I stared at the message for a long time.
We need to talk. Tonight.
Those four words sat on my screen like a threat. My heartbeat thudded loudly in my ears, each beat heavier than the last. I didn't reply immediately. I couldn't. I needed to breathe first, needed to steady myself before I said something I couldn't take back.
Talk about what, Daniel?
About how you held her hand in my living room?
About the messages you thought I wouldn't see?
I locked my phone and placed it face down on the bed, as if that would stop the anxiety crawling through my body. My room felt too quiet, too small. Every second stretched painfully, dragging memories with it how Daniel used to sit on this same bed, how Tara used to tease us, how safe I once felt.
Safe.
What a joke.
By the time night fell, I had already decided I wouldn't run. If he wanted to talk, I would listen. But this time, I wouldn't beg. I wouldn't cry. I wouldn't pretend.
Daniel knocked softly on my door.
I didn't answer.
The door creaked open anyway. He stepped inside, hands tucked into his pockets, eyes searching my face like he was trying to read something written there. For a moment, neither of us spoke. The silence between us felt heavy, uncomfortable.
"You've been avoiding me," he finally said.
I let out a short, humorless laugh. "Funny. I was about to say the same thing."
He frowned slightly, as if surprised by my tone. "What's that supposed to mean?"
I stood up slowly, crossing my arms over my chest. "You tell me."
His gaze flickered away from mine, just for a second. And that was all the confirmation I needed.
"Look," he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, "I didn't plan for things to get complicated."
There it was. Complicated. The word people used when they were guilty but didn't want to admit it.
"Things?" I repeated quietly. "Or people?"
He looked at me again, startled. "You're imagining things."
I felt something snap inside me.
"Don't," I said, my voice sharper now. "Don't insult me like that. Not after everything."
Daniel stepped closer. "You're overreacting. Tara and I,we're just friends."
Friends.
I laughed. This time, it wasn't quiet.
"Friends don't send messages like that," I said calmly. "Friends don't hide conversations. Friends don't look at each other the way you two do when you think I'm not watching."
His face drained of color.
For a moment, I thought he might finally tell the truth. Instead, he chose the coward's way out.
"You went through my phone?" he asked, his voice suddenly defensive.
Of course. Turn it around. Make me the problem.
"I didn't have to," I replied. "The truth was already screaming at me. I just finally listened."
The door behind him opened again.
Tara walked in.
She paused when she saw the tension in the room, but she didn't look surprised. If anything, she looked prepared. Her eyes moved from Daniel to me, then back again.
"Oh," she said lightly. "Am I interrupting something?"
I stared at her. This girl, this woman, who had slept beside me during heartbreaks, who had sworn loyalty, who had looked me in the eye and lied without blinking.
"No," I said slowly. "You're right on time."
Daniel turned to her. "Tara, maybe you should...."
"No," I cut in. "She should stay."
Tara smiled faintly and closed the door behind her, leaning against it like she belonged there. Like this was her room too.
"What's going on?" she asked, folding her arms.
I walked closer to her, stopping just inches away. "How long?"
Her smile faltered. Just for a second.
"How long what?" she asked, but her voice wasn't as steady as she wanted it to be.
"How long have you been lying to me?" I demanded. "How long have you been sneaking around with my fiancé?"
Daniel stiffened.
Tara exhaled slowly, then straightened. And then, she laughed.
"Wow," she said. "So you finally figured it out."
The room spun.
Finally figured it out.
"You're not even sorry," I whispered.
"Why should I be?" she replied, tilting her head. "You don't own him."
I turned to Daniel. "Say something."
He opened his mouth, then closed it again. His silence was louder than any confession.
Tara stepped forward. "You and I both know this wasn't working anymore. He was unhappy. Lonely. And I was there."
I felt my chest tighten. "You were my best friend."
"And I still am," she said calmly. "I just chose myself."
Something inside me broke, not loudly, not dramatically, but completely.
I nodded slowly, backing away from them both. "Thank you," I said.
Daniel looked confused. "For what?"
"For telling me the truth without saying it," I replied. "For showing me exactly who you both are."
I picked up my phone from the bed and walked past them toward the door.
"Where are you going?" Daniel asked.
"Somewhere I can breathe," I said without looking back. "And when I come back… nothing will be the same."
Tara's voice followed me. "Don't be dramatic."
I paused at the door, my hand gripping the handle tightly.
"Oh," I said softly. "THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING."
And I walked out.
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