Twisted

New York

On 1 February 2023

I've been waiting for her for 10 minutes, I almost finished my coffee. I looked at my watch, then at the door. Before I made the decision to leave, the door was opened.

I gave her a quiet smile.

She stood in shock. She didn't expect me to come back.

Neither do I.

"Helen! You're back" Her voice was greeting me for making the decision and coming back again.

She stepped forward and made her position in front of me in her chair.

"What do you want to begin with? Aaron told me that you are too shy"

"Yes, I was" I gave her that foggy answer, her eyebrows couldn't maintain not to connect in curiosity.

"I'd like to begin with my old self first" Her face calmed down and also me who started to tell her how my journey was.

On 15 June 2022

"What have I done?" I groan, wiping the red smudge off the ruined painting.

"Like it was your first ruined painting, Hel" He approached me and leaned against the wall. I gave him a quick glance and returned to re-draw my painting.

"Stop calling me, Hel. It sounds like hell," I complained.

"It sounds great for me," he smiled, giving his dimples a way to appear.

I sighed without more complaining.

"So, how is Edward?" He asked.

"We don't see each other anymore."

"What? I thought you were handling it pretty well"

"Why should it always be my fault?" I stopped drawing and looked at him furiously.

"Sorry, what happened?" He gave me space to speak; I returned to drawing.

"He is an ass," I calmly responded.

"What has he done?" Aaron asked.

"He cheated on me in our first week together."

"And did you ask him why you did that?"

"He doesn't even know that I know."

"Then how did you break up with him?"

Aaron's pressure was rising, like it does every time we have this convo about every ass I've been in a relationship with.

"I told him that I don't like him and that this relationship is a mistake, and he was very welcoming with my topic."

"Ugh!! Helen, why didn't you ask him why he was doing that? He tells you his reasons, and if you're persuaded by his reasons, then fix what both of you are wrong with. That's how relationships work"

"Are you giving excuses to his cheat, Aaron?" I stopped drawing and looked at him.

"Yes!! No!! Ughh!! You know what my point is, Helen. It isn't the first time you broke up with someone without asking him about his reason for cheating on you"