The unexpected kiss

Chapter 2 : The unexpected kiss

The days after the betrayal passed slowly, like time itself was tired.

Lyra stayed indoors,she was overwhelmed with her emotions.At first, she told herself she only needed one day to cry,to calm her nerves down and to think about what she would do next.

But one day became two and the two became five. And before she knew it, a whole week had slipped away.The world outside continued without her.

Inside her small apartment, everything felt still.She kept the curtains closed. Morning light tried to slip in through the edges, but she pushed it away. Night came, and she welcomed it. Darkness felt safer. In the dark, she didn't have to pretend she was okay.

Most days, she stayed in bed.

She lay on her side, hugging a pillow, staring at nothing. Her thoughts moved in circles, always coming back to the same place.The interview,her hope,Stephen and Mia's betrayal.

That memory followed her everywhere.

She was all alone with nobody to talk to .

The pain was too much for her to bear sometimes it came suddenly, like a storm. Her chest would tighten, and before she knew it, tears were already falling. Other times, she tried encouraging herself that those jerks do not deserve a single drop of her tear.

Her body felt heavy, like it didn't belong to her anymore.

She lost her appetite,the food had no taste. She nibbled on whatever was closest,dry bread, a biscuit, a cup of water. Her stomach hurt, but she ignored it. Pain had become normal.

She didn't check her phone.

She already knew what she wouldn't see.No messages,no apologies,no explanations.She had cut them off completely, and with that choice came silence. A deep, lonely silence that wrapped around her like a blanket she couldn't escape.

There were moments when she questioned herself.Did I do the right thing?Was I too harsh?Should I have listened more?

But then the memory returned. The lies,the secrets,the way they looked at each other.This made her doubt fade away.By the sixth day, her tears slowed down.Not because the pain was gone, but because her body was tired.She felt empty.

On the seventh day, Lyra finally stood up and looked around her apartment properly.The trash bin was full. Clothes lay scattered on the floor. The sink held dirty dishes she didn't remember using. She walked over to the fridge and opened it.

Only for her to find out that it was almost empty.

A bottle of water and half a jar of jam,nothing else was there.

She stared at it for a long time.Reality settled in slowly,she couldn't hide forever.Her legs felt weak, but she closed the fridge and leaned against it, taking a deep breath."I need groceries," she whispered to herself.Just groceries.That thought gave her a little strength.

She showered, letting the warm water run over her skin. It felt strange, like waking up from a long sleep,she dressed in simple clothes and tied her hair back,she didn't bother with makeup.She didn't care how she looked.When she glanced at the mirror, she barely recognized herself.

Her eyes looked dull. Her face looked pale. She looked like someone who had lost something important.

She grabbed her bag and keys and stood at the door for a long moment.

Her hand hovered over the handle.

She opened the door and stepped out.

The air outside was fresh and cool. It filled her lungs and made her chest ache. Sounds rushed in:cars passing, people talking, footsteps on the pavement.The world was loud.

She walked slowly, her steps unsure, like she was learning how to walk again. Every face she passed made her nervous. Every laugh felt too sharp.She kept her eyes down.

The grocery store came into view sooner than she expected. She paused outside the entrance, steadying her breathing.You can do this, she told herself. Just go in,buy what you need and leave.

Inside, bright lights shone overhead. Shelves were full,carts moved in every direction. Everything felt normal.

Lyra grabbed a cart and pushed it forward slowly.She focused on small things like bread,milk, noodles.

She placed each item into the cart carefully, She avoided looking at people. For a moment, it worked.

Then she reached the cereal aisle.

She stopped.Her hands tightened around the cart handle.

She didn't know why her chest suddenly felt heavy. She tried to shake it off, but before she could move, a sound reached her ears,a laugh.Her body stiffened,she knew that laugh.

Her heart skipped, then started racing wildly.Slowly, against her will, she turned her head.Stephen stood a few steps away,Mia was beside him.

They were close.They looked too relaxed, Like the past week had never happened.Like she had never existed.

Pain hit her hard and fast.Her vision blurred.The cart slipped slightly from her hands as her legs weakened.

Not here, she thought desperately. Fear rushed through her.She didn't want them to see how broken she was. She turned the cart around quickly, her movements rushed and clumsy.

Lyra just needed to leave the aisle.

She turned and collided with someone.

Her breath left her body in a sharp gasp.Strong hands grabbed her arms to steady her,she looked up without thinking.The man in front of her was tall. His coat was gray, neat, and expensive looking. He held a phone in one hand, his eyes wide in surprise.

"I.."Lyra started, but no words came out.Her heart was pounding too loudly.

Behind her, she sensed movement.

Stephen and Mia were getting closer.

Her mind screamed.She didn't think, she just acted.Lyra grabbed the front of the man's coat, rose onto her toes, and kissed him.It was sudden and desperate.The man froze, shock written clearly on his face. His phone nearly slipped from his hand. For a few seconds, nothing existed except her racing heart and the warmth she hadn't felt in a long time.

Then she pulled away.Her face burned with embarrassment.I'm so sorry,"she whispered, her voice shaking.

She didn't wait for a response.

She turned and ran.

She pushed past people, her cart forgotten. The sound of her footsteps echoed in her ears as she rushed toward the exit.She burst through the doors and into the open air.

Her lungs burned. Tears streamed down her face.

She didn't stop running,she didn't even know who the man was,all she knew at that point was that she had escaped for now.

And somewhere behind her, a pair of shocked eyes followed her retreating figure.