Chapter:-80

She always feels it in her stomach.

hollowing anguish, coiling around her guts, taking up every space, rough and sore.

It’s shock at first, smothering all other emotions.

Shock is followed by betrayal, anger, and cold-hearted resolve.

Tears keep falling and falling, wetting her hands, clothes, her phone, and their smiling faces.

Then she thinks it’s clear enough. He has a new love and a new life, and isn’t it better and easier if he doesn’t have to explain anything to her? The photos disappear in the bin, and she’ll pretend it was never hers to wear.

He doesn’t want to hear it anyway. Not a word, not a single one, not from her mouth, not in her voice, not while seeing her face. Never again. Monika understands everything now. It all makes sense. She can get over it; she will; she’s done it before.

She can’t get over it.

She takes out the pictures from the bin before anyone can get rid of them, and she keeps them in a box even when she moves.

She drinks too much to drown out the