𝐓𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐙𝐄𝐃 | 𝟏𝟖+

forty-five; illusion

R I C C A R D O

"Painted a picture, I thought I knew you well. I had a vision, of seeing what isn't there. Caught in the moment, tangled up in your sheets."

. . .

I rub with my hand over my face and exhale, feeling a headache already starting to form.

'Don't ever contact me. I don't want to see you ever again. Go fuck that snake. Make yourself feel better or find another girl to keep as your side-piece.'

Her words cut right through me. It hurt to see her leave like that. With her eyes glossed over and her lower lip starting to tremble.

Though, the words that tumbled from her lips the entire time sounded like they weren't real. Even though a part of me knows they are.

But knowing Carla, she would have confronted me first if she found out. Which is weird that she didn't.

The ping of the elevator snaps me out of my thoughts, making me realize that I've arrived on my floor. I get out and walk towards my hotel room, each step getting heavier and heavier.

I drag my feet across the carpeted floor, the image of Aurora flashing in my mind over and over again.

How I wish I could hold her in my arms.

But I need to take care of something else first.

I swipe my hotel hard in front of the doorknob, and the light turns green. I enter and close the door behind me, knowing that Carla is here based on the shoes standing by the door.

I set the case down and rake a hand through my hair, my chest rising with each inhale and exhale.

She deserves to know.

I walk further into the room, craving some whiskey right now. She's sitting by the fireplace, drinking a cup of coffee while dressed comfortably, in a pair of sweatpants and sweaters.

"Hey babe," she says as soon as she lays eyes on me and stands up. "Hey," I reply meekly, turning my head so her lips land on my cheek.

"How was work today?" she asks and rubs her hand on my arm. "Stressful," I answer honestly and take a seat on the couch, opposite her as she takes her seat back.

"Look, Carla, I need to tell you something," I begin and sit up, accepting the fact that I've been behaving like an asshole and need to face the consequences.

"If it's about the nudes that Aurora sent you, I already know about them," Carla suddenly says. My head snaps up to look at her.

"What?" I ask, utterly confused. She bites her lip. "You were acting a bit strange, so I quickly went through your messages and saw the pictures she sent you. I can't believe how desperate that girl is," Carla answers with a roll of her eyes.

I feel all the blood draining from my face.

"What happened?" she asks, a crease forming between her dark eyebrows.

"You saw the pictures," I state. She nods. "Yeah, and I already confronted the slut about it, she had it coming," she shrugs and checks her nails before letting out a sigh.

"Carla," I bring out, "I slept with her."

She looks down at the ground and lets out another sigh. "Figured as much," she replies meekly. A heavy pressure is settled onto my chest, and guilt consumes me.

"Aurora mentioned something, but I wasn't sure. Then again, the marks on your body..." she trails off and looks into the fireplace.

I rake a hand through my hair, leaning my elbows on my knees. "I deeply regret everything that has happened," I tell her.