Thirty-One

As I lay there, tears streaming down my face, I felt like I was drowning in my own emotions. I couldn't bear the thought of Jack and my mother together, couldn't stand the idea of him touching her, loving her. It was like a knife twisting in my heart, a constant reminder of what I could never have.

I knew I had to get out of there, had to escape the toxic emotions that were suffocating me. I threw off the covers and stumbled out of my room, desperate for fresh air.

As I walked out of the house, I felt a sense of freedom, of release. I didn't know where I was going, didn't care. I just needed to get away.

I walked for hours, lost in my thoughts, trying to make sense of the chaos inside me. But the more I walked, the more confused I became.

Eventually, I found myself at Alex's doorstep, unsure of how I got there or why I was there. But as he opened the door, concern etched on his face, I knew I needed him.

"Hey," he said softly, pulling me into a hug