SAFE IN HIS DARKNESS

Emily Grayson's

As I stood in the elevator, staring at my own reflection in the polished metal surface, a wave of anxiety washed over me. It was hard not to feel unsettled and nervous, especially because Jack hadn't called me all day long. Our one-year anniversary was supposed to be a day of celebration and joy, a milestone in our relationship that we had both looked forward to, yet here I was, plagued by the thought that maybe he had simply forgotten. I stood at his workplace, ready to surprise him. A sweet gesture that I hoped would show him just how much he meant to me. Jack had recently been promoted as a manager at this company, a position he had worked incredibly hard for, and I wanted to make our anniversary special for him.

Holding a lunchbox in one hand and a carefully wrapped gift in the other, I couldn't shake off the feeling of apprehension. "Oh God," I muttered softly to myself, "I just hope he's not angry that I didn't warn him of my visit today." Jack was not fond of surprises, a quirk of his personality that I had come to accept, but despite knowing that, I still wanted to bring a spark of happiness to his busy day. As I noticed the elevator's numbers lighting up, my heart raced with each count-a countdown to floor seven, Jack's floor. When the doors finally opened, I stepped out, but as I surveyed the area, I realized that his secretary was absent from her desk. I didn't think much of it initially; perhaps she was on a break or had stepped out for a quick errand. Motivated by thoughts of Jack's potentially delighted reaction, I strode purposefully toward his office.

I had never been particularly fond of that secretary; she always seemed to radiate an air of superiority, giving me attitude whenever I encountered her. I couldn't quite understand what her problem was, but at that moment, I pushed the thought aside, focusing instead on surprising Jack. Without bothering to knock, I decided to simply push the door open, excitement bubbling within me.

What greeted me on the other side was a scene I never could have anticipated, one that would forever haunt my memories. Instead of the warm embrace and grateful smile I had envisioned, I found something entirely different: Jack's secretary, clad only in her bra, her shirt hiked up around her waist, was intimately positioned against Jack's body, who was standing behind her, engaging in an act far removed from any work-related discussion. My grip slackened, causing the gift in my hand and the lunchbox I had prepared to crash to the floor with a loud thud. The noise drew their attention, and at that moment, their eyes locked onto mine, filled with shock and disbelief.

"Oh Fuck no! Emily, This is not what you think, it is. Please let me explain.

I was in a state of utter panic, my heart racing with a mix of disbelief and betrayal. Without a second thought, I spun around and bolted toward the elevator, my mind racing as I desperately tried to escape the chaos behind me. Jack, who was still scrambling to put his clothes on, called out after me, his voice a jumbled mix of urgency and confusion.

"Emily, please stop! Let me explain!" he shouted, his voice echoing in the hallway.

I barely registered his pleas as I dove into the elevator, feeling my breath quicken. Just as the doors began to close, I caught a glimpse of Jack's frantic expression, the way he reached out in vain, still shouting my name. And then-click-the doors sealed shut, leaving me in a sterile metal box while his words faded away.

When I finally stepped out of the elevator and into the bustling lobby, I could feel the eyes of strangers on me. The heat of embarrassment washed over me, and I wiped the tears streaming down my cheeks, fully aware that my mascara had transformed my face into a smudged disaster. Overwhelmed by the weight of my emotions, I hurried out onto the street and waved down a taxi, eager to escape the judgmental stares.

After what felt like an eternity, I finally opened the door to my apartment and let myself in. The moment I crossed the threshold, all the pain that I had bottled up exploded inside me. I collapsed onto the floor, anguish spilling out in the form of a heart-wrenching scream. How did everything go so horribly wrong? Was it truly so unreasonable to want to wait until marriage before having sex? Jack had always assured me that he understood, claiming that his love for me was strong enough to withstand the wait. But now, it felt like those reassurances had been nothing more than lies, deceitful fabrications to keep me complacent while he was unfaithfully entwined with his secretary all along.

I couldn't tell if it had been hours or mere minutes; the time slipped away from me as I sat on the cold floor of my living room, enveloped in a haze of tears. My heart felt as heavy as the weight of the world pressing down on me, each sob wracking my body and echoing in the emptiness around me. Eventually, the sound of a knock jolted me out of my sorrowful stupor. I had cried myself into an unsettling sleep, and as my bleary eyes fluttered open, I didn't even think to check who was at the door. I just instinctively pulled it wide, only to find Jack standing there, his expression a mix of concern and desperation.

Before I could regain my senses enough to close the door and protect myself from whatever he had come to say, Jack pushed his way inside uninvited. I instinctively recoiled, taking a step back to create some distance between us, desperately trying to shield myself from what I feared would be another wave of hurt.

"Emily, baby," he began, his tone laced with regret, "it's a mistake. Baby, I love you." His words hung in the air, and I felt a mixture of anger and disbeliefs fermenting inside me..