BACK TO REWRITE MY PAIN

The rain poured heavily that night, beating against the glass windows like the sky itself was mourning. The city lights blurred in Sia's eyes as she stood in the kitchen, arranging the last candles on the dining table. Today was supposed to be special,their fifth wedding anniversary. Five years of marriage... ten years of loving him.

She smoothed the tablecloth and smiled softly at the meal she prepared Adams' favorite. The one she used to cook during their college years, when they had nothing but hope and each other. She remembered the way his eyes used to light up when he tasted her food, saying she was his home.

But that light had been gone for a long time.

She stared at the clock again. 9:47 PM. He was late. Very late.

She dialed his number with trembling hands.

"Hello?" His voice was curt. Impatient.

"Adams... are you still at work? I....."

"I told you I'm busy!" he snapped. "Stop calling me for every little thing, Sia. I'll be home when I'm home."

The phone beeped. He ended the call.

Sia lowered the phone slowly, swallowing the ache in her chest. She tried to smile because love meant patience. That's what she had always believed.

But something felt wrong. Terribly wrong.

A thought flickered in her mind, sharp and frightening.

Check on him.

So she grabbed the gift she bought him,a pair of luxury shoes she had secretly saved for over three months and left the house. The rain drenched her clothes the moment she stepped outside, but she didn't stop.

She took a taxi to his office.

The building was dark.

His car wasn't there.

Her heart pounded loud enough to drown out the rain. She typed out a message to Nicole,her best friend,the one who always knew how to calm her.

"Nicole, I think something's wrong... Adams isn't at work."

No reply.

Sia inhaled shakily. She was hurt because Adams told her he was going to work.

She needed a shoulder to lean on,someone to comfort her so she decided to go to Nicole's house...

As she walked toward the door, her shoes squeaked against the marble floors. Her breathing was shallow. Her heart, frantic.

Before she could open the door, someone else did.

It was Nicole, she stepped out first.

Her hair was messy. Her lipstick smudged. She was wearing the blouse Sia gave her last Christmas.

Then, another figure appeared behind her.

Adams.

He wrapped his arm around Nicole's waist.

He kissed her neck.

He whispered something that made Nicole giggle.

The same words he once whispered to Sia.

Sia couldn't breathe.

Everything inside her shattered.

"Adams?" her voice cracked, barely audible. "Nicole?"

They both froze.

Nicole turned her head first. No guilt. No fear. Just annoyance,and something darker. Satisfaction.

Adams looked irritated, like he had been interrupted in something trivial.