The Road Back to Where It All Began
The sun blazed high in the sky, casting an unforgiving heat over the earth. It was supposed to be a beautiful day—a day of warmth, hope, and promise. But for me, it felt like a cruel joke. My entire world had just crumbled before my eyes. Everything I had believed in, every bit of trust I had placed in the people closest to me, had been shattered. This is the story of how the only people I ever trusted ended up breaking my heart.
I had been away for two weeks, assigned to another city for work. Vesa Corporation, the company I worked for, had sent me to City F to finalize a contract. It was my first big responsibility since joining, and I had taken it seriously. But despite the professional success, I missed home. More than that, I missed Marcus—my boyfriend, the man I loved with all my heart. We had been together for three years, and I had thought we were solid, that we had something real.
Excitement bubbled within me as I stood in front of his apartment door. I wanted to surprise him. I could already imagine the look on his face, the way his eyes would light up when he saw me. I had planned it all in my head—how I'd jump into his arms, how he'd twirl me around, how we'd spend the evening together catching up after two long weeks apart.
But life had other plans.
The moment I pushed open the door, my world collapsed.
Marcus was not alone. He was there—half-dressed, tangled in the sheets—with Rosella. My best friend. The woman I had trusted with my secrets, my fears, and my dreams. She was the one I always turned to when I had doubts about my relationship, and now, here she was, with my boyfriend, in his bed.
Tears pricked my eyes, and a lump formed in my throat. My body went cold despite the summer heat outside. My hands trembled at my sides.
"Marcus… Rosella…" My voice came out in a broken whisper.
They turned sharply, their faces frozen in shock. Marcus scrambled to put on his clothes, his face pale. "Amy, it's not what you think!" he said, rushing toward me.
I took a step back, shaking my head. "Then what am I supposed to think?"
Rosella, in contrast, remained utterly unfazed. She leaned back on the couch, her lips curving into a smirk. "Oh, Marcus, just tell her. She's going to find out anyway," she said, stretching lazily as if this whole thing was nothing but a minor inconvenience.
"Rosella, shut up," Marcus muttered.
She scoffed. "Why? She deserves the truth."
I swallowed, bracing myself for whatever came next.
"Amy, Marcus and I have been seeing each other for two years," Rosella said, her voice almost casual, as if she were simply commenting on the weather. "He never really liked you, you know? You're just… too boring for his taste."
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. Two years. Two whole years. Had I been blind this entire time? Had I been nothing but a joke to them?
I couldn't take it anymore. Without another word, I turned and bolted from the apartment, running aimlessly through the streets.
I don't know how long I walked. My mind was blank, my heart a shattered mess. The betrayal weighed heavily on me, suffocating me. The two people I had trusted the most had stabbed me in the back.
By the time I got home, exhaustion and heartbreak had completely consumed me. I collapsed onto the floor, sobbing until my throat felt raw and my chest ached. I cried for hours, grief swallowing me whole. And then, at some point, the darkness took over, and I blacked out.
---
When I woke up the next morning, sunlight streamed through my window, illuminating the room with a golden glow. For a moment, I was disoriented. But as soon as I shifted, the events of the previous day came rushing back like a tidal wave.
Tears welled up in my eyes again, but I forced myself to get up. I couldn't stay here. Everywhere I looked, reminders of Marcus and Rosella haunted me. The coffee mugs we had picked out together, the framed pictures on my wall, the gifts he had given me—all of it felt like a cruel reminder of my own foolishness.
I couldn't bear it.
So, I made a decision.
I quit my job.
I withdrew every last cent from my bank account.
And then, I bought a train ticket out of the city.
I had nothing left in City B. No family, no real friends. I was an orphan, raised in an orphanage in City A. When I turned eighteen, I had left to start a new life in City B, believing I could build something for myself. But now? Now I just wanted to go back to my roots.
The train ride felt both too long and too short. I stared out the window as the scenery blurred past, my mind a mess of emotions. Sadness. Anger. Regret.
By the time I stepped off the train, I found myself standing in front of the orphanage I had once called home.
But it wasn't the same.
The building looked old and worn down, as if it could collapse at any moment. The once vibrant garden was overgrown with weeds, and there was an eerie silence hanging in the air. The usual sounds of children laughing and playing were gone.
A deep sense of unease settled over me.
Pushing the door open, I stepped inside.
And then, I saw her.
Mrs. Mary, the woman who had raised me and so many others. The dean of the orphanage.
Tears filled my eyes as I called out, "Mom!"
She turned, surprise flashing across her face before warmth replaced it. "Oh, dear Amy!"
I ran into her arms, and the moment she embraced me, I broke down.
"It's okay, child. It's going to be okay," she whispered, stroking my hair gently, just like she used to when I was a child.
And in that moment, for the first time since my heart had been shattered, I allowed myself to believe that maybe, just maybe, I could piece myself back together again.