Breaking Point

Morning light spilled across the bedroom floor, warming the edges of Naomi’s blanket. She blinked awake slowly, feeling Damon’s arm draped around her waist. His breath brushed the back of her neck steadily.

Last night felt like closure, something they both needed, one she had stopped believing they’d reach. She leans back into him, a smile tugging the corner of her lips.

This is exactly where she wanted to be. Right here, in his arms, spoilt silly by him and loved deeply.

Her phone buzzed before she could shit her eyes again and enjoy the peace that finally found them. She frowned as the sound persisted.

Why would anyone call her so early in the morning on a weekend for that matter? It better be life and death. Naomi reached for the bedside table and grabbed her phone.

Soonie.

Her stomach tightened. She slowly slipped out from Damon’s embrace, careful not to wake him. He murmured something incoherent and rolled onto his back, one arm resting over his forehead.

Naomi glanced at the caller ID again.

Of all mornings… why today? She headed into the bathroom before answering.

She inhaled, hit accept.

“Hello… Soonie?”

There was a beat of silence. And with each passing second, Naomi could almost hear herself breathing louder and louder.

Then a voice that tried and failed to sound neutral, came through. “You finally responded to my calls. I've been calling you all night.”

“You were?” Naomi asked, puzzled. Maybe she'd been too busy with Damon to realise her phone was ringing.

Another pause and it stretched for far too long.

“I…” Nqomi started slowly “I must have been asleep. I..I had a long day yesterday and I didn't hear anything.”

“I need to see you,” Soonie said abruptly.

Naomi frowned. “Is everything okay?”

“Can you come over?” Soonie pressed. Her voice shook; not enough for someone else to notice, but Naomi did. “This morning. Please.” She added.

“Is everything okay?” Naomi asked again, “You sound a little…are you sick?”

“Naomi, please.”

The desperation slipped out this time and it only made Naomi even more anxious. What the hell is going on with Soonie?

“Just… come. I won’t keep you long.”

Naomi closed her eyes, she needed closure. Not after what she saw a few days ago in her apartment. She needed answers and no matter how hard she tried to tell herself she didn't, she realised she did, more than she would love to admit.

“Okay,” Naomi whispered. “I’ll stop by.”

She could almost hear Soonie’s exhale.

“Good. I’ll be waiting.”

The line cut. Naomi lowered the phone slowly, her questions only seemed to double. What would Soonie tell her? What would her explanation be?

Behind her, Damon half-woke. “Everything okay?” he muttered.

“Yeah,” she lied gently. “I just… need to run an errand.”

Damon didn’t question it, probably too tired and she was grateful. She didn’t want to open another wound before the last one fully closed.

It was best if he had no clue.

♡

By late morning, Naomi stood in front of Soonie’s apartment door, the same building she once visited with no clue of her friend's… behaviour or rather questionable…attitude.

Could that be the reason why Soonie was so against her getting back together with Damon? Because she wanted Damon to herself?

Naomi exhaled and straightened, now will be the time for Soonie to give her answers. She lifted her hand and knocked. The door swung open almost instantly.

Soonie stood there, hair pulled back messily, eyes shadowed, wearing a sweatshirt she probably slept in.

Her smile felt…very wrong but Naomi remained still.

The nerves. It had to be the nerves.

“You came,” Soonie said quietly.

Naomi nodded. “You said you needed to talk.”

Soonie stepped aside. “Come in.”

Naomi walked in slowly.

Everything inside looked the same… but felt different. Plants still lined the windowsill, blankets were folded neatly on the sofa, her favorite scented candle, lavender and cedar, burned on the coffee table.

Still it didn't feel comfortable or familiar like it used to. They sat across from each other, knees almost touching.

“Well,” Naomi began with a small breath, “you wanted to see me. Are you okay? You sounded… stressed.

Soonie gave a weak laugh. “Stressed? No. Just… confused, I guess.”

“About?”

“You,” Soonie said simply.

Naomi blinked. “Me?”

“Yes. You.” Soonie leaned back, studying her with eyes that felt too sharp. “You’ve been acting differently.”

Naomi tensed, why wouldn't she act differently when she saw her friend touching herself to a picture of her and her husband. Hell, who wouldn't?

“Different how?”

Soonie folded her arms. “First you disappear for weeks. Then you come back bruised, hiding from that husband of yours, and now suddenly everything is… fine?”

Naomi swallowed. “It’s not suddenly fine. Damon and I had things to work through.”

“Oh, I know,” Soonie muttered.

There was something strange in her tone.

Naomi’s eyes narrowed, it's now or never. ‘Soonie… I saw you … touching yourself with a picture of Damon and I hug on your wall.’ She wanted to ask but everything about that sentence felt wrong. Hell, how is she supposed to ask a question like that?

Soonie smiled.

“Tell me something honestly. Are you really going back to him?”

Naomi hesitated. “We’re trying. Yes.”

“I see.” Her voice cracked on the last word.

Naomi leaned forward gently. “Why does that upset you so much?”

“Upset?”Soonie lets out a trembling laugh. “No. Upset isn’t the right word.”

She lifted her gaze and Naomi froze.

There it was.

The truth she had been too afraid to consider.

“I love you,” Soonie said softly.

Naomi’s breath left her chest. “What?”

“No,” Soonie whispered, shaking her head. “Don’t do that.”

“I don't know what to…”

“Yes, you do.” Her voice cracked. “You must have known. I was always there. Always the one you ran to. Always the one cleaning up after you. When you cried, you cried with me. When you laughed, you laughed with me.”

Naomi’s fingers tightened around her knees. “I thought we were friends.”

“That’s the problem!” Soonie burst out. “I was never just your friend!”

Naomi stiffened.

“I waited,” Soonie whispered. “I waited for you to see me. And then he showed up. Damon. And suddenly everything ... .everything became about him.”

That explains what she saw but yet, it only made Naomi uncomfortable. She swallowed.

“Soonie,” Naomi breathed, “I’m sorry, but I don’t feel..”

“DON’T SAY IT!” Soonie shot up so fast that Naomi flinched.

Silence swallowed the room.

Soonie stared down at her, breathing hard, tears gathering but refusing to fall.

“You chose him,” she said quietly. “After everything I did for you.”

Naomi slowly stood too, keeping a safe distance. “I do care about you. You're the only family I have but falling in love with me? That's…”

“So it’s him.” Her voice was small.

“That man who lies. Who hides things? Who treats you like a second option?”

“We worked things out and I …I love him.” Naomi said softly.

The words hung there.

Soonie’s face twisted, heartbreak twisting into something darker.

“I should leave,” Naomi whispered.

Soonie laughed. “No. No, you don’t get to walk away again.”

Naomi’s phone rang suddenly, vibrating loudly against the coffee table.

Damon.

Soonie’s eyes flickered to the name on the screen. Naomi reached for it but Soonie’s hand slammed over hers, gripping it.

“Don’t answer that.”

Naomi pulled her hand back. “I need to.”

Soonie’s voice dropped to a low whisper.

“I said..DON'T ANSWER THAT!”

Naomi's blood ran cold. If the alarms in her head weren't going off before, it certainly is going off now.

“Soonie, you're scaring me. I need to leave.” Naomi said as she picked up her bag and her phone, standing up to head towards the door.

Something inside Soonie snapped. Her hand shot forward, grabbing Naomi by the throat. Naomi gasped, stumbling back, hitting the wall.

“Why him?!” Soonie cried, voice breaking. “Why not me?!”

Naomi clawed at her wrists. “Soonie…stop! Let go!”

Her grip tightened.

Naomi thrashed, panic rising until finally her knee buckled and she slipped sideways, breaking free and falling to the floor. She scrambled behind the armchair, choking for air. Her fingers shook as she grabbed her phone.

She hit the answer.

“Naomi?” Damon’s voice filled her ear. “Hey. You said you would call me when you…”

“Help me! I..I need to get out,” she whispered frantically. “I’m at..”

But the words died as a shadow fell over her. Soonie stood there, her expression blank, eyes almost glassy.

The phone slipped from Naomi’s hands.

“If I can't have you, nobody else can..” Soonie said, eyes dark with something Naomi refused to admit as her heart hammered.

“Soonie… please…”

Soonie stepped closer, voice trembling. “You said you came for closure. So let’s finish this… together.”

Naomi backed into the corner, breath shallow.