Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Leaving the Past Behind

I feel suffocated, like I can’t breathe not because of the rain pouring down on me as I roam aimlessly, not from the cold, but from the betrayal burning a hole through my chest. Betrayal from the one person I gave my all to. I was a good wife to Landon, loyal to the point of self-destruction, and he still threw it all in my face. I can’t even blame him. I should have seen it coming. From the very beginning, he made it clear that I was the only one truly married in this relationship.

On our wedding day, I broke tradition. Instead of Landon waiting at the altar for me, I was the one waiting for him. My groom was missing, off chasing the supposed love of his life, Jade Holland. The night before we exchanged vows, he was in her arms, not mine. I knew it, yet I said nothing. I convinced myself that marriage would change him, that he would finally leave her in the past and focus on building a family with me. How foolish I was.

On our wedding night, Landon made his disdain for me painfully clear. He didn’t even touch me. “I’m tired,” he said, brushing past me like I was a stranger. My heart shattered, but I told myself to give him time. His mother, Veronica, treated me like a servant, berating me at every turn, and Landon stood by silently, never defending me. Still, I clung to the hope that he would change.

He never did.

For three years, I lived like a prisoner in his estate. I wasn’t allowed to leave unless he permitted it, and he never did. I didn’t even know what it felt like to be on a date. Landon attended social events alone, always with some excuse about how I wouldn’t “fit in.” I convinced myself that it was temporary, that one day he would see my worth. But deep down, I knew better.

The baby I carry now was my desperate attempt to tie him to me, to make him stay. I prayed endlessly for this child, hoping it would force him to love me. But Jade always found a way to ruin everything. She was the ghost haunting our marriage, and Landon welcomed her with open arms.

Walking in the rain, I finally see how blind I’ve been. I gave up everything for a man who never deserved me. I sacrificed my dreams, my independence, and my dignity all for what? A hollow marriage built on lies? I lost myself in him, and now I have nothing. No home, no family, no friends, no career. I let Landon strip me of everything, and I let him.

I stop walking and scream into the night, the sound raw and guttural. It feels like the only way to release the tightness in my chest, the unbearable weight crushing me. But the scream isn’t enough. I look around, desperate for something that will make the pain stop. My eyes land on a streetlight pole. Without thinking, I ran toward it, slamming my head against the cold metal. The sharp pain cuts through the fog in my mind, but it doesn’t numb the ache in my heart.

I hit it again and again, tears streaming down my face, until the world starts spinning. My knees give out, and I collapse to the ground, the rain soaking me to the bone. As the darkness closes in, I feel a strange sense of relief. Maybe this is what I need a break from the endless torment.

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The first thing I noticed was the blinding glare of fluorescent lights above me. My head throbbed with every beat of my heart, and I could barely focus. The sterile smell of antiseptic filled my nostrils, and the crisp sheets beneath me felt foreign and uncomfortable. My whole body ached, but there was one thing I instinctively checked for the faint flutter of movement in my belly.

Relief flooded over me when I felt it. My baby was okay. That was all that mattered.

A nurse walked in, her soft smile briefly making the sterile room feel warmer. “You’re awake! How are you feeling?” she asked gently, her eyes scanning me with concern.

“Dizzy,” I croaked, my throat dry and scratchy. “What… what happened?”

“You fainted. A couple found you unconscious by a streetlight and brought you here. You’re lucky they found you when they did. You were severely dehydrated and malnourished, but the baby is fine. Still, you need to take better care of yourself, dear.”

Her words stung. It wasn’t news I didn’t already know. I had let myself spiral out of control, focusing too much on everything but myself. Guilt twisted my insides, but there was nothing I could say to excuse it.

Before I could respond, the door creaked open again, and in stepped a tall man, followed by a petite woman with kind, warm eyes.

My heart skipped a beat. I didn’t know why they were here or who they were, but at that moment, I was already grateful for their presence. They approached with an air of concern, their eyes softening when they saw me.

“Hi,” the man said gently. “I’m Mr. Bennett, and this is my wife, Claire. We’re the ones who found you.”

“Thank you,” I whispered, my voice barely above a whisper. I still felt weak, the dizziness making it hard to form a coherent thought.

Claire stepped closer to me, her expression full of worry. “We were driving home when we saw you slumped by the pole. You looked so pale, like you could barely stand. We couldn’t just leave you there. Are you okay? Do you have anyone we can call?”

The question felt like a punch to the gut. Do I have anyone? Landon? He wouldn’t care if I were dead. My family? They’d abandoned me years ago.

There was no one. And admitting it to them felt like I was acknowledging defeat all over again.

I shook my head slowly. “No… there’s no one.”

They exchanged a look, their silent communication felt like an entire conversation in itself. I braced myself for pity, but instead, they offered something I didn’t expect.

“Look,” Mr. Bennett began, his voice steady, his words measured. “We know this might seem like a lot, but Claire and I have been through our own struggles. We own a home not far from here. If you need a place to stay while you get back on your feet, you’re welcome to stay with us until you’re ready to leave.”

The offer hit me like a freight train. I didn’t know what to say. It wasn’t just a place to stay; it was someone showing up for me when I hadn’t known anyone who still cared.

“I… I don’t know what to say. Thank you, but I don’t want to impose,” I whispered, feeling overwhelmed by their generosity.

Claire gave me a soft smile, her eyes compassionate. “It’s no imposition. We just want to help. Take your time. Stay as long as you need. We’ll take care of you until you’re ready to move on.”

Her words, though simple, were the most comforting thing I had heard in a long time. I couldn’t remember the last time anyone had offered to care for me without expecting something in return.

“You don’t have to decide anything now,” Claire added, her voice gentle. “Rest, and when you feel better, we’ll talk more.”

The weight of the world seemed to lift off my chest if only just a little. For the first time in what felt like forever, I allowed myself to hope, just a flicker of it, deep down.

Maybe I hadn’t lost everything after all. Maybe there was still a chance for me.

I allowed myself to drift off again, the buzz of the heart monitor and the soft rustle of the sheets the only sounds in the room. I didn’t have to worry about finding a place to sleep tonight. I didn’t have to find a job to survive. There was a roof over my head, and I was allowed to rest. I wasn’t sure when that last happened, but it felt like a gift I had long forgotten.

As I lay there, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was some kind of turning point. For the first time in ages, I wasn’t making excuses for myself or numbing the pain of my reality. The past was behind me, but the future just the thought of it made me hesitate. I couldn’t let it control me any longer.

It wasn’t the end of the road. It was only the beginning.

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Hey lovelies, you  read till the end 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳

  “Thank you for journeying with Evelyn as she faces the first days of her new reality. This chapter was about strength, resilience, and the kindness of strangers. But what lies ahead for her? Will these small acts of help grow into something greater? Stay tuned for Chapter 6, where Evelyn begins to navigate her path forward, one step at a time. Your support means everything don't forget to share and comment! I will always read and reply u guys🤍