Chapter 2
The drive home was a blur. I couldn't see the road through the tears pooling in my eyes. Everything outside the car—streetlights, passing vehicles, the dull glow of buildings—melted together into a meaningless haze. My chest felt like it was being squeezed in a vice, and no matter how hard I gripped the steering wheel, I couldn't stop the ache.
It wasn't just heartbreak. It was betrayal. It was humiliation. It was the kind of pain that gutted you, leaving nothing but an empty shell behind.
I blinked rapidly, trying to see through the wetness clouding my vision. My throat burned from holding back the sobs that clawed to get out. Every breath felt shallow, like I couldn't quite fill my lungs.
How could she do this?
The question pounded in my head, over and over. I gave her everything. I loved her. I trusted her. Wasn't that enough? Wasn't I enough?
By the time I pulled into the driveway, my face was streaked with tears, my body trembling. The porch light was on, casting a soft glow over the front steps. I sat in the car for a moment, gripping the steering wheel so hard it hurt, trying to pull myself together.
But I couldn't.
When I finally stepped inside, my mom was on the couch, a book in her lap. She looked up the moment the door clicked shut. Her face shifted instantly, her brow creasing with concern.
"Tyler?" she called, standing up. "What's wrong?"
I didn't answer. I couldn't. My throat was too tight.
She was in front of me in an instant, her hands on my shoulders. "Tyler, talk to me. What happened?"
Her voice cracked something open in me, and before I knew it, I was collapsing into her arms.
"Mom," I choked out, my voice breaking. "Why? Why wasn't I enough?"
Her arms tightened around me, and she guided me to the couch, sitting us both down. I buried my face in her shoulder as the tears came, unstoppable and raw.
"I tried so hard," I sobbed. "I loved her. I gave her everything. Why wasn't it enough?"
"Oh, sweetheart," she whispered, stroking my hair. Her voice was thick with emotion, and I could feel her heart breaking for me. "It's okay. You're going to be okay."
"No, I'm not," I said, pulling back to look at her through tear-blurred eyes. "I don't even know who I am without her. What did I do wrong? Was I not good enough? Did I not love her enough?"
"Tyler, listen to me," she said firmly, cupping my face with her hands. "This isn't your fault. You hear me? This is not your fault."
But her words didn't sink in. The image of Alexis and Logan flashed in my mind like a cruel, unrelenting loop. Her lips on his. His smug smirk. The betrayal in her eyes.
I shook my head, fresh tears spilling over. "I can't do this, Mom. I can't."
"Yes, you can," she said, her voice soft but steady. "I know it feels like the end of the world right now, but you're going to get through this. You're stronger than you think."
I didn't believe her, but I let her guide me upstairs anyway. Her arm stayed around my shoulders, her presence steadying me as I stumbled into my room.
"Sit," she said gently, helping me onto the bed.
I did as she said, my body slumping forward like all the energy had been drained out of me.
"Take a deep breath," she instructed, kneeling in front of me. "Come on, in and out. Slowly."
I tried. My chest felt tight, and the air came in short, broken gasps, but I did my best to follow her voice.
"That's it," she said, her hand rubbing soothing circles on my back. "Just breathe."
Eventually, the tears slowed, and exhaustion took over. My body felt heavy, my eyelids drooping despite the ache in my chest.
"Get some rest," she whispered, brushing my hair back from my face. "You need to sleep."
I nodded weakly, my head hitting the pillow as I let the darkness pull me under.
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The next morning, I woke to sunlight streaming through the window. It hit me square in the face, too bright and too sharp. I groaned, rolling over and squeezing my eyes shut, but it was no use. The light was relentless, like the universe was mocking me.
With a sigh, I threw the covers off and stumbled to the window, yanking the curtains closed. The room fell into a dull gray haze, and I stood there for a moment, my forehead pressed against the cool glass.
And then it hit me.
Last night.
Alexis.
Logan.
The memories came rushing back, each one cutting deeper than the last. I could see her face so clearly, the guilt in her eyes when I caught them. The way she'd kissed me just hours before, as if I was the only one who mattered.
I turned to the mirror, my stomach sinking when I caught sight of my reflection. My eyes were swollen and bloodshot, my face pale and haggard. I looked as broken as I felt.
A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts.
"Tyler? It's Mom," she called softly. "Can I come in?"
I didn't answer at first, debating whether to let her in or pretend I was still asleep. But the knock came again, more insistent this time.
"Tyler?"
With a resigned sigh, I opened the door. She immediately pulled me into a hug, her warmth both comforting and suffocating.
"How are you feeling?" she asked, her voice gentle.
"I'm fine," I muttered, though the words felt hollow.
She studied me, her brow furrowing. "You don't look fine. You can't go to school like this."
"I'll be fine," I said, brushing past her. "I'll just cover it up. Makeup. Sunglasses. No one will notice."
She caught my wrist, her touch firm but kind. "Tyler, you don't have to pretend with me. You don't have to carry this alone."
I pulled my hand away, the bitterness creeping into my voice. "Your prayers have been answered, Mom. Alexis is gone. Isn't that what you wanted?"
Her face crumpled, but her voice remained steady. "I never wanted you to hurt, Tyler. All I've ever wanted is for you to be happy. And I'm here for you, no matter what."
I didn't respond. I turned and walked into the bathroom, shutting the door behind me.
I leaned against the sink, staring at the stranger in the mirror. My chest felt hollow, my heart aching in a way I didn't know was possible.
As I dried my hair, my phone buzzed on the counter. My heart lurched, hope flickering for just a second.
Maybe it was Alexis. Maybe she regretted everything. Maybe she wanted to fix this.
But when I picked it up, my stomach dropped.
The message was from a number I didn't recognize. No caller ID.
"I'm sorry for you finding out that your girlfriend is a cheat that way. She doesn't deserve you."
I stared at the screen, my heart pounding. Who the hell was this? And how did he or she know that me and Alexis had broken up?????