Two

I stood frozen in the doorway, my mind shattered by the unthinkable sight before me. The stranger who had haunted my dreams, the one who had claimed my lips in a passionate kiss, now stood in my living room, smiling at my mother with a familiarity that made my blood run cold. My mother's voice, dripping with happiness, noticed me and gleefully rushed to hug me. "Sophia, you're home," she chimed, oblivious to my horror.

But I couldn't reciprocate her enthusiasm. My eyes were fixed on him, my mind reeling with questions. How did he end up here, in my home, with my mother? His gaze locked onto mine, piercing me with a gleam that made my skin crawl.

My mother's smile was so huge on her face, a wicked contrast to my despair. "Sophia, meet Jack, your new stepfather," she announced, her words dripping with excitement. I felt like I'd been punched in the gut, my breath knocked out of me. Stepfather? No, this couldn't be happening.

My world crumbled around me, the room spinning with a sickening intensity. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of betrayal, my mother's joy a cruel mockery of my distress. The room seemed to close in on me, the air thickening with tension. I felt like I was suffocating, my lungs burning with a desperate need for escape.

I tried to speak, to ask the questions burning in my mind, but my voice caught in my throat. I felt like I was living in a nightmare, trapped in a reality that was not my own.

Suddenly, Jack took a step closer to me, his eyes burning with a recognition that made my heart race. I felt like I was trapped in a cage, with no escape from the predator looming before me.

My mother's voice cut through the tension, oblivious to the danger that lurked beneath the surface. "Sophia, dear, come hug Jack. He's going to be your new stepfather!"

I felt like I was going to collapse, my legs trembling beneath me. I couldn't do this. I couldn't pretend that everything was okay when it was far from it.

But I had no choice. I was trapped, caught in a web of secrets and lies that threatened to destroy me. I took a step forward, my heart heavy with despair, and wrapped my arms around Jack's waist.

The hug was stiff, awkward, and filled with tension. I felt like I was hugging a stranger, a man who had no right to be in my life. But I had to play along, had to pretend that everything was okay.

I pulled back from the hug, my heart racing. "I need to get out of here," I muttered, my eyes fixed on Jack.

My mother's face fell, confusion etched on her features. "Sophia, what's wrong?"

I didn't answer. I turned and ran, dashing up the stairs to my room. I slammed the door shut behind me, locking it.

My mind raced. How did Jack end up here? What did he want?

I paced back and forth, my thoughts a jumbled mess. Mom can't get married to him. She needs to know what happened between Jack and I. But I don't know if I have the guts to tell her. And my silence means Jack will become my Stepfather.

My mother's words echoed in my mind again, a cruel taunt that fueled my growing panic. "Sophia, meet your new stepfather, Jack."

I grabbed my phone and dialed a friend, my fingers shaking. "I need your help," I whispered, my voice urgent.

Rachel answered immediately, her voice filled with concern. “What’s going on, Sophia?”

“I can’t talk here. Can you meet me at the park?” I pleaded.

“Of course. I’ll be there in ten minutes,” she said without hesitation.

I slipped out of the house as quietly as I could, not wanting to alert my mother or Jack. My heart pounded in my chest as I made my way to the park, the familiar surroundings offering little comfort.

As I headed to meet my friend, I felt like I was losing myself, like I was trapped in a never-ending nightmare from which I couldn't awaken.

Rachel was waiting for me on a bench, her expression a mix of worry and determination. I collapsed beside her, my breathless words tumbling out. “Rachel, you won’t believe what’s happening. My mother’s marrying Jack, the stranger from the party.”

Rachel’s eyes widened in shock. “The man you made out with? How did this happen?”

I shook my head, tears streaming down my face. “I don’t know. I came home, and there he was, smiling at my mother like they’re old friends.”

Rachel’s arms wrapped around me in a tight hug. “We can't let him become your stepfather."

I pulled back, looking at her in the eyes. “Are you saying I need to tell my mother the truth?"

Rachel nodded.

“I'm scared Rachel. What if she doesn't believe me?"

Rachel's expression hardens. “Then we'll make her believe you." She pulls out her phone, her face etched with determination.

“What are you doing?" I ask curious.

A mischievous glint enters her eyes. She taps on her screen a few times, then holds the phone up for me to see.

It's a picture I never knew was taken - Me and Jack, entangled in a passionate kiss at the party.

My blood ran cold as I stared at the screen. There was no denying the evidence, no way Jack could talk his way out of this. But the thought of confronting my mother with it filled me with dread.

“What if this ruins everything?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.