53

~Aoife~

A wall of thoughts deployed one after another, capturing the dread of betrayal. Anxiety curbed my sight, and I ran aimlessly, trying to calm my suffocation. I couldn’t pinpoint what hurt me the most. Is it the lie or the closeness I witnessed with Zareena?

But why was I running? This is what I always do. No, I am not the girl who runs from her challenges, but why didn’t I feel the courage to confront him? Is it because I had a hidden fear that he would break my heart and leave me when I needed him the most?

I didn’t realize when the anxiety turned into tears, and I bumped into something. I heard a groan, only to see it was not the wall but a man.

“Look out, miss.”

The train of thoughts shattered, and the wall of fear was replaced with an unknown voice brushing my ears, bringing me back to my senses. Then I realized my smoothie had splashed on his clothes.

“Sorry.” The vulnerability inside me could come out in screams, but only in whispers of gagging.

“Are you okay, miss?” He p