Chapter 1: A Friendship Like No Other

The days were simpler when it was just us—when we were friends, side by side, laughing at the smallest jokes and sharing every detail of our lives. I met him in my second year of college. His name was Zain, and he had a way of making everyone feel at ease. I had never imagined that someone who was just a friend could mean so much to me, but Zain and I became inseparable.

We spent hours talking, sharing our dreams, fears, and everything in between. There was no pretense between us. It was a genuine connection, built on trust and mutual respect. Our bond deepened over the years, and with each passing day, it became harder to imagine life without him.

Zain was always there when I needed him. He supported me through every challenge, offering words of encouragement, a shoulder to cry on, and a listening ear. I, in return, was there for him, offering the same unconditional support.

I had always been wary of romantic relationships—too afraid of being hurt, too cautious about the vulnerability they required. But with Zain, it was different. He made me feel safe, protected, and understood. Our friendship was built on the solid foundation of trust, and it felt like we could conquer anything together.

But then, one evening, things changed.

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Chapter 2: A Proposal of Forever

It happened so unexpectedly. Zain invited me to a quiet café one evening, and I thought nothing of it. We had been through so much together, and I was accustomed to spending time with him, just the two of us.

That night, however, felt different. The air was thick with anticipation, and Zain seemed nervous in a way I had never seen before. His usual charm was replaced with something more serious. As we sat down across from each other, I could sense something was coming—something that would change everything.

"Suzan," he said softly, his voice trembling slightly. "I've been thinking a lot lately, and I need to tell you something important."

My heart skipped a beat. "What's going on, Zain? You're scaring me."

He smiled faintly, his eyes locking with mine. "I've spent the last four years with you as my best friend, but somewhere along the way, I realized you mean so much more to me. I want you to be my forever."

I froze, my breath caught in my throat. "What are you saying?"

"I'm asking you to be mine, Suzan. Will you marry me?"

The words hung in the air, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. My heart raced, my thoughts a whirlwind. This was Zain, my closest friend, the person I had trusted with my entire heart. But now, everything had changed.

"I... I don't know what to say," I whispered, still trying to process what he was asking.

But Zain's eyes were full of hope. "I've thought about this for a long time, and I can't imagine my life without you. Will you marry me?"

In that moment, I was overwhelmed with emotion. I had always loved Zain in my own way, and now, it felt as though everything was falling into place. I said yes, tears of joy welling in my eyes. It was the happiest moment of my life—or so I thought.

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Chapter 3: The Dream That Crumbled

Weeks passed, and I began to envision a future with Zain. We talked about our wedding, our life together, the house we would buy, the family we would create. I started to dream of a life with him, believing that everything we had been through had led to this moment.

But then, the darkness crept in.

It was a typical afternoon when the message came. My phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number.

"Suzan, I need to tell you something. Zain is not who you think he is."

At first, I dismissed it as some prank or misunderstanding. But curiosity gnawed at me, and I found myself opening the message. The next few lines sent my heart plummeting to my stomach.

"Zain has been cheating on you. He promised me the same things he promised you. He showed me the same dreams of marriage, of forever. He's been using both of us, and I can't stand by and watch you fall for his lies."

The words seemed to blur together as I read them over and over, trying to make sense of the betrayal. My hands shook, my breath shallow. How could this be true? How could Zain, the man I trusted with my entire heart, do something so heartless?

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Chapter 4: The Unthinkable Truth

I couldn't stop shaking as I dialed Zain's number, my heart pounding in my chest. His voice sounded so familiar, so warm, but underneath it, I could sense the distance, the lie that had been hiding all along.

"What is this, Zain?" I demanded, my voice barely above a whisper.

"What are you talking about?" he asked, feigning confusion.

"The girl," I said, my voice trembling. "You've been seeing someone else. I know about her. You lied to me."

There was a long silence on the other end. Then, finally, Zain spoke.

"Suzan, I... I didn't mean for this to happen. I care about you, but she... she's someone I've been seeing as well. I wanted to marry you, but I also wanted to be with her. I never expected it to come to this."

My world crumbled in that moment. I couldn't breathe, couldn't think. The man I had trusted with my heart, the man who had been my best friend, had been lying to me all along.

"And now?" I whispered, tears streaming down my face.

"I... I think we should end things, Suzan. I'm with her now."

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Chapter 5: Betrayed and Broken

The pain was unbearable. I felt as though my heart had been ripped from my chest. I had loved Zain with everything I had, and now he was gone, not only from my life but from my future as well. The dreams we had built together, the life we had planned, all of it was shattered in an instant.

I couldn't understand how he could do this to me. How could he use me as a stepping stone to his future with someone else? How could he promise me forever and then turn away so easily?

I spent days in a fog, unable to leave my bed, unable to do anything but cry. I felt like a fool for trusting him, for believing in the love he had promised me.

But as the days passed, the pain began to dull, replaced by an emptiness that seemed to stretch on forever.

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Chapter 6: The Final Betrayal

It was weeks later when I saw them together. Zain and the other girl—her name was Amina—walking down the street hand in hand, laughing like they had never hurt anyone.

I stood frozen, unable to move, unable to breathe. They looked so happy, so perfect together. It was like they had never been torn apart by the lies he had told me.

And in that moment, something inside me snapped. They hadn't just broken my heart. They had used me—both of them—playing with my emotions and treating me as nothing more than a stepping stone.

I turned away, wiping away my tears. There would be no more crying over them. They had made their choice, and I had to make mine. I wouldn't let them break me any further.

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Chapter 7: Healing from the Ashes

I spent months picking up the pieces of myself. It wasn't easy. The pain still lingered in my chest, but with time, I began to heal. I surrounded myself with friends who truly cared about me, who reminded me of my worth, and slowly, I started to rediscover who I was without Zain.

I was no longer defined by his lies, no longer trapped in the shadow of a broken dream. I had the strength to move forward, to embrace a future that didn't include him.

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Epilogue: Stronger Than Before

Looking back, I realized that the love I had once given to Zain had been misplaced. It wasn't meant for someone who could betray me so easily. I had loved deeply, but I had also been used and discarded like I didn't matter.

But I did matter. And I would never forget that again.

I was stronger now, healed by the journey I had walked alone. And although I would always carry the scars of the past, I knew that they didn't define me. They were simply reminders of how far I had come.

And someday, I would love again—not because I needed someone to complete me, but because I was already whole.

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The End