Eleena sat alone on the edge of her bed, the soft glow of the bedside lamp casting shadows that felt as heavy as the silence surrounding her. The night had fallen, but sleep was nowhere near her. Her thoughts were a whirlwind of memories and doubts, tangled like the sheets beneath her.
She thought about Jace — about the man she loved so fiercely that it hurt. His smile, his touch, the way he could make her feel safe and seen. But lately, those moments felt like fragile fragments slipping through her fingers.
She remembered the last argument — the words left unsaid, the tears she refused to shed in front of him. Loyalty had been her armor, but it was cracking under the weight of secrets and silence.
"Why do I stay?" she whispered to the empty room. The question was a confession she hadn't dared to voice before.
Because love isn't just about happiness. It's about holding on when everything inside screams to let go.
Her phone buzzed. A message from Jace: Can we talk tomorrow? I need you.
Her heart both soared and sank. Needed her — but would that mean more pain or hope?
Eleena wiped her tears, steadying herself. She was loyal until it hurt. But maybe tonight, she needed to be loyal to herself.