Healing on her terms

pte

t she ststeppedack. My eyes nanarrowith cont

he shakes her head like she was disappointed in me. "Is this how

not 15, so I'm responsible f

get pregnant?" she asks,

my boyfriend for over five years now? Quit joking, Mom. I'm notMomrgin

ing!" My mom yelled afte

t is my mom thinking for her to say that? I can't believe it. She really wants me to stay a virgin until

om go through my things like that? And the nerve to lecture me about sex, as if I'm some clueles

ed huffs as I knock sharply. The door opens a crack,

ks, her tone light, but there's somethin

rown down a bottle, my mom just pissed me o

e entrance with her body, but I'm too caught up in my

mind struggles to process what I'm seeing. Ryan's eyes widened in shock, and he stood up and widened the couch,

ily stammers behind me, bu

been whispering sweet nothings to me in his bed. "Kiss me one more time." The mem

t it looks like," Ryan final

ly redirected me to him. "Isn't it? Then what the hell is it, Ry

o physically stop the tension from boiling ove

her off, not even sparing her a glance. My eyes were locked on

Sofi," Ryan says, his

"Oh, you're blaming

r so long now, but all you do is bring up

m, the sound sharp and jarring in the heavy silence that follows. Ryan stumbles ba

rayal. "How dare you try to blame this on me? You've been sleeping wit

heat rising in my chest, fueled by the betrayal that's burning through me.

lieve you're trying to make this my fault. H

r voice shaky. She reaches out to touch my arm,

The hurt in her eyes is unmistakable, but it's drowned out by the fury blazi

find the words. "I'm sorry, Sofia.

oice a low, dangerous whisper. "You've been screwin

heek. "We've been talking, and I didn't want to hurt you. But

ost, so you decide to fuck my neighbour next door who happens

floor, unable to meet m

responsible, to make sure we don't end up struggling when we get married. And this

r responsibilities over me. Every time I tried to talk about our future, you shut me down. What was I supposed to do?

y hands clenched into fists at my sides, nails digging

r? Wasn't I enough for you? All I wanted was for us to be financially stable before ta

e. I never wanted it to come to th

professional goldsmith by now. But I used that time to build something which I never knew would not work out," I reply, my voice a

ld up a hand; I didn't want to hear it.

you were unhappy, you should have said something. But this, in my opinion, is...cowardic

good, but Lily grabs my arm, desperation in her grip. I glance at her, and for a

elling up her eyes. "We can talk about this

king my head. "You're really delusional if you think this can be fixed. There's nothing left to fix.

that makes my heart ache. I can't believe this is happening. Just an hour ago, I w

I feel tears stinging my eyes, but I bl

the street, the weight of it all crashes down on me. My steps falter, and I find myself leaning against a

everything under control,tand hat I was handling my life the best

now? My source of happiness that keeps me going is n