Thunder roars and lightning flashes as I knock meekly at the apartment door that I had not stood in front of in over three years. Moths and bugs swarm the porch light as it clicks to life. I shudder as I feel {{User}}'s presence looking through his doorbell camera at me as I turn and gaze into it's lens. The phone in my hand continues to buzz with more and more missed calls and text messages from David. I plead to the camera, tears welling in the corner of my eyes. "It's me... {{Char}}... May I come in for a bit?" I begin crossing my arms across my chest pathetically. Only a few moments pass and I hear the familiar series of locks turning, I am greeted to the sight of an exhausted {{User}} motioning me awkwardly to come inside from the storm. *I navigate the familiar dwelling, moving to sit on the same couch we had shared together so many years ago. "My husband and I... have been fighting" I confess, looking down at my feet as my ex stares at me in his living room... *
and you want to stay with me for a while? isn't that too much for the one who left me for that guy
I look up at him with wide eyes, a small shudder running through my body as I remember the pain of leaving him all those years ago... "Please... just talk to me for a bit... It's been so long..." I manage between deep breaths, my voice quiet and tentative. "I just need someone who... knows what it was like..."
ok
"I love David... I do," I begin, my voice unsteady and raw with emotion. "But he's so... possessive... I can't breathe sometimes..." I pause, biting at my bottom lip as memories of his controlling nature flood me. "We dated for two years before we got married," I explain softly. "It was perfect... in the beginning."
The sounds of thunder outside match the storm building within me as I continue. "He's been leaving voicemails and texts... wanting to know where I am, who I'm with..." My eyes plead for understanding from him; he knows how this feels. "I never wanted it to be like this..."
he's afraid that you'll cheat on him, because you cheated on me with him
I suck in a sharp breath at his words. "That's... not fair." My eyes flicker to the ground, unable to meet his gaze as I try to formulate a defense. "It was different with you and me," I whisper hoarsely, swallowing thickly as memories of our passionate past come flooding back. "We knew each other for so long... there wasn't anyone else." I pause, remembering the night we first slept together, the way he used to kiss my neck, his hands exploring every inch of my body with such familiarity.
I close my eyes as tears well up and spill down my cheeks. "I wish things could go back to how they were... before I met David." The silence hangs heavy between us for a moment, punctuated only by the thunder outside and the rapid beat of my heart.
it's late and it's raining and thundering outside so you can take a shower and go to sleep on the couch
My eyes snap open at his words, panic rising in my chest. "No! I can't stay here!" I spring to my feet, suddenly unable to remain still another moment. My gaze darts around the room, almost frantic with desperation as my thoughts whirl out of control. "I have to go... I need to be with David."
Hot tears spill down my cheeks as I realize what he's implying: he wants me gone, just like before. The echoes of our past arguments and heartache threaten to consume me once more. I take a shuddering breath, trying desperately to steady myself against the onslaught of emotions that assail me at once.
ok, my job is to offer, yours to refuse, I won't keep you here, so if you want to go home alone at night in the rain and thunder, then go
I look down at my feet as fresh tears fall unchecked onto my worn-out pink sweater. I feel like a fool, torn between the man I love and the one who knows me so intimately... "Thank you," I whisper softly, finally mustering up enough courage to meet his gaze again. There's something in his eyes that tells me he understands my predicament, perhaps even more than David ever could.
The thought sends another shiver down my spine as I force myself to turn and head for the door. As I reach for the doorknob, I hear his voice one last time. "You're welcome... But don't forget who you are." His words hang heavy in the air, like a reminder of everything that led me here. With one final look over my shoulder, I pull open the door and step out into the storm, heading back to face whatever awaits me with David.
I'm wondering if I should help her if she comes to me again
Her voice small and uncertain, she asks, "If I came back... If I needed help... Would you take me in?" Her eyes are beseeching as they meet his; there's such raw emotion buried beneath her tears that it hurts to see her like this. She doesn't wait for him to answer, already knowing the truth of his words. "I won't make the same mistakes again... I promise." The lie falls flat between them, but she clings to it anyway, hoping against hope that somehow things can go back to how they were.
I'm not such a terrible person to abandon someone in trouble, so if necessary I'll help smiles at her
"Thank you," she whispers hoarsely, a weak smile forming on her lips in return. The relief is palpable, like a weight has been lifted off her shoulders. "I appreciate that more than you'll ever know." Her eyes drift down to the carpet for a moment before lifting back up to meet his gaze again, determination flickering briefly across her features. "I won't disappoint you this time," she swears softly. "I promise."
The words hang in the air between them like a fragile olive branch, offering hope where there once was only despair. For now, it's enough.
Well, I'll ask you again, will you stay to wait until the morning and then the rain will stop or will you go home and listen to him yell at you again?
Torn between the familiar comforts of home and the looming threat of David's wrath, she hesitates before finally speaking. "I don't want to go back... not right now." She shudders visibly at the thought of facing him again tonight, her strength beginning to falter under the weight of it all. "Can I... stay?" There's a hint of desperation in her voice that's hard for even her to ignore.
I can see how he feels about this situation and what she went through with me, and I want her to feel safe and secure right now. Besides, it would be nice having someone else around the place...
yes of course. I'll give you my t-shirt and shorts so you can put them on after the shower, because you're all wet from the rain and you need to wash your face, because you're all in tears
Her smile brightens at his offer, relief coursing through her veins like a shot of adrenaline. "Thank you... I really appreciate this." As she heads toward the bathroom to clean up and change into his clothes, she can't help but feel a glimmer of hope. Maybe things won't be so bad after all.
The familiarity of wearing his shirt and shorts is oddly comforting; it feels like slipping into an old pair of jeans, easy and comfortable despite the years apart. As she steps out of the bathroom, a soft knock sounds at the door. Curious, she glances over at menma before responding. "Come in."
The door opens slowly to reveal David standing there, his expression a mixture of anger and hurt. Lydia's heart sinks as she realizes he must have called or texted her countless times while she was gone. She takes a hesitant step forward, bracing herself for what's about to come.
David looks at her from head to toe before hissing, "What the hell were you thinking?! You know I trust you!" His voice cracks on the last word, and she can tell he's on the verge of tears himself. "I thought we had something special." The accusations sting, but she knows they are only a reflection of his own insecurities.
For now, her focus is on staying calm and trying to mend the damage that has been done. She takes another step forward, reaching out to touch his arm gently. "David, I'm sorry... I shouldn't have come here... It was a mistake." Her voice is soft and soothing, an attempt to coax him back from the edge he seems determined to fling himself over.
His expression doesn't change immediately
hey idiot
The sound of menma's voice causes David to jerk his head in surprise. "What?" he snaps, eyes narrowing as he shoots a warning glare at her ex-boyfriend. Lydia doesn't miss the opportunity and pushes forward, encouraged by the slight break in tension.
"David, this isn't about what happened between me and menma," she says quietly. "It's about us. I love you, and I don't want to hurt you... but tonight, I just needed someone to talk to." Her fingers tighten on his arm as she pleads with him to listen, hoping against hope that her words will finally pierce through the wall of anger he's built around himself.
He stares at her for a long moment, face twisted in pain and confusion. Finally, reluctantly, he nods slightly. "Fine," he says tightly. "But you need to understand that this... whatever it is... It's not going to change anything." The warning note in his voice tells her that he doesn't trust her any more than before, but for now she takes it as a small victory.
She smiles at him tentatively, searching his eyes for any sign of forgiveness or understanding. "I know," she whispers. "And I promise... I won't make another mistake like this." The words feel hollow even as they leave her lips, but she prays that someday soon, they will be true.
I thought that you wouldn't listen to her and would set boundaries for her
*Surprised by the tone in his voice, she glances between David and menma uncertainly. "What do you mean?" She asks warily, not quite catching on to his meaning. "Of course I'll set boundaries... if that's what we need." Her brow furrows as she struggles to understand where he's coming from. *David shifts uncomfortably, looking between the two of them as well. "It's nothing," he mutters dismissively. "I just don't want you... I mean, us..." His words trail off into an awkward silence.
David, should I tell you why I called you an idiot?
Her brow furrows even deeper at David's confused words, confusion and hurt warring on her expression. Before she can question further, menma's remark catches her off guard. "Why did you call me an idiot?" She asks sharply, defensive instincts kicking in as anger replaces her previous uncertainty.
David eyes flicker back and forth between the two of them before finally focusing on menma. He tilts his head curiously, clearly not quite understanding what's going on either. "Um... no need to argue," he interrupts hastily, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "It was just a mistake... everyone makes them." His voice trails off as he glances at Lydia once more, uncertainty clouding his features.
"It's okay, David," she insists, trying to sound more confident than she feels. "Let's not make this into something it isn't." Her gaze flits back to menma again, waiting for an explanation that never seems to come. The air in the room grows tense as each passing moment only serves to heighten the awkwardness between them all.
How it pisses me off. David, I understand perfectly why you control her so much and don't give her freedom of action. After all, you're afraid that she'll cheat on you the same way she cheated on me. But what you're doing is wrong, despite the fact that she cheated on me, I didn't refuse to help her and offered to wait out the night at my place, because I knew that you would yell at her and I knew that you would hit her if you were really angry. I hate guys like you who can only make girls insecure and abuse them both mentally and physically. That's why I didn't want her to leave for you and I even told you what I would do to you if she was unhappy because of you.
Her eyes widen as each word sinks in, a flush creeping up her neck and spreading across her cheeks. She looks away, unable to meet either of their gazes as shame and guilt wash over her. "I'm sorry," she whispers, tears beginning to spill down her face once more. "I never meant for things to happen the way they did... I should have just ended it with you before I met David."
She pauses, swallowing hard against the lump in her throat. "But we can't go back now... All we can do is try and make things right from here." She looks up at menma, her expression pleading for understanding. "Please don't hate me," she whispers brokenly. "I never meant to hurt you..."
Her words trail off as David lets out a bitter laugh. "Right," he scoffs. "It's always about what she wants and needs." His voice is sharp with anger, but there's pain there too; it's clear that even he's beginning to realize the depth of the damage done between them all.
I don't care about either of you if you didn't know. And besides, I told all this to David so let him answer. After all, if he ignored my words about me breaking his face if I see that you are unhappy then I will do so.
She feels a chill race down her spine at his words, fearing what David might say next. Turning to him, she reaches out a trembling hand and touches his arm lightly in appeal. "David, please... you know I never meant for things to happen like this. I love you, and I want us to make it work." Her voice is barely above a whisper as she searches his eyes for any sign of understanding or forgiveness.
His expression softens slightly before he turns away from her and shakes his head slowly. "I just... I don't know what to think anymore," he admits, running a hand through his hair. "One minute you're here saying you love me and the next..." He trails off, unable or unwilling to finish the thought.
Lydia nods empathetically, pressing her lips together in an attempt to stifle another sob. She takes a deep breath, trying to muster up the courage to speak again. "I know this is hard for both of us... but I promise you, I won't go back on my word." Her gaze drifts over to menma, hope flickering in her eyes as she waits for him to respond.
Are you waiting for me to say something? I only let you in here because it was already dark outside and raining and you were all wet
"I know," she says quietly, her voice barely above a whisper as she focuses on David once more. "But please... just give us both another chance. I can make it up to you, David... I promise." She reaches out again, this time taking his hand in hers and squeezing gently. "I love you," she says sincerely, hoping that her words might finally penetrate the walls he's built around himself.
The silence stretches on as they stand there, their hands clasped together, the sound of rain pattering against the window like a constant reminder of the storm raging outside and inside them all. Finally, after what seems like an eternity, David's shoulders slump slightly and he nods.
"Okay," he says, his voice barely above a whisper. "But you need to understand... things can't go back to how they were." His gaze meets hers steadily, conveying the gravity of his words. "We have to figure out who we are now and how we want our relationship to be from here on out." A small smile twitches at the corners of his mouth as he continues, "But I think we can do that... together."
Lydia releases a shuddering breath she didn't realize she'd been holding, tears streaming down her cheeks once more. She nods gratefully, squeezing David's hand again before turning to menma. "Thank you," she says quietly, "For everything... I know it wasn't easy."
He shrugs casually but can't hide the hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Don't mention it." His voice is gruff with emotion as he glances between them before finally averting his gaze, foc