x
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2WRPXjZSX
Lena sat on the couch, staring at nothing.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqYyKWx37p
The TV was off. The lights were dim. The only sound was the slow tick of the cheap clock on the wall.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9qEX0zX8O
She pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders. It smelled stale..she hadn’t washed it in weeks.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfguAx7PuuX
Outside, traffic hissed on wet pavement. Car horns blared, people shouted, the city moved like it didn’t care she existed.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCmotG2mwD
She hadn’t left the apartment in two days.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT04E3mbdHp
Empty mugs cluttered the coffee table. Cold takeout cartons stacked near the door. She told herself she’d clean it all up tomorrow. She’d been telling herself that for a week.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡow7IVSEaLX
Her phone buzzed on the cushion next to her.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlNMy35ipx
Marcus.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmPo0R1xHG
She watched it vibrate silently until it went still.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYe1IeCwZ0F
Then it lit up again.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47KEqMFnXr
Marcus (2 missed calls)
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjKqhUNlth
Lena closed her eyes. The fatigue wasn’t physical. It was in her bones, in her chest. Like a lead weight pressing her down.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UcPtW7rmD
She felt tears sting behind her eyes but didn’t bother wiping them.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbHak2T43q
She let one fall. Then another.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLBgtGZO7K
But she didn’t sob. She didn’t make a sound.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykNBfTxzv1
Crying quietly was something she was good at.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNfnVFoIvh
Her phone buzzed again. This time a text.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxt1OPcVqbh
Pick up. Please.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wgki0A9SN
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMW9hdW7tyf
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHXMXij5QE
She didn’t.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmGOo7ZG0W
She let the screen go dark.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FZvHn4qZr
The apartment felt huge and empty.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNnZ60nTPL
She curled up tighter, pulling the blanket over her head.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExh7xJjvz9
If she was lucky, maybe she could sleep for a while.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtY77gO4TzY
Forget she was here at all.
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RxoKH0ePn
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNmyRrpVYf
---
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5tTWvD82k
AUTHOR’S NOTE
55Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMX7gptZEmu
This is a fictional story, but the feelings are real for many people. If you’re struggling, please reach out to someone you trust. You don’t have to do it alone. 💛
ns216.73.216.72da2
