I never thought betrayal would taste so bitter.
The morning had started like any other. Sunshine spilled through the half-open window, and I was humming softly while folding laundry in the living room. Mom's voice called from the kitchen, reminding me to hurry — the day had begun, and so had life's endless responsibilities.
My phone buzzed. It was him. Daniel. My heart did that stupid flutter it always did when I saw his name. I smiled, typing a quick "Good morning, love." He replied almost instantly with a simple emoji. I frowned. Just an emoji? That wasn't like him.
Shrugging it off, I met my best friend, Tara, at the café near campus. We had shared everything for years — secrets, dreams, even heartbreaks. She laughed at my exaggerated stories, and for a moment, the anxiety I felt about Daniel melted.
"Something's off with him," I confessed, stirring my coffee nervously. "He's… distant. Cold. Even small things feel heavy."
Tara's smile faltered for just a second — a tiny slip I almost didn't notice.
"Maybe he's busy," she said too quickly, too casually. "You know men. Always overthinking."
I nodded, trying to believe her, but the gnawing worry in my chest wouldn't let go.
Later that evening, I came home earlier than expected, hoping for a comforting hug, a sign that everything was okay. But what I saw stopped me in my tracks.
Daniel's laugh — familiar, warm, the one I loved — echoed from the living room. My breath caught. And there, sitting on the sofa, with her hand on his arm, smiling in a way that made my stomach twist… was Tara.
My heart froze.
I wanted to scream. I wanted to turn and run. But my legs betrayed me, and I just stood there, silent, as the world shifted under my feet.
Tara looked up. Her eyes didn't meet mine at first. When they did… she smiled. Not a friendly smile. Not the kind I knew. Something darker, sharper, hidden.
And in that moment, I realized — the person I trusted the most had a secret.
A secret that would destroy everything.