Ella stood frozen by the corner of the house, just outside the sliding glass door that led to the backyard. Her heart pounded in her chest, the sound of it ringing in her ears as she stared at the scene in front of her. Zain and Theo were standing in the cool air, close together, their lips pressed against each other.
Ella didn’t know how long she had been standing there, but she felt like she couldn’t move, like her body was frozen in place. She knew Zain had been acting distant lately, but she never imagined this. Not with Theo. Not after everything they had gone through.
Her stomach twisted painfully, the kind of ache that made her feel sick. She had been fighting with herself for weeks now, trying to ignore the feelings she had for Zain, knowing he wasn’t the type to fall into a relationship easily. But this—this was different. She had never imagined him and Theo like this.
Her breath caught in her throat as she slowly backed away from the door, retreating back to the hallway inside. She didn’t want to see anymore.
Ella’s chest felt tight, like the air was being sucked out of her lungs. She wanted to scream, to cry, but she couldn’t find the words. She found herself wandering aimlessly through the house, bumping into people she barely recognized, their conversations blurred in her head. She had to get out of here. She couldn’t do this tonight. Not now.
She grabbed her jacket from the hallway and stormed out the front door, slamming it behind her without thinking. Her eyes were burning, but she refused to let herself cry. Not here, not in front of everyone.
The cool night air hit her as she stepped into the driveway, her hands trembling as she fumbled with the zipper of her jacket. The tears she’d been holding back were now just below the surface, threatening to spill over.
She didn’t know what hurt more—the kiss itself, or the realization that she had been fighting a losing battle. Zain had made his choice, and it wasn’t her.
Ella sat down on the curb, pulling her knees to her chest, feeling the cold ground beneath her. She could still see them in her mind, laughing and kissing outside. It felt like a punch to the gut, the kind that knocked the wind out of you and left you gasping for air.
It wasn’t just about Zain, though. It was about everything she thought they were. All the memories, all the promises—none of it meant anything anymore.
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