The movie theater was dark, the only light emanating from the silver screen. Cereus leaned into Matthew, a comfortable silence between them.
As the credits rolled, Matthew turned to her, his hand reaching for hers. "So, there's this new cafe near my place. They say their breakfast is amazing. Want to check it out this Saturday?"
Cereus froze. Saturday was the day she was meeting Collin. Panic surged through her, but she managed a calm exterior. "Actually, I've got a pile of office reports to finish. I think I'll be tied up all day."
Matthew's face fell slightly. "Oh, that's too bad. We can do it another time."
A wave of guilt washed over Cereus. She knew she was lying, and it felt wrong. But the fear of confronting the past was stronger. She needed closure with Collin before she could fully commit to Matthew. She'd tell him everything soon, she promised herself.
As the days passed, Cereus found herself growing increasingly distant. She was avoiding Matthew's calls and texts, lost in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. The guilt was consuming her, and she felt a growing sense of dread about the upcoming meeting with Collin.
Matthew, on the other hand, was becoming increasingly unsettled. Cereus' sudden change in behaviour was perplexing. He'd always been prone to paranoia, and now, those old insecurities were resurfacing. Was she losing interest? Was there someone else?
The once-sparkling conversations now felt forced, and the laughter that used to fill their interactions had dwindled. Matthew couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, and it was tearing him apart.
He started analyzing her every word, every action, searching for hidden meanings. Was she being distant because she was bored? Or was it something deeper? The more he thought about it, the worse it got. His mind raced with endless possibilities, each one more terrifying than the last.
The once confident and carefree Matthew was disappearing, replaced by a shadow of his former self.
Matthew's paranoia began to seep into every aspect of his life. He found himself scrutinizing Cereus' social media, searching for any hint of a change. Every unanswered text, every delayed response, fueled his growing anxiety. He was becoming a prisoner of his own mind, trapped in a cycle of doubt and fear.
At work, his focus was waning. Simple tasks felt overwhelming, and his mind constantly drifted back to Cereus. He couldn't concentrate on anything else. His colleagues noticed the change in him, but attributed it to stress. Little did they know, the storm brewing within him was far more intense.
Evenings alone were the worst. Without Cereus' presence to distract him, his thoughts ran wild. He replayed their conversations, searching for hidden meanings, for any sign of trouble. Sleep was elusive, replaced by restless nights filled with worry and doubt.
The once vibrant and confident Matthew was fading away, replaced by a shadow of his former self. He was losing control, and the fear of losing Cereus was consuming him.Cereus, oblivious to the turmoil she was causing, was caught in her own storm. She was torn between her feelings for Matthew and the need to confront her past. The guilt of lying to him gnawed at her conscience, but the fear of rejection held her back. She knew she had to face Collin, but the thought of it filled her with dread.
As the minutes passed into days, the distance between her and Matthew grew wider. She could feel his withdrawal, and it hurt her more than she could admit. She wanted to reach out, to reassure him, but the words wouldn't come. She was trapped in a web of her own making, and she didn't know how to escape.