The revenge

lla's

together for five years-five years since our final year at university, five years of believing in him, building

n I was coming. I wanted to surprise him-I had baked his favorite banana bread, the one with walnuts he always

st, everything seemed normal. Quiet. Then I heard it-a giggle, sof

ed the sound upstairs, numb but burning. And then I saw it-her. Valerie. A wo

door. Maybe a smile. A kiss. Maybe the warmth in his eyes that always made m

rgument two nights ago. My heart was still a little bruised, but I was willing to meet him halfway. That's what love is, isn't it?.The air

I saw

. My K

every inch and couldn't get enough. Her name escaped his lips in a whisper, "Valerie,"

't stop-i

he bag, like it mattered anymore. Valerie's back arched beneath him, her hands tangled in his hair. The sounds, the swe

ht. My chest ached so hard I thought I might actually die right there. Kelvin jumped up, trying to cover himself,

not then. I turned around, wal

a dam had burst. I collapsed into her arms and sobbed so hard I could barely breathe. I

ss. She didn't rush me. She didn't spea

oftly, "he's not worth it. Don't you dare let a man like Kelvin break you. He cheated

moment, I knew-yes, I was heartbroken, yes, I felt like I was dying inside, but

meone who would have given him the world. And I

d shield me from the memories. My throat was raw from crying, and my eye

barely above a whisper. "I was good

lently, her hand on

ed that course and was depressed for weeks. I was the one who pushed him to chase his dreams when he didn't bel

for him. I forgave him for being emotionally distant, for forgetting our anniversarie

yes. "And this is what I get? Him in

ed with the kind of quiet anger only a best friend

didn't want to see his name. But th

st

ano

anot

h, I blocke

. Some frantic. Some calm and rehearsed. Some where he pretend

t me explain. It wasn'

was stupid. I didn'

y life. Please don't

a. Doesn't that

s a reason for me to stay-as if he hadn't thrown th

message. Ever

never

on

e now used to beg. I wasn't going to let him talk his way out of this. He broke some

loving him, but I'd be crazy to take him back. And deep down, I knew she wa