Vanessa leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples as she stared at long list of data on the screen of her desktop computer, she has lots of entry to do. She works as a data entry operator in one of the firms in the city.
It had been a long work week, and it has been 5 days after the Halloween fare, the last time she met with her lover and she was more than ready for the weekend. She had been commuicating with Mark regularly through the week although absence was felt
She glanced at the clock, her heart fluttering as she realized it was already 5pm. Mark would be home by now, and the thought of surprising him filled her with warmth. She gathered her things, a small smile playing on her lips as she headed out of the office.
The grocery store was busy, filled with people rushing to get their weekend shopping done. Vanessa grabbed a cart, her mind already racing with ideas for dinner. She picked up vegetables, her fingers tracing the smooth skin of the bell peppers before she remembered Mark's distaste for them. She frowned, her brow furrowing as she tried to remember what he did like. She settled on zucchini and yellow squash, hoping that would be enough.
She was just about to head to the checkout when she remembered the wine. Mark loved a good merlot, and she knew just the one he would appreciate. She made her way to the wine aisle, her eyes scanning the shelves until she found the perfect bottle. She smiled to herself, already imagining the look on his face when he saw it.
The drive to Mark's house was filled with anticipation. Vanessa's heart pounded in her chest as she pulled up to the curb, her eyes scanning the dark windows. She grabbed the groceries and the wine, her keys clutched tightly in her hand as she made her way to the front door.
It was already open.
Vanessa hesitated, her heart pounding in her ears. She pushed the door open slowly, her eyes scanning the dimly lit living room. "Mark?" she called out, her voice barely above a whisper. "Are you home?"
There was no response, but she could hear something - a low, rhythmic sound coming from the bedroom. Her heart pounded in her chest as she made her way down the hall, the sound growing louder with each step.
The door to the bedroom was ajar, and she could see them - Mark and another woman, their bodies entwined on the bed. The woman was on top, her hips moving in a steady, sensual rhythm. Mark's hands gripped her hips, his body arching to meet hers with each thrust.
She stood there while watching them moan for pleasure which each stroke sounding satisfying to their ears.
She was frozen, her eyes wide with shock and betrayal. She couldn't move, couldn't speak, couldn't even breathe. The scene unfolding before her was like something out of a movie - graphic, explicit, and utterly devastating.
"Mark," she finally managed to choke out, her voice barely audible over the sound of their bodies slapping together. The woman on top of him looked up, her eyes meeting Vanessa's for a brief, shocked moment before she turned back to Mark, her hips never pausing in their rhythm.
Mark, however, stilled. His eyes met Vanessa's, and for a moment, she thought she saw a flicker of guilt. But it was gone as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by a cold, blank expression.
"Vanessa," he said, his voice calm and collected. "What are you doing here?"
She stared at him, her mouth agape. "What am I doing here?" she echoed, her voice filled with disbelief. "I...I came to surprise you. I thought we could spend the weekend together."
He sat up, the woman on top of him sliding off his lap. He didn't even glance at her, his eyes never leaving Vanessa's. "I told you, Vanessa," he said, his voice cold. "I don't like you visiting without informing met."
She shook her head, her eyes filling with tears. "But...but you said you loved me," she stammered, her voice filled with pain. "You said you would never hurt me."
"You promised me. You said you loved me."
He laughed once, short and humorless. "You really still believe that?"
The words cut deep.
The woman stepped back, guilt etched across her face now. "I didn't know he had a girlfriend," she said quietly.
Vanessa looked at her, then back at Mark. "Girlfriend?" she echoed. "Is that what I am to you?"
He shrugged. "You were… something."
"Something?" she spoke.
Her chest burned. "I stood by you. I waited. I defended you when people said you were distant, when you said you needed time. I loved you with everything I had."
He crossed his arms. "That's your problem. You loved more than I asked you to."
Tears blurred her vision. "Why?" she asked. "Why keep lying to me?"
"Because it was easier," he said plainly. "Because you stayed."
The honesty was crueler than any lie.
She shook her head, backing away. "You said you'd never hurt me."
"I never promised you forever," he replied. "You just heard what you wanted."
Vanessa couldn't breathe anymore. The room felt too small. The walls too close. She dropped the jacket onto the floor between them like it burned her.
Those words cut through her like a spear, she never believed it was coming from the man she claimed she loved. That was the unbelievable part of it all.
He stood up, his body naked and unashamed. "I never promised you monogamy, Vanessa," he said, his voice filled with a cold, hard truth.
She stared at him, her heart shattering into a million pieces. "But...but I love you," she whispered, her voice filled with pain. " She managed to express herself with the only question she has been asking him for over some minutes she found them "I thought...I thought you loved me too."
Vanessa felt the tears spill over, streaming down her cheeks. She turned to leave, her body shaking with sobs. She was surprised how nonchalant Mark was and the silent treatment he gave to her. She just wanted to escape, to get as far away from this nightmare as possible.
She left the apartment broken with tears streaming down her cheeks up to her shirt, she was clueless and not sensitive of her movements when she heard it - the screech of tires, the crunch of metal. She was walking on the tarred road, She turned just in time to see a vehicle speeding around the corner, its headlights blinding her. She tried to jump out of the way, but it was too late. The vehicle hit her, sending her flying through the air before she landed hard on the pavement.
The world went dark,