t was amazing," Jake sai

me. I'm glad

one call earlier?" Jake

sion faltered.

ed, his tone casual,

"Just a friend," she sa

keptical. "A friend who ge

omfortably. "What'

ioned anyone in your life," Jake said, hi

, guilt written acros

turned somber. "So, you're not sure where you stand wi

llen deeply in love with her. The thought of sharing

He had given her his heart, and now

his voice cracking. "I've given you my

, his eyes welling up with tears. "I need some s

leave, Sophia

e, w

away without

, where she spent countless nights binge-watching shows or lost in thought. As she stared blankly at the wall, tears welled up in her eyes. Jake's words echoed in her mind: "Five months, Sophia... I've given you my heart."

to see a message or a call from him. The screen remained blank, and the clock on her wall seemed

he wondered if she had lost him forever, if the di

first ring. "Hey, girl! How's it going?" Nicole's cheerful v

share. "Hey, Nicole. My day was...c

d?" Nicole's tone

ts. "It's just...Jake said he's give

d to think about what's best for you. But, hone

How could she explain to Nicole that t

ng and spending time together. Over the years, their friendship deepened, and Nicole became a trusted confidante for Sophia

st for you Sophia but honestly, yo

bly. "Babes you do

stand

when we're out together. He's charmin

how to reveal the trut

rking the way you th

le said softly. "Just be careful and do

eeling a mix of emotions. "T

d romance filled their lives. She remembered the way he used to look at her,

the gentle touches turned to bruising blows. Sophia's world narrowed

gripped her heart. She excused it, blamed herself, and stayed.

lf-worth eroded by the co

ain for so long. She thought about Jake's words, "He's given me his heart," a

ege days when she was 21 years old. Initially, everything seemed perfect - the rom

ing remarks that Alex would later brush off as jokes. But

promise to change, to be more considerate and loving. But once the dust s

hope that things could change, that Alex would transform into the lov

ake a bath, hoping the warm water would wash away some of the pain and uncertainty that had been p

nes, and breathed deeply, trying to calm her racing thoughts. She stayed there for what felt like hours, letting the water work its magic.

the covers, feeling the softness of the blankets envelop her. As she drifted off to sleep, Sophia hoped that tomorrow woul

he let sleep claim her, hoping that when she woke up, she'd feel