Too Intense? Watch Her Soar

sea

gnawing sense of violation. I could still hear Aaron' s casual cruelty, the snickers of his friends, Kassandra' s venomous words. The humiliation was

r, something I had harbored in my heart for over a decade. He had used my affection, my unspoken love, as his

rtment, the city lights shimmering outside. He pulled me close, his head resting on my shoulder, his voice a lo

e smiled, the familiar scent of his cologne-every detail was etched into my soul. My chest had throbbed with an intensity that bordered on painful. My hands had curled into fists

s down my spine. "We'll build something amazing, just the two

moment. After all these years, all these shared dreams, all these unspoken

oice thick with emotion, "

rting over, Chelsea. Together. Always." He kissed my forehead, a

ated. The world had seemed to spin with joyful anticipation, affirming

is tender touch, his promise of "together"-all of it was a performance. A calculated m

. The distant chirping of birds, oblivious to my shattered world, was a gentle reminder that life, despite my pain, went on. I took a deep, s

stence beside him. He wasn' t intimidated by the firm' s legacy students; he was intimidated by me. And the truth, a harsh, undeniable truth,

of Senator Good, born into a world of power and privilege, a world he both coveted and resented. Our paths, I now realized, w

lish girl who had wasted so much love on a phantom. I wiped them away with the back of my hand. No more tears for Aaron. Ever. I pick

tential fallout from my decision to quit. She had contingency plans for contingency plans. "

My pen hovered. For Aaron, I had chosen a small, undistingu

y phone and d

get cold feet about the move?" Her voice was lace

ce flat. "I'm not going to that f

h of what sounded like relief. "And

Grandfather's old connections. You mentioned it a few months ago, remem

, my dear. I'll make the call

, the words tasting like

ntle affirmation. The sun began to climb higher, painting the sky with hues of rose and gold. I closed

The son of the firm' s senior partner. The one who had always looked at me with an

" he'd said, his dark eyes twinkling, "you're far too bright to dim your light for anyone. And Aaron? He's a moth drawn to

d by my loyalty. But now, his words rang with pr

fe. A new me. The weight that had crushed me for days finally lifted, leaving behind a lig

h the silence of my apartment. Rap-rap-rap. The distinct r

peace, began to pound. I walked to the door, m

e been calling you for days! I was worried sick!" His voice was the familiar,

t, devoid of any emotion. I gripped the doo

ron, her eyes wide and watery, a picture of fragile innocence. As our gazes

e glared at me. "Chelsea! You scared her! Can't you see she's upset?" He

e. The damsel in distress. I had seen her act before, but never had

s," I said, my voice cold as i

s voice rising. "She's with me! And she's been thr

... you have history. I'm just... I'm just a small-town girl. I probably don't belong here." Her voice was

tion. "You always do this! You make everyone feel smal

my fault, Chelsea. I know you're angry. I just... I love Aaron so much. And I know you loved him too, for so long

or. You made a scene. You humiliated me in front of everyone. Kassandra is a sensitive soul. You hurt her." He paused, his voice dropping to

n monumental stupidity. On how blind I had been. On how I had allowed myself to be manipu

Then, with a deliberate motion, I reached for my phone. I opened the security app for my apartment building. I scrolled to the acc

m my shoulders, leaving

pattern. Knock-knock-knock-pause-knock-knock. It w

d deception, was no longer my concern. My world was no