Every time I needed emotional reassurance, he answered with sex. He drowned my questions in pleasure until I forgot to ask them.
Five years. He had monopolized five years of my life. My entire world revolved around him. Walking away felt like tearing off a limb.
But staying meant losing myself completely.
*It has to end.*
He kissed me fiercely, his hands skilled and demanding. I closed my eyes. A single tear traced a path into my hair.
*Fine.* Tonight would be the funeral for my wasted youth.
---
The next morning, the other side of the bed was cold.
I didn't know when Matthew had finally stopped, but the dark circles under my eyes required three layers of concealer to hide.
I arrived at the office and walked straight to Manager Swanson's office, placing my transfer application on his desk.
On my way back, Valerie Dickerson stepped out of the break room. She spotted me from down the hall, eyebrows shooting up. She adjusted her grip on her coffee cup.
And deliberately veered into my path.
I didn't react in time. We collided.
Scalding coffee splashed across my blouse and skirt.
"Oops! Sorry!" Valerie swatted at my skirt, her hands only spreading the stain further, grinding the hot liquid into my skin. Her voice dripped with saccharine insincerity. "You were walking *way* too fast. I didn't do it on purpose."
I slapped her hand away. Between Matthew's betrayal and the burn searing my leg, my patience had evaporated.
"If you're done making coffee, go back to your desk. Why are you lurking in the doorway?"
She inspected her nails, unfazed. "I came in early and forgot to clock in. Is that a crime? Maybe watch where you're going next time."
I stepped around her, fighting the urge to scream, and grabbed my spare clothes from my desk.
The coffee had left angry red burns on my calf.
Bonnie Barber slid her chair over, handing me a tube of ointment and an ice pack. Her voice dropped. "Valerie heard that Daniel Swanson gave you the director spot at the overseas branch. She's been fuming all morning. Posted a bunch of passive-aggressive status updates about you."
"Is that so?"
I checked Valerie's profile.
Blank.
"She blocked me," I said with a shrug, pressing the ice to my leg.
At lunch, I went to the hospital just to be safe. Sitting alone in the sterile white corridor, the weight of everything finally crashed down.