“He has a girlfriend,” I whispered to Jess, my dearest companion, as I absentmindedly twirled a strand of hair around my finger, my gaze fixed on the ceiling above. She's the only friend I've truly connected with. Making friends has never been easy for me, but with Jess, it was instantaneous. Our bond, forged over four years, has made us inseparable. Usually, she's the one who visits me at Atlas's place, but today I find myself at her house, unable to bear the idea of staying home while Atlas's girlfriend moves in today.
Jess let out a weary sigh, her eyes briefly leaving the pages of her book to meet mine. "You've been repeating that for a fortnight now, Harper," she remarked, her tone tinged with gentle exasperation, before diving back into her literary world.
She's correct. I've been avoiding the truth for the past two weeks. I've attempted to steel myself for the moment I catch sight of Atlas with her, yet I've been unable to confront it. Today marks the culmination of my dread – the day she moves in. Atlas had suggested I meet her beforehand, but I concocted excuses about projects and impending finals, dissuading him from arranging a dinner with his girlfriend. I couldn't bear the thought of facing her. It would only serve to shatter my heart further.
Reclining on the bed with my feet planted against the wall, I felt the warmth of the day seeping through my cotton shorts and plain pink t-shirt. Blinking slowly, I finally spoke after a moment's hesitation. "Her name is Eva," I murmured.
Jess let out another sigh, lowering her book to peer at me over the rim of her glasses. "I know, Harper. You've mentioned that before," she replied gently.
A lump formed in my throat as I stared vacantly at the ceiling, the mere thought of Atlas with another woman igniting a blaze of anguish within me. My eyes stung with unshed tears, my heart constricting painfully in my chest while my trembling lower lip betrayed my inner turmoil. As tears welled up, blurring my vision, a solitary droplet escaped, trailing down my cheek and nestling into my hair. Jess, ever perceptive, noticed my distress.
With a sympathetic click of her tongue, she set her book aside and addressed me tenderly. "Harps," she began, straightening up, "I know you're hurting, darling, but you have to confront reality. Atlas can never return your love." Her honesty, usually appreciated, now pierced like a dagger, exacerbating the ache in my chest.
I met Jess's gaze, tears streaming down my cheeks despite my efforts to contain them. With a shaky breath, I confessed in a hushed tone, "And... she's moving in with us today."
Jess's expression softened in empathy, her lips forming a sympathetic pout. "Oh, Harps," she murmured, enfolding me in a comforting embrace. "It'll be alright. Just nine more months, and you'll finally be free from there. Once you're away from Atlas, you'll find the strength to move forward. I promise, there's someone incredible out there waiting for you."
I sniffled, returning Jess's embrace gratefully. Her presence always brought a sense of solace unlike any other. She was the sole confidante among my friends privy to my feelings for my guardian, yet she never offered hollow assurances, only genuine comfort.
With a sigh, I brushed the tears from my cheeks, mustering the courage to ask, "Can I stay with you tonight? I just... I don't want to go home."
Jess's smile widened, radiating warmth. "Of course, Harps. You're always welcome here," she assured me tenderly.
Jess and I crossed paths on the bustling orientation day of our university, both embarking on our journey toward a bachelor's degree in psychology. While my parents had the foresight to establish a dedicated college fund, affording me the opportunity to attend one of the state's premier universities, Jess and I find ourselves now in the throes of our third year. With the final year looming ahead, Jess has already charted her course toward clinical psychology, whereas I remain undecided.
For now, my primary focus is on completing my degree and extricating myself from the confines of Atlas's household. Last year, Jess and I delved into community psychology internships, a shared experience that shaped our understanding of the field. Yet, as Jess sets her sights on clinical psychology, I find myself still navigating the myriad possibilities.
Atlas, ever observant, sees potential in me for forensic psychology, citing my penchant for consuming all things related to criminal psychology in books and on screen. While his insight holds weight, I continue to grapple with the uncertainty of my future path.
"Oh, and guess what," Jess announced with a mischievous glint in her eye, "Patrick's dropping by for a week tomorrow." Her sly wink added an extra layer of intrigue to her revelation. Despite her outward appearance – thick glasses, petite stature, always clutching a book – those who truly know Jess understand her devilish side.
I couldn't help but chuckle and roll my eyes. Patrick, her older brother, resided in another state, diligently pursuing his path toward becoming a lawyer. But for me, he held another significance – we used to date. One day, Patrick had to leave for another city to continue his studies. We had a deep respect and affection for each other, but it wasn’t enough to put our lives on hold indefinitely. So, we mutually decided to break up. Despite this, Patrick and I remained on good terms. We aren’t friends anymore, but whenever we see each other, we are always civil and pleasant. There are no hard feelings between us.
I’m not even sure why we got into a relationship in the first place. I guess I was trying to get over Atlas and distract myself from him. Patrick has always been quite mysterious to me. Even after we started seeing each other, I couldn’t fully understand him. We enjoyed each other’s company, but we were never in love. It felt like neither of us truly tried to make it more than it was. I was trying to heal my broken heart, and he seemed to be mending his own.
Despite spending over a year together, I don’t know much about Patrick. There was no real spark between us. We were more like physical and emotional support for each other. While Patrick and I know we can never fall in love with each other, Jess believes otherwise. She still hopes for us to get back together, but I know that chapter of my life is firmly closed.
I spent the night at Jess's place, my phone turned off to avoid any distractions. Before shutting it down, I fired off a brief message to Atlas:
"Hey. Don’t wait up for me. I'm crashing at Jess's tonight. We've got some projects to tackle, so I'll be off the grid. Catch you later."
I didn't stick around for his response, preferring to cut off communication altogether. With Eva's imminent move-in weighing heavily on my mind, I was determined to keep my distance from Atlas for the next nine months.
Fortunately, Jess and I had no classes the following day, allowing us to indulge in a late-night spree of cooking, laughter, drinks, and movies. We eventually succumbed to sleep, but when I woke the next morning, the hangover hit hard. With noon fast approaching, I quietly gathered my belongings, careful not to disturb Jess, and made my way back to Atlas's abode.
My head pounded mercilessly as I drove, the lingering scent of wine a stark reminder of last night's indulgence. Hoping to evade any awkward encounters, I prayed that both Atlas and Eva were out, likely occupied with their work responsibilities. It was the perfect opportunity for me to slip in, shower, change, and plot my next move away from the confines of their shared space.
As I arrived home, the sight of Atlas greeted me, his expression notably sour. As I stealthily made my way inside, he descended the stairs with a scowl etched on his face, signaling trouble ahead. His demeanor was stern, his attire crisp and professional, indicating he was likely on his way to work. Eva, however, was conspicuously absent, a fact for which I was silently grateful. I had no desire to face her in my current disheveled state – still clad in shorts and a t-shirt adorned with a conspicuous wine stain, my hair haphazardly tied in a messy bun, and my shoes dangling from my hand rather than adorning my feet.
Atlas's penetrating gaze swept over my disarrayed appearance before he crossed his arms, his tone laced with sharpness and sarcasm. "So, you were busy with a project, huh? Did drinking happen to be part of the assignment?" His words cut through the air, heavy with admonishment.
I averted my eyes, feeling small and powerless under Atlas's stern gaze. Despite being an adult capable of standing up for myself, at that moment, with my head pounding and his disapproving stare bearing down on me, I found myself paralyzed, unable to muster the courage to defend my actions.
He let out a heavy sigh, disappointment evident in his voice as he shook his head. "I'm truly disappointed in you, Harper," he admonished, prompting me to meet his gaze. "I specifically mentioned that Eva would be moving in, and I hoped we could all share a meal together. Yet, instead of being here with us, you chose to spend the evening with your friends, drinking, which you could have done any other day. Do you realize how anxious Eva has been about gaining your approval? While she fretted over your opinion, you were off enjoying yourself with your friends. She may not hold significance to you, but she does to me. Even if not for her, I expected a little consideration for my feelings. How can you be so selfish?" His words pierced through me, stinging with the truth.
Swallowing the lump forming in my throat, I cast my gaze downward, glossy-eyed and remorseful.
"You're an adult, Harper, it's high time you started behaving like one," Atlas chided, his disappointment palpable in his voice as he strode past me, exiting the house with a resounding slam of the door.
Tears welled in my eyes as I hurriedly retrieved my phone, powering it on to send a message to Patrick, whom I hadn’t seen in a while: "I know you're returning today. Can we meet?”
I’m not exactly sure why I asked Patrick to meet me, but I did. I guess I needed someone who wouldn’t judge me or offer unwanted sympathy while I grappled with the reality that Atlas could never be mine.
Patrick's response came swiftly, offering a glimmer of solace: "Of course, I'll see you tonight."
I’m not entirely sure how I ended up in the same bed as Patrick. Neither of us intended for it to happen, but we were both in need of affection, and the drinks we had earlier certainly played a part in our decision. I’m still uncertain if I’m happy about what transpired between us, but at that moment, it felt right.I shuddered as his fingertips caressed the exposed skin of my back, tracing a tantalizing path from the base of my neck down to the small of my back. With eyes closed and teeth gently biting my lower lip, I lay prone, my hands gripping the crisp white sheets beneath me.His touch wandered further, his palm grazing my bare bottom before settling on my thigh, eliciting a sharp intake of breath from me. As his hand inched closer to my most intimate parts – still aching, dripping, and sensitive – anticipation hung heavy in the air, mingling with the remnants of our earlier passion.Leaning in close, his voice husky with desire, he murmured, "One more time?" With a weak smile,
Atlas was unusually talkative tonight. I had never seen him so animated and full of energy. It almost seemed like he was making an effort for Eva and me to get along, though let's be real, there wasn't much about her I didn't like aside from the fact that she now shared a home with the man I love so desperately. Eva appeared genuinely pleasant, and that annoyed me. I wanted so badly to find fault with her, but she gave me no reason to.When I first descended the stairs, she greeted me with a soft smile. Even when I apologized for missing her moving-in yesterday, she brushed it off with a wave of her hand and a chuckle, "No worries at all. I understand life gets busy, and besides, I wouldn't expect anyone to drop everything for me. We all have our lives, so don't fret. It's a pleasure to meet you," she said graciously.Seeing the proud and affectionate look on Atlas's face whenever he looked at her only fueled my resentment. Inside, I seethed at the sight of them together. My heart bur
The Impact of Childhood Adversities on Criminal Behavior. I wrote this title at the top of my register, underlining it twice for emphasis. This was the topic I had chosen for my final semester capstone research. It felt both daunting and exhilarating to take on such a significant subject. I tapped my pen against the notepad, contemplating the weight of the words I had just written. This would not be an easy journey, but the importance of the research propelled me forward.As I mulled over the title, Jess, who was sitting beside me, glanced at the notepad and smiled. “That topic sounds very interesting,” she remarked, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. “Do you have any supervisor in mind? There are only a few professors who specialize in forensic psychology, and you’ll need someone with the right expertise to guide you.”Her question lingered in the air as I considered my options. The university’s forensic psychology department was indeed small, and the competition for supervisors was f
I had a lot to work on. Even though I had a clear idea of what my research would entail, detailing a research proposal was a tough task to complete in a night, and it took me all night. As soon as I returned home, I showered, changed into my cotton shirt and plain pink shorts, tied my hair up in a messy high bun, and got to work.In my room, I have a writing table where I spend hours working on my projects. I sat there, typing away to create a decent research proposal. When my back started to ache, I moved to my bed and continued working from there. I wrote and rewrote countless times, determined not to present Dr. Lawson with a sloppy proposal. He is a perfectionist, and I didn’t want to disappoint him. This was my last chance, and I was giving it my all.Throughout the night, I didn't eat. The house helper came to my room asking if I would be eating soon, but I told her no and asked her to go home. I was capable of heating my own food if needed. While the house helper checked on me,
The next morning, I dragged myself to class feeling utterly worn out and famished. Sleep had been elusive, my mind consumed by perfecting my proposal. I had been so excited about my ideas, but as I pored over them again and again, flaws emerged like cracks in a fragile facade. I was too tired to fix them properly.The idea of facing Dr. Lawson after class made my stomach churn with nerves. What if he didn't like my proposal? The thought of having to redo everything under Dr. Thompson's critical eye made me shudder. Dr. Lawson was the one I wanted to impress, the one who could truly understand and support my research.My stomach growled loudly, a painful reminder of my neglected hunger. I hadn't eaten since who knows when. With my first class not until ten, I had managed to snatch a few hours of sleep before waking up to the presence of Atlas and Eva in the house. I stayed hidden in my room, unable to bear the sight of their affectionate moments. Each glimpse felt like a knife to the h
I fidgeted with the pen in my hand, unable to contain my curiosity. "How did you meet Aaron Torres's brother?" I inquired, my eyes fixed on Dr. Lawson, who was engrossed in reading my revised proposal.He hummed in response, flipping through the pages as he spoke. "I was part of the team of therapists assigned to help him," he replied, his focus still on the document.Intrigued, I squinted my eyes. "And? What else did you learn about him?" I pressed eagerly.Dr. Lawson lifted his gaze and chuckled softly. "Are you truly that interested to know?" he teased, his eyes meeting mine.Without hesitation, I nodded enthusiastically, a wide smile spreading across my face. My excitement was palpable, evident in the sparkle of my widened eyes.Dr. Lawson's smile softened as he placed the proposal on his desk. "I can't disclose more information about him," he stated, causing my shoulders to slump in disappointment. I had been so excited, only to have my hopes dashed. I twisted my mouth in frustra
As Atlas mentioned, Eva did leave on Friday, and her absence somehow made me feel free. Since she moved in, I haven't left my room without a reason. I used to enjoy strolling through the garden behind the house, but since she arrived, I've mostly stayed locked in my room. Today, Atlas came home early because he had to drop her off at the airport. He asked if I wanted to join them, but I politely declined. I wasn't going to waste my time dropping her off when I could savor every second of my newfound freedom. Besides, I would have been intruding on their moment. It's bad enough that I live with them. I'm sure Eva didn't want me to go either. She didn't ask me to join them—only Atlas did.I know I’m painting her as the villain in my story, even though she hasn’t done anything to deserve it. She has been nothing but civil to me. It’s me who ignores her. I can’t stand her because she has what I’ve always wanted: Atlas. Knowing that I never stood a chance hurts, and maybe that’s why I harb
I don’t know why I decided to share such an intimate part of my life with Atlas. We have never been close enough to talk about our personal lives and relationships. I never believed Atlas saw me as someone he could confide in, but tonight, for the first time, he opened up about something happening in his life. I felt compelled to share my part as well, but this was not something I should have disclosed. I hadn’t even told Jess, mostly because Patrick is her brother. I had planned to keep this information to myself, and I should have kept it that way. As soon as the words escaped my mouth, I panicked.“Umm, I mean... I... uh,” I stammered, closing my eyes tightly in embarrassment. I exhaled and shook my head, opening my eyes with a chuckle of shame. “You know what? I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have told you that. I didn’t mean to share that piece of news with anyone, and I just... I don’t know. I guess I have trouble keeping my thoughts to myself,” I continued, nervously ranting. I opened my