29.

A slap on the head with a small paw woke me up most days, but not today. Instead, a light buzz next to me head had me groaning lowly and snatching up my phone, glaring at the notification that snatched me from my slumber. Pushing away stray hairs in my line of sight, I hastily unlock mu phone and open the notification that had been bugging me. I didn't recognise the number, so I grew more annoyed, thinking it was a scam message or some random. Opening the chat with a wide yawn, I stop mid yawn, choking loudly, my eyes wide and modified. The text burned into my skull, heavy tears weighing down my eyelids already.

Wed, 9:54AM

Unknown messenger

Thanks for letting me borrow him for the night xx

1 image attached

I blinked uncontrollably as I dragged my sleeves roughly across my eyes. I looked back just one more time, just incase I was dreaming, just incase it wasn't really him, just incase this didn't mean my perfect life I once had had been obliterated in just a few text.

But I was wrong.

The repeating video of Lindsay played over and over like a broken record, her eyeliner smudged, eyes rolling into the back of her head and mouth gaping in pleasure as he moaned my boyfriends name over and over. It wasn't clear, but I could see the strong body behind her, I could tell it was in fact Aether, his arms lean and rough as he grabbed onto her tightly. Seeing enough, I flung my phone towards the wall, completely unbothered by the violent crack and shatter I heard. My sobs soon became uncontrollable, the one thing I wished for the most not to come true, became my greatest reality. I was angry, sad, betrayed. I knew better then this, but I still stupidly let myself be swayed by a pretty face and some well placed touches. I cried and heaved so long, it must have been loud as my neighbour rapped on my door, asking sweetly if I was alright. I couldn't bring myself to get up and answer, sobbing even more until she sighed and walked away in sorrow, but no without saying,

"I can tell what you're going through is a very tough heart break son, but I promise you, it gets better." With that, the sweet old man was gone.

His encouragement made me cry a little less, and a little quieter, until finally I had wrung out the last drops of tears. Crying drained me, making me feel like a squished bug thats corpse had been stuck out in the flaming sun all day. Picking myself up, I knew what I was going to do. I always did this when I was sad. Rummaging through my tiny closet, I pulled out a big sage green duffle bags, brushing my fingers over the patches sewn onto the thick fabric. All I could muster was a pathetic teary smile, remains of my childhood still lived, even as I grew and moved away from home. Home. Thats where I needed to be the most now. I gathered my things silently with Chubs sitting next to me, jumping into the bag once I had finished filling it. Whenever things went to shit, I always ran off to my parents house. Though they aren't my real parents, their love and care overthrows the need for biological connection. Every time I leave, I take Chubs along because he loves my parents, but it's mostly for moral, fluffy comfort. He's gotten so used to my visits that from must the sight of the bulky bag he knows we're leaving. Rubbing under Chubs chin and walking towards the door, I flung it open to reveal the reason for my dry eyes.

"Alex, how are you? I know yesterday night I was mad, so I came to apologise and explain." Aether's smile was so gentle, stabbing and tearing at my soul even more. How could be pretend like he didn't fuck the one person who resented me so much?

"Leave me the fuck alone, I saw the video." Aether was fumbled by my spiteful statements, concern growing when he spotted the bag I gripped tightly.

"You never told me you were going somewhere, what's going on?"

why did he ask so many questions? Was this his way of making sure I was never suspicious of him with other people? How many others did he get with and covered up by asking questions to make me think he cared?

"I fucking saw you with her! With Lindsay! You think i'm stupid enough to stay here and act like all your fake affection and fake questions are genuine!? I know you don't care, so don't pretend to be concerned about where i'm going." all it took was her name for Aether to reaction like someone had thrown acid at him. Taking my chance to walk out, Aether grabbed my arm,

"I didn't do anything with her, please don't leave. I don't know why you think I don't care, but I do, so much. So please-"

"I told you already, you don't need to lie anymore because we're done. So tell me the truth, tell me you're so excited i'm finally off your dick and you can now happily be in a loving relationship with Lindsay. Tell me you hope never see me again and every I remind you off. Go on."

Tears were welling in his eyes, the light sparkle fading, and his face going cold.

"I loved you once. I regret every second we spend together, and I was so fucking stupid to let you confess to me drunk." His jaw clenched tighter with every passing word,

"I wish you were sober. Then I would never have had any reason to be with you." a single tear slid down his prefect face, eyes dead and staring back at me soullessly. Brushing past him, I walked calmly down the hall and into the elevator, immediately breaking down as soon as the doors chimed and closed before me.