I couldn't believe it when I found myself agreeing to marry my best friend that night.
**a ForthBeam short story**
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author...
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As I slowly regained consciousness, a throbbing headache and an overwhelming sense of unease greeted me. The room felt suffocatingly hot, a consequence of my negligence in adjusting the temperature the previous night. The instant my eyes fluttered open, a deluge of vivid memories flooded my mind, reminding me of every single detail that had unfolded. Not even the copious amount of alcohol I had consumed could dull the recollection of the regrettable act of sleeping with my closest friend.
I slid off the bed, the sheets wrinkled and stained. I noticed Beam shift as he rolled over, the covers falling as he exposed the marks and bruises I had caused on his fair skin.
I was the one responsible for that. Using my mouth and my hands, I had left my mark on him.
As I caught a glimpse, my heart skipped a beat and my stomach churned. I had compelled him to meet my gaze while engaging in intimate moments, locking eyes to witness his unraveling as I passionately thrust. I had never yearned for someone so intensely, and the satisfaction that washed over me afterwards was unparalleled.
Knowing his vocal nature, his preference for roughness, and his enthusiastic response when I exerted myself, it evoked the same emotions I experienced the first time I got intoxicated. In that moment, I had never felt more alive. It completely consumed me and made me feel invincible.
Being with Beam was no different, except this time there was no remedy like a Tylenol and a good night's sleep to recover from the consequences of my reckless actions. There was no way to undo what we had done.
I sneaked out of the room like a scaredy-cat. I didn't want to take a shower because I was afraid the noise would wake Beam up. I couldn't bring myself to confront him. My mind was a mess, and I needed some time to gather my thoughts before speaking to him. The fact that he was sleeping in the adjacent room made my heart ache, but I managed to find some clothes in the dryer and hastily put them on.
I mustered up enough bravery at the final moment to jot down a message for Beam, and swiftly left my house. The sun's brightness was overwhelming, causing me to squint as I hopped into my truck. I decided that immersing myself in work was the most suitable choice, even though all I truly desired was to crawl back into bed and slumber for an eternity. Nonetheless, it wouldn't hurt to make some headway on the ongoing projects at the shop.
When I arrived at my parking spot, I was really starting to regret my choice. The pain behind my eyes had intensified, and the idea of using the angle grinder made me cringe.
I dragged myself into my workspace and shut the door, hoping that isolating myself in that tiny room would alleviate the throbbing in my head. Opening my desk drawer, I immediately noticed the aspirin bottle. I poured out a bit more than the recommended dose and swallowed them without water, hoping that the empty stomach would speed up their effectiveness.
After successfully swallowing the pills, I got up and noticed that I was feeling a bit unsteady on my feet. I made my way to the bathroom next to my office, grateful that I had the wisdom to install a shower there. Usually, I only used it to freshen up before meeting my friends at the bar. I had never imagined needing to escape from my own apartment, but having an en-suite bathroom to my office proved to have multiple advantages.
