Friendship is not all I want//

Chapter Two: Shattered Heart

The night was still, a heavy silence hanging over the town like a suffocating blanket. Lila lay curled up on her bed, clutching a pillow to her chest as though it could shield her from the pain that wracked her body. Her phone lay discarded on the floor, the messages and photos she had seen still burned into her mind.

Jake had cheated on her.

The words felt foreign and wrong, like they belonged in someone else's nightmare, not hers. She had loved him, trusted him, and he had shattered her heart with a callousness she couldn't comprehend. Tears streamed down her face, hot and unrelenting, as sobs shook her small frame.

It was past midnight when the knock came at her window. Lila barely registered the sound at first, lost in her anguish, but the persistent tapping finally broke through her haze. She sat up, her vision blurred with tears, and saw Emma's concerned face peering through the glass.

"Lila, let me in," Emma whispered urgently, her breath fogging the pane. With trembling hands, Lila unlocked the window and pushed it open, stepping back to allow her friend inside.

Emma climbed through the window, landing softly on the carpeted floor. She took one look at Lila's tear-streaked face and pulled her into a fierce hug. "Oh, Lila," she murmured, her voice thick with emotion. "I'm so sorry."

Lila clung to Emma as though she were a lifeline, her sobs muffled against her friend's shoulder. "Why did he do this?" she choked out. "I thought he loved me."

Emma's heart ached for Lila, and she held her tighter. "I don't know, Lila," she said softly. "But I'm here. We'll get through this together."

They stayed like that for a long time, Emma's steady presence grounding Lila as she poured out her grief. When the tears finally subsided, Lila pulled back slightly, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "I feel so stupid," she whispered. "How could I have not seen it coming?"

Emma shook her head, her eyes filled with empathy. "It's not your fault, Lila. You trusted him, and he betrayed that trust. That's on him, not you."

Lila nodded, though the words did little to ease the gnawing pain in her chest. She took a shuddering breath, her gaze drifting to her desk where a small, familiar box lay hidden in the shadows. The urge to cut, to release the pain in a tangible way, was overwhelming. She stood abruptly, pulling away from Emma. "I... I need a moment," she said, her voice shaky.

Emma watched her with a worried frown. "Lila, please don't shut me out. Let me help you."

But Lila was already moving, her hands shaking as she reached for the box. She knew Emma meant well, but the weight of her emotions was too much to bear. She needed an escape, even if it was only temporary.

Emma's eyes widened as she realized what Lila was reaching for. "Lila, no," she said, her voice firm but gentle. "You don't have to do this. Talk to me. Please."

Lila froze, her fingers hovering over the lid of the box. She looked at Emma, seeing the fear and concern in her eyes, and felt a pang of guilt. But the pain inside her was too intense, too immediate. "I can't," she whispered. "I'm sorry."

Before Emma could stop her, Lila opened the box and took out the blade. She sat back on the bed, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she pressed the cold metal to her skin. The first cut was shallow, a thin line of red blooming against her pale wrist.

Emma's heart broke as she watched her friend hurt herself. She moved closer, her hands trembling as she reached out. "Lila, please," she pleaded. "You don't need to do this. I'm here. Let me help you."

Lila looked up, tears streaming down her face, and for a moment, she hesitated. The sight of Emma's anguished expression cut through her despair, and she dropped the blade, sobbing uncontrollably.

Emma immediately wrapped her arms around Lila, holding her close. "It's okay," she murmured. "I'm here. You're not alone."

They stayed like that for what felt like hours, Emma's soothing presence a balm to Lila's wounded soul. Eventually, the sobs subsided, leaving Lila feeling drained but somehow lighter. She looked up at Emma, her eyes red and swollen, and managed a small, shaky smile. "Thank you," she whispered.

Emma brushed a strand of hair from Lila's face, her touch gentle. "You don't have to thank me," she said softly. "You're my best friend. I love you, Lila. We'll get through this together."

Lila nodded, feeling a flicker of hope amidst the darkness. She knew the road ahead would be difficult, but with Emma by her side, she felt a glimmer of strength. They would face it together, one day at a time, and maybe, just maybe, find healing in the process.

And as the first light of dawn began to filter through the window, Lila felt a tentative sense of peace. Beneath the shadow of heartbreak, there was a promise of something new, something stronger. And in Emma's unwavering support, she found the courage to face the challenges ahead.

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Idk why but I like starting to write books and then never finishing them so like this might just never end but I plan on finishing "captive hearts"🌸