her concern made my tears start again. “I’m not okay, Mom,” I admitted, my voice breaking. “I—I’m so tired. I can’t do this anymore.”
“Oh, sweetheart…” Her voice wavered, and I could tell she was holding back tears herself. “What happened? Talk to me.”
“I just feel so lost,” I whispered, clutching the phone like it was my lifeline. “Everything feels like too much. I’m so tired of being strong, Mom. I just… I just want to come home.”
There was a pause on her end, but I could hear her sniffling. “Karina,” she finally said, her tone warm and steady. “You don’t have to do this alone. Come home, sweetheart. We’ll figure it out together, okay? You’re not alone.”
Her words were a balm to my aching heart, and I let out a shaky breath. “I don’t know what I’d do without you,” I whispered.
“And you’ll never have to find out,” she replied firmly. “You’re my baby, Karina, and I’ll always be here for you. Always.”
Karina:The house was quiet as I zipped up the last bag and set it on the bed. My hands hovered over the suitcase, trembling slightly. Four years. That’s how long I had lived here, pouring myself into a life that, in hindsight, was nothing more than an illusion.I glanced around the room, my gaze skimming over the photos on the dresser—most of them were of me. There weren’t many of us together, and those that did exist seemed hollow now, like props in a play I’d been cast in without knowing the script.I sank onto the edge of the bed, exhaling deeply. My eyes drifted to the corner of the room where a single rose sat on a lone vase. He had bought that for me when he returned late from his office three days ago, claiming he had to work late. That was always his excuse. “For us,” he’d say, as if I should be grateful for the breadcrumbs of attention he occasionally threw my way. But now I knew better. Now I knew the truth.The sound of my phone vibrating on the nightstand broke the silenc
Karina:I stood frozen, unable to move as the car door opened. And then, there he was. Michael. His golden hair looking darker in the night, his blue eyes locking on me instantly. He smiled, the kind of smile that used to make my heart flutter when we were kids. It still had the same effect now, though I hated to admit it. "Karina," he said, stepping toward me. His voice was as steady and warm as I remembered. "It’s been a while." I clutched the traveling bag tighter in my hand, the plastic biting into my skin. "Michael," I said, barely able to get the words out. "What are you doing here?" “Something came up, so your mother sent me to pick you up instead.” He gave me another one of his charming smiles that made my heart skip a beat. “I hope you don’t mind.”Mind? Michael was asking me if I’d mind…after everything I’d done to him?“N-no…of course not.” I swallowed the lump in my throat as I saw his smile widen and he went ahead to open the trunk.I still couldn’t believe it… Michael
Karina:The car was quiet, save for the soft hum of the engine and the faint rustle of trees as we passed them. I stared out the window, watching the city blur past me in a kaleidoscope of lights, but my mind wasn’t on the scenery. I could feel the weight of Michael’s presence beside me. He was calm, his hands steady on the wheel, his focus on the road ahead. I risked a glance at him, sneaking a peek from the corner of my eye. His golden hair caught the street lights, and the faint smile on his face made my chest tighten. Why wasn’t he angry? I’d expected tension, coldness, something—but instead, there he was, completely at ease. "You’re quiet," he said suddenly, his voice cutting through the silence. He didn’t look at me, but his tone was light as if he were trying to coax me into a conversation. I hesitated, my fingers twisting the fabric of my dress. "I just..." I trailed off, unsure how to put my thoughts into words. "I guess I didn’t expect you to be so... okay with this. With
Karina:I sat on the couch, staring at the flickering candles, the soft glow of their light dancing across the walls. The room was perfect—rose petals scattered across the table, their faint fragrance mixing with the aroma of the dinner I had spent hours preparing. The cake stood proudly on the counter, a delicate swirl of frosting adorned with a “5” I had painstakingly crafted. The cake had taken ages to bake, and even though I knew my limitations in the kitchen, today, I had tried my best to challenge my boundaries, all because I wanted to do something special for the love of my life.It was supposed to be a celebration, a moment to mark our fifth year together. Five years of love, laughter, sacrifice, and promises. Five years of us, Karina and Ethan—partners, soulmates, and soon-to-be husband and wife. But as I looked around the room, the perfection of the setting felt hollow. He wasn’t here. He was supposed to be here hours ago. I glanced at the clock. Midnight. Midnight on wha
Karina: The video played on a loop in front of my eyes, over and over again. I tried to take my eyes off of it, to just…go ahead and press the pause button, or anything that would make this nightmare stop. But it felt like I was stuck in a loop, unable to get out or do anything to stop this horrible feeling from spreading…Was this a mistake? A cruel joke?But there was no mistake. The man in the videos was undoubtedly Ethan...my fiance, and the woman he was kissing...I had no idea who she was, but from the way Ethan gazed at her so lovingly; the way his hands settled on her waist, there was no doubt that she wasn't a stranger.For a moment, I couldn't believe this was happening. That the man I had loved for the last five years would go so far to betray me, and that too when he had already proposed to me...when I already wore his ring...And yet, even as the pain consumed me, a dark, searing anger began to rise. This wasn’t just betrayal. It was cruel. It was a slap in the face of ev
Karina:The car was quiet, save for the soft hum of the engine and the faint rustle of trees as we passed them. I stared out the window, watching the city blur past me in a kaleidoscope of lights, but my mind wasn’t on the scenery. I could feel the weight of Michael’s presence beside me. He was calm, his hands steady on the wheel, his focus on the road ahead. I risked a glance at him, sneaking a peek from the corner of my eye. His golden hair caught the street lights, and the faint smile on his face made my chest tighten. Why wasn’t he angry? I’d expected tension, coldness, something—but instead, there he was, completely at ease. "You’re quiet," he said suddenly, his voice cutting through the silence. He didn’t look at me, but his tone was light as if he were trying to coax me into a conversation. I hesitated, my fingers twisting the fabric of my dress. "I just..." I trailed off, unsure how to put my thoughts into words. "I guess I didn’t expect you to be so... okay with this. With
Karina:I stood frozen, unable to move as the car door opened. And then, there he was. Michael. His golden hair looking darker in the night, his blue eyes locking on me instantly. He smiled, the kind of smile that used to make my heart flutter when we were kids. It still had the same effect now, though I hated to admit it. "Karina," he said, stepping toward me. His voice was as steady and warm as I remembered. "It’s been a while." I clutched the traveling bag tighter in my hand, the plastic biting into my skin. "Michael," I said, barely able to get the words out. "What are you doing here?" “Something came up, so your mother sent me to pick you up instead.” He gave me another one of his charming smiles that made my heart skip a beat. “I hope you don’t mind.”Mind? Michael was asking me if I’d mind…after everything I’d done to him?“N-no…of course not.” I swallowed the lump in my throat as I saw his smile widen and he went ahead to open the trunk.I still couldn’t believe it… Michael
Karina:The house was quiet as I zipped up the last bag and set it on the bed. My hands hovered over the suitcase, trembling slightly. Four years. That’s how long I had lived here, pouring myself into a life that, in hindsight, was nothing more than an illusion.I glanced around the room, my gaze skimming over the photos on the dresser—most of them were of me. There weren’t many of us together, and those that did exist seemed hollow now, like props in a play I’d been cast in without knowing the script.I sank onto the edge of the bed, exhaling deeply. My eyes drifted to the corner of the room where a single rose sat on a lone vase. He had bought that for me when he returned late from his office three days ago, claiming he had to work late. That was always his excuse. “For us,” he’d say, as if I should be grateful for the breadcrumbs of attention he occasionally threw my way. But now I knew better. Now I knew the truth.The sound of my phone vibrating on the nightstand broke the silenc
Karina:I stormed into the dimly lit bar, my heels clicking against the wooden floor with a rhythm that matched the furious pounding of my heart. Everyone turned to stare, shocked to see me here. I didn’t care. My eyes scanned the room until they landed on him—Ethan—slouched over a table, a half-empty glass of whiskey in hand, his tie loosened and his face flushed. His friends looked uneasy, shifting in their seats when they saw me approach. I stopped in front of him, crossing my arms as I tried to keep my composure.Ethan looked up at me with an irritated expression. "What are you doing here, Karina?" he slurred, his voice tinged with annoyance.I ignored the looks from his friends and took a deep breath. "I’m here to pick you up, Ethan. It’s our fifth anniversary, remember? I’ve been waiting for you at home, but you never showed up. And now, seeing you like this—drunk out of your mind—you clearly can’t get yourself home."He laughed bitterly, leaning back in his chair. "I don’t want
Karina: The video played on a loop in front of my eyes, over and over again. I tried to take my eyes off of it, to just…go ahead and press the pause button, or anything that would make this nightmare stop. But it felt like I was stuck in a loop, unable to get out or do anything to stop this horrible feeling from spreading…Was this a mistake? A cruel joke?But there was no mistake. The man in the videos was undoubtedly Ethan...my fiance, and the woman he was kissing...I had no idea who she was, but from the way Ethan gazed at her so lovingly; the way his hands settled on her waist, there was no doubt that she wasn't a stranger.For a moment, I couldn't believe this was happening. That the man I had loved for the last five years would go so far to betray me, and that too when he had already proposed to me...when I already wore his ring...And yet, even as the pain consumed me, a dark, searing anger began to rise. This wasn’t just betrayal. It was cruel. It was a slap in the face of ev
Karina:I sat on the couch, staring at the flickering candles, the soft glow of their light dancing across the walls. The room was perfect—rose petals scattered across the table, their faint fragrance mixing with the aroma of the dinner I had spent hours preparing. The cake stood proudly on the counter, a delicate swirl of frosting adorned with a “5” I had painstakingly crafted. The cake had taken ages to bake, and even though I knew my limitations in the kitchen, today, I had tried my best to challenge my boundaries, all because I wanted to do something special for the love of my life.It was supposed to be a celebration, a moment to mark our fifth year together. Five years of love, laughter, sacrifice, and promises. Five years of us, Karina and Ethan—partners, soulmates, and soon-to-be husband and wife. But as I looked around the room, the perfection of the setting felt hollow. He wasn’t here. He was supposed to be here hours ago. I glanced at the clock. Midnight. Midnight on wha