When love turns dark

a's

he said, his voice cold, like he was speaking to a stranger. The shock must have bee

could feel the panic rising in my chest, but I forced myself to hold it in. I couldn't understand. We'd b

rigid. "Listen to me, Zara," he said, his voice flat, like he was explai

ht of his words had planted me to the spot. "Michael, what are you talking about?" I asked again,

m like it was nothing. The space between us felt miles apart, even though we were standin

were fine, you were happy, we were happy-" My voice faltered, and I stopped, searching his eyes, trying to find some trace of th

. My chest tightened. My heart felt like it was going to stop beating. "Get yourself together, Z

desperate now. I needed answers. "But we've been fine for three years, Michael!" I

ce like he couldn't even look at me. My heart raced. What was going

"Michael, please, you're all I've got. You're my family. Don't do this to me." I reached

. I had something to tell him, something happy. I was going to share something that would change everything, but now... now this? "I don't want

softness, some glimmer of the man I loved. But it wasn't ther

is touch gentle but distant. "I have

ely left my lips, a whisper, a stammer. "What do you mean you

ieter. "She went abroad to finish her studies. She's

ow motion. Why did you save me, then? The question slipped out of my mouth before I could sto

cream, to make him understand how much he had hurt me, but all I could

ng in the ai

scoffed. The sound was sharp, laced with something cruel.

his voice dripping with disgust. "Th

sliced through me, each one

u don't have what it takes. Let me be frank with you-I stayed with you out of pity, okay? I nev

ad, my lips t

o speak

off sharply. "Go pack your

sts as a wave of panic surged through me. "Where do you

turned away. "I don't care. I j

stairs, his back rigi

tears spilled down my cheeks. This was it. The end. Aft

aving. "Michael... I'm pregnant,

de, his back stiffening. Slowly, he tur

d you ju