Chapter 1

Lily gave the office door a push and was greeted by the usual scent of coffee and paper. As soon as she came in, she gasped to find her friend Mia in the office. There was a desolate stillness in her, as her lively mood was nowhere to be seen.

The only thing noticeable on Mia was the redness around her eyes and the tears along her cheeks. The way she felt looked like a result of nights spent crying, and that bothered Lily a lot.

"What’s going on here?" She softly called out to Mia, kneeling as she spoke. "Why are you like this?"

She cried and said, “Jackson… he broke up with me.”

Lily became very angry. “What? How could he do such a thing? He is a jerk!" She hugged Mia close in her arms. Having her close was a little bit of comfort for Mia after her heartbreak.

Helping her friend with gentle hugs, Lily tried to ease the stress by saying, “Ignore him. You should not be with someone who doesn’t deserve you. His selfishness doesn’t fit with how much you are worth. You will meet someone who truly values you.” After a little while, Mia loosened in her arms, and the tension in her shoulders lessened.

Quickly after, Mia retreated, wiping her eyes with her hand.

“Let’s get you ready,” Lily said, her determination firm. “We’re going club to have a great night. You deserve it.”

“Okay,” she said, her voice still shaky but a hint of resolve creeping in. “But what about your plans? Your ice cube?”

Lily chuckled lightly, grateful for the small shift in mood. “I’ll message him. He’ll understand. Tonight is about you, Mia. Let’s go to the club and set your mood right.”

Mia managed a smile, the corners of her lips lifting just a fraction. “Okay,” she said, a glimmer of hope returning to her eyes.

****

The club buzzed with the energetic beats of music, so when Lily and Mia stepped into it, the place was alive. It was throbbing, a bracing cocktail of manic laughter, strobe lights, and the pungent smell of drunken beverages. She & he came for another reason: to escape sometimes as well, just to let their lives fade away, and for Mia to clear her head from the breakup.

They twirled on the dance floor, the beat surrounding them, and for a split second all their cares were left on the side in the background. Mia twirls around with her carefree laughter and the way it echoes as a melody. Even though she was half carrying the burden of her own heartbreak, Lily was carried away by the night.

In the midst of Mischief, however, Mia saw a sight. She squinted through the mob, gazing at a particular figure.

She shouted over the music, “Lily,” just her voice barely carried. "Is that your ice cube?“

Lily’s heart sank as she looked at Mia. There he was—Ethan following behind the bar, eyeing a girl who Lily had never seen in real life other than in photos that Ethan left on the coffee table of his study.

""I don't know…" Lily said, her voice trailing a little with sorrow.

Mia’s brow furrowed as she watched the scene unfold. “With whom is he? Who is that girl?”

“Oh... I know her,” Lily said, her voice barely a whisper. “She’s a friend from his college. She’s Sarah”

The look on Mia's face changed from curious to incredulous as the couple appeared to interact. “two are acting like a couple … Lily..." she saw the one moment that destroyed Lily with her own eyes. The kiss of Ethan as he crushed his mouth to the girl was like a knife in the heart,

Mia shouted while her face was a painting of shock…” ”your husband is cheating on you… Lily..." Mia said horrified.

Turning to Lily, the tears were pouring from her eyes.

“let’s go to him… come on…". Mia needed to breathe because three different fires exploded in her chest: anger, protectiveness, and fear.

“No thanks, let’s go home…” Lily answered back, and her voice broke. Mia put up the slightest resistance before Lily snapped and walked out of the club, to the boisterous energy that is so not her.

“LILY… LILY… wait for me!" Mia shouted, trying to run with him. There was a matching sadness on both their faces. "I am aware that you are in pain… However, you ought to explain that you know about his cheating… And then punish him so he knows better next time!"

Lily frowned and said it with a sad voice. "What is the point of all this? He isn’t in love with me. Notice how much happier they are together. Because he never loved me in the first place. He loves her. Now, I feel like there’s no one around, and I really miss my parents now. I feel so alone."

Words burst from her, and the tears poured down, unstoppably. Mia moved over and gave Lily a comforting hug. Through tears, she completed, “I’m here by your side.”

There was silence between the two again; they hailed a taxi to Lily’s home, and the twinkling night sky gave the city a magical look, while Lily felt low. Mia put her arm around her, giving her peace as they went to Lily’s place.

Lily’s spirits felt even more low as soon as she arrived. Her eyes were bloodshot, and she turned to Mia. “I’m grateful you are here,” she whispered.

With a loving squeeze, Mia agreed and said, “Always.” Lily, you don’t have to suffer alone. We will make it through as a team.”

Lily opened her house door and stepped inside.

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