LOGIN~LUCAS~Fiorella completely ignores me when she comes to work in the morning like I'm something invisible.Like I don't matter at all.Like yesterday never happened.I almost speak to her, almost ask her how her night was and if she's able to sleep last night.I almost ask her how she's feeling this morning and if she feels better now.But I close my mouth tight when I see she's really sticking to her rules.Fine, if that is what she wants….then I'm going to give it to her.Then I ignore her completely too, without any greeting, or even a word to her.But then, I know deep down that we'll still end up talking to each other before the day ends.At the conference room, I catch her stealing glances at me while still maintaining distance from the corner of my eyes, but I don't really look at her.It's just a matter of time before you speak to me, Fiorella.And even though I expected us to talk before the end of today, I'm surprised when the director announces that Fio
~FIORELLA~The morning comes quietly.I wake before my alarm.My eyes open slowly, not with panic, not with fear… but with awareness and control.For a few seconds, I lie still, staring at the ceiling, feeling my breathing….steady, even, mine.No racing pulse, no trembling hands, no nightmare clinging to my skin.Just… silence and strength.A slow breath leaves me as I sit up, pushing the covers away. My body feels… grounded. Like every piece of me has returned to its rightful place overnight.Last night happened…..the fear, the crack, the weakness.But it doesn’t own me.It never will.“I’m fine,” I say under my breath, and this time… I mean it.I swing my legs over the bed and stand with no hesitation, and no lingering.I walk straight into the bathroom.The water runs hot against my skin, steady and controlled, just the way I like it.I stand under the shower longer than usual, letting it wash everything away, not just sweat or sleep, but the remnants of yes
~FIORELLA~My eyes snap open.The scream tears out of me as I jolt upright so violently my body aches from it.I can’t get enough air.My chest heaves, dragging in sharp, uneven breaths that scrape my throat. My hands fly to my body instantly, trembling, frantic, and searching.There's no blood, no knife, no alley.Just… darkness in the room.I’m in my room.For a few seconds, I don’t trust it.My eyes dart wildly around, my heart still racing like I’m being chased. The familiar outline of my wardrobe stands in the corner. The soft glow of the streetlight leaks through the curtains. My bedside table is exactly where it should be.Everything is still and quiet….too quiet.I swallow hard, my throat dry as sand, and press a shaking hand against my chest.“I’m… here,” I whisper, my voice hoarse and unsteady. “I’m home.”But my body hasn’t caught up yet.My pulse is still pounding violently under my skin, my breaths shallow and fast. I can still feel it…..the cold all
~FIORELLA~Something tells me that Lucas is somewhere in the firm watching me right now.But I don't care about him right now.I just need to get home with no one invading or intruding into my personal space.So I just enter my car without bothering to scan the environment or to confirm that Lucas is really watching.I throw my bag to the back seat, and then I start the car.“Just drive, Fiorella… just drive,” I mutter to myself, gripping the steering wheel tighter than necessary.Soon, I'm driving out of the firm, and I'm now on the road.The drive home is a blur.I don’t remember the traffic lights. I don’t remember the turns.I just… arrive at my house.The house greets me with silence….. heavy, suffocating silence.I drop my bag on the table and kick off my heels, the relief almost painful.For a moment, I just stand there in the middle of the living room.I'm alone, completely alone, and the quiet presses in too loud and too much.“Why does it feel like the
~LUCAS~The door clicks shut behind me, soft, controlled, and final.And for the first time in a long time… I just stand there, not moving, not thinking.Just… standing in the middle of the hallway like an idiot.My jaw tightens slowly, then harder.What the hell was that?Why did she switch up so bad like that??Did it offend her to know that I'm in love with another woman??Wait…. don't tell me she's jealous??A humorless scoff almost leaves me, but I swallow it down, my gaze dropping briefly to the floor before lifting again.People are still moving around… staff rushing, voices low, tension thick from everything that happened outside.But it all sounds distant and muted.Because my head?It’s still in that office with her.Every word she said plays back, sharp and precise.‘You should never have walked into my office without permission.’‘Forget everything that happened today.’‘Don’t ever help me again.’‘You are not allowed to come close to me.’My tongu
~FIORELLA~“Why do you even care?” I ask Lucas, my voice quieter now… but sharper in a different way. “I mean….why did you stand up for me back then? It's not like we're close or something.”He doesn’t answer immediately.And for a second…I think he won’t.Then…..“Because,” he says slowly, “you have Marcella's face, and because of that….I don't want them hurting you because in my mind, I see Marcella being hurt instead of you.”I blink twice.And am I really feeling a tiny bit of hurt??Wait ... .did I really think he stood up for me because it's me?? Because he did it for me?I laugh at my stupid self inwardly.Oh com'on Fiorella…. how could you think that?It's not like we both are close or something for him to risk himself defending and protecting me out there.I let out a dry laugh.“The lady you mistook me for?” I ask.“Yes,” he replies.“What's the full name of this Marcella you keep talking about, and who is she to you??” I ask.“Marcella Nico,” he says
~MARCELLA~I don’t even hesitate.I start unbuttoning my shirt slowly and deliberately.One button…Two…And just like I expected….“Jesus—!”Lucas shuts his eyes so fast it’s almost impressive.I burst out laughing.Not just a small laugh, no…I laugh hard. Full-on, uncon
~LUCAS~I don’t think I’ve ever felt anything like this before.Not the laughter. Not the noise. Not even the chaos that filled the house just a few minutes ago.No… it’s what came after.The silence.The kind that settles in slowly, wrapping around you, pressing into your
~MARCELLA~Time passes quickly, and soon, everything is ready.The decorations are perfect. The food is set. The atmosphere feels… alive, warm and full.I take one last look around, my eyes scanning every detail carefully.Everything has to be perfect for him.I turn to S
~MARCELLA~“Stephanie, if you don’t blow that balloon in the next five seconds, I swear I’m going to lose my mind.”“I am blowing it!” she snaps back, cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk, eyes glaring at me as she struggles with the stubborn balloon in her hands.I cross my ar







