The Breaking Point

The house felt different.

Richard had been trying lately. She noticed it in the little things that changed .

The way he called more during the day, even if it was just to ask if she had eaten. The way he stayed longer at the table instead of rushing off. 

She was supposed to be happy but she wasn't.

 Because every time he smiled at her like that, all she could think about was how undeserving she was of it.

And Jayden had changed too but not in any obvious way that anyone else would notice. But she saw it.

He wasn’t as careless anymore. Sometimes he would just look at her.and not say anything, like he was trying to understand her.

One minute he acted like it's just a casual sex.

The next minute he would brush past her and make sure his fingers are grazing hers just long enough to make her breath hitch. Or he would stand a little too close. 

And it confused her 

Because she didn’t know which version of him to believe.

She found out by accident, that somethings can never stay hidden forever.

It was a random afternoon. She had gone into Richard’s study looking for a charger. He had left in a hurry that morning, barely finishing his coffee, saying something about an urgent meeting.

His laptop was open,She wasn’t even trying to sneak a peek.

But then a notification popped up.

“Last night was amazing.”

Her eyes widened and stayed on the screen longer than they should have.

Her fingers moved before her conscience could stop her.

The message thread opened.

There were more messages, flirty discussions from both sides.

Her throat went dry as she scrolled and some explicit photos.

Her reflection stared back at her faintly from the dark screen, looking almost like a stranger.

She didn’t even realize when she sat on the floor.

It felt like her body had gone numb, like she was a ghost in her body.

His Secretary of all the ladies in the world.

She let out a quiet laugh, but there was no humor in it.

It wasn’t just betrayal she felt but something worse.

Because she couldn’t even vent her anger properly.

Not when she was just as guilty.

She closed the laptop slowly, like it might explode if she moved too fast.

And then she just sat there.

Because what was she supposed to do?

She couldn't question him.

“I’m cheating on you with your son, but how dare you cheat on me?”

The thought alone made her feel horrible.

So she decided silence was the best.

Days passed by and nothing changed.

Richard still smiled at her like she was the light in his darkness.

Jayden still cherished her.

Deep inside she knows she's selfish.

But she felt like she was slowly falling apart in between them.

It became too hard to endure.

The constant noise in her head that never seemed to stop.

One evening, the house was lonely.

Richard had called to say he would be late and she hadn't seen jadyden.

She stood in the kitchen, staring at space.

It would be easier if it all ended.

The idea came and her eyes drifted to the knife on the counter.

She stared at it for a long time.

Her hand moved slowly, almost like she was being controlled.

The metal felt cold against her skin.

Her chest rising and falling rapidly.

“lets end it all,” she whispered.

She closed her yes and then…

“What the hell are you doing?”

The voice hit her like a slap.

Her eyes flew open.

Jayden.

He was standing there, like he had just seen a ghost, his face pale, his chest rising like he had been running.

Then he rushed towards her and the knife was gone before she even realized what was happening.

It clattered against the floor.

His hands were on her shoulders now, gripping hard.

“Have you lost your mind?” His voice was shaking. 

She couldn’t look at him.

“I just… I can’t do this anymore,” she said.

His grip tightened.

“ What exactly is wrong with you?”

“Everything!” she snapped, her voice breaking. “This house, this mess, you, she points to herself,.me!”

Her eyes filled with tears.

“I’m tired,” she said softly. “I’m so tired of feeling like shit.”

Something in his expression changed.

The anger was replaced by fear.

He pulled her into him suddenly, holding her so tightly that it was hurting.

But she didn’t push him.

“I swear to God,” he muttered against her hair, his voice low, “don’t ever pull this stunt again.”

Her fingers clutched his shirt.

“I’m sorry,” she admitted weakly.

“you shouldn't be having such thoughts,” he said.

She let out a broken laugh.

“Yeah, I know.”

They stayed like that for a while.

Neither of them talking.

“what ever your battling with, I'm with you I just need you to open up to me,” he said finally.

She pulled back slightly, looking at him.

“Don’t say things you don’t mean.”

“I mean it,” he said, his gaze steady. I know I have done things that made you doubt me in the past.

“You don't need to explain, we are just fuck buddies right,” she said quietly.

His jaw clenched.

“stop it! He shouts

There was hurt evident in his voice.

She didn't understand why her life had to be this complicated, was she born to be a joke.

She chuckled and walked past him, laughing as she realized that she was a fool, thinking that her dream was about the Mockery the universe were throwing at her not knowing she was the mockery herself.

She opened her room door and slammed the door so hard and fell on her bed.

And for the first time in her life she admitted she was broken.

Jayden came to the door knocking, telling her to open the door.

When she didn't he left

She didn't know when she slept off.

When she woke up, it was midnight she felt a body close to her, she panicked and looked and saw it was Richard then she slept back.