POISON

VIVIAN

I sat on the edge of the bed, my head in my hands.

The sound of Clara’s voice, the hurt in her eyes, kept playing over and over in my mind.

She didn’t deserve any of this. And yet, somehow, I’d dragged her into it….Into us , into the mess we created. I couldn’t take it.

I didn’t want to be near Jack right now. Not after everything that had just happened.

I needed space.

Standing up, I moved towards the bathroom.

After getting dressed, I quickly towel-dried my hair and slipped into my favorite flower-printed short dress.

Grabbing my sling bag, I realized I couldn’t stay in this house…not with Jack here.

I needed to clear my head.

As I stepped out of my room and made my way downstairs, I found Jack in the sitting room, lost in thought, staring blankly at the wall.

The moment he saw me, he straightened up “Vivian,” he called out. “Where are you going?”

I paused, meeting his gaze for a brief moment before looking away.

I didn’t have an answer for him….at least not one I wa