3

I knew that I needed to move on.

I knew that I needed to put my past behind me.

Find a new man…

A man that cared about me.

Who loved me…

Who didn’t make me question my self-worth.

Who didn’t make me question my value, wondering why I wasn’t enough.

Wondering what I’d done to warrant getting hit and abused.

But what happened with Agron had left me beyond fucked-up for a long time.

Not knowing if I could trust another man.

Not knowing if I could let another man in.

I wasn’t in love with Agron anymore…

I was just terrified of falling in love with somebody new, and them putting up a sweet façade at first, only to turn out toxic and manipulative later.

I couldn’t put myself through again.

I let out a deep sigh, knowing that my trust issues were going to get the better of me one day.

That my insecurities were going to end up eating me alive one day.

I shook my head, snapping out of my thoughts, and made my way to my computer, ready to get to work for my graphic design tasks for the day.

CHAPTER 2

AMBER

I finished my graphic design tasks for the day, sending out the illustrations to all of my customers. Having to do overtime today and work until 6 P.M.

I was ready to just put some N*****x on and watch some TV, until my phone started blaring.

I looked at the person’s name blaring across the screen, and saw that it was my friend Isha.

I picked it up.

“Hey Isha, what’s up?” I asked.

“It’s Friday night,” she grinned at the other end of the line. “Let’s go clubbing!”

I rolled my eyes. “No thanks. I’m watching Money Heist on N*****x,” I retorted.

“Come on, don’t be such a party pooper. You never go out with me. You never know, you might enjoy it.”

“Nah Isha, I’m honestly not in the mood. I don’t even like clubbing,” I sighed, and before she could protest further, I hung up the phone.

I kicked my legs up, pulling my blanket over my body, and switched the TV on, immersing myself in Money Heist.

***

After I’d got through two episodes of the show, I made my way to the kitchen, to get myself some snacks from the cupboard. As I was doing so, I heard my doorbell ring. I furrowed my eyebrows, glancing at the clock.

Not expecting anybody at this time.

Suddenly, I began sweating profusely, my heart pounding with nerves. Knowing that Agron couldn’t get to me anymore now that the police investigation was ongoing, but I still grew paranoid all the same.

I shook my head, shutting off my thoughts, convincing myself not to be silly, it was probably just the neighbour. I made my way to the door, and opened it.

My jaw dropped in shock, as I saw Isha standing there, wearing black high-heels, a black mini-dress, and had her blonde hair curling down her back like an amazing waterfall.

“Hey girl!” she exclaimed.

“Isha…” I widened my eyes. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m coming to take you clubbing,” she grinned.

“We already spoke about this-”

“I’m not taking no for an answer!” she interjected, cutting me off my sentence before I had the chance to finish it. “Come on girl, lighten up. You’re always working. It’s time to have some fun!”

I rolled my eyes, knowing that there was no wriggling myself out of this, and that once Isha set her mind on something, she stopped at nothing to achieve it.

“Fine,” I sighed, to my own displeasure.

“Yay!” she squealed. “Come on, let’s rummage through your wardrobe for your sexiest number.”

I laughed, before following her back to my bedroom. She started chucking all of my clothes out on my bed, ruffling through them carelessly.

“Why do you have so many ugly, boring clothes?” she scolded.

“Jheez, thanks for the confidence boost,” I retorted.

“Full of baggy sweaters and leggings. Jesus Christ, woman. Don’t you know what a skirt is?” she sneered, continuing to make a mess out of my room.

I laughed, amused.

“Oh my God!” Her eyes lit up, as she picked something out from the heap of clothes. “This is perfect!”