Healing echos

Chapter eight

"You kissed him?" Ray repeated, his voice barely above a whisper. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. The image of Sand kissing another woman at the club flashed before his eyes, and it felt like a punch to the gut. Now all the pieces of the puzzle piecing together.

Ray listened in silence as Sun spoke, her words echoing in his mind. Her confession only added to the turmoil he was feeling, the sense of betrayal weighing heavily on his heart.

"When I saw him in your room, I thought maybe it was fate," Sun continued, her voice tinged with regret. "Maybe we were just destined to be together once again."

A small flush of blush appeared on her face as she spoke, but Ray remained silent, unable to find the words to respond.

After a few moments of tense silence, Ray finally spoke, his voice cracking with emotion. "I think I'm gonna go upstairs and rest. I'm very tired..."

He tried his best to hide the turmoil he was feeling, but he couldn't stop the tears from welling up in his eyes. With a heavy heart, he turned away from Sun, wheeling himself back toward his room.

As Ray managed to gather enough strength to get back onto his bed, he collapsed onto the mattress, his face soaked with tears. The weight of betrayal and heartache bore down on him like a heavy burden, and he couldn't shake the image of Sand and Sun from his mind.

How could Sand have lied to him? The thought tormented Ray, filling him with a sense of betrayal and hurt that cut deeper than he could bear. He had trusted Sand implicitly, believing in their relationship, only to have that trust shattered by deceit.

The image of Sand kissing another person replayed in Ray's mind like a broken record, each repetition a fresh stab to his wounded heart. He couldn't understand how Sand could have been so callous, so dishonest.

But amidst the pain and confusion, Ray found a flicker of anger rising within him. Anger at Sand for deceiving him, anger at Sun for betraying his trust, and anger at himself for allowing himself to be so blindly trusting.

As the tears continued to flow, Ray knew he needed time to process everything, to come to terms with the harsh reality of the situation. But one thing was certain: the betrayal he had experienced had left a deep scar on his heart, one that would take time to heal, if it ever could.

Sand's sudden entrance into the room broke the heavy silence that had engulfed Ray. His voice filled with excitement as he spoke about his show, but it quickly faltered when he saw Ray's tear-stained face.

"Ray, what's wrong? Is everything okay?" Sand's concern was palpable as he rushed to Ray's side, his worry etched on his face.

Ray's heart clenched at the sight of Sand, his emotions swirling with a mixture of hurt and anger. How could Sand come in here, acting as if everything was normal, when Ray was feeling anything but okay?

Struggling to compose himself, Ray wiped away his tears and took a deep breath, trying to push down the flood of emotions threatening to overwhelm him.

"I'm fine, Sand," Ray replied, his voice strained with the effort to remain calm. But even as the words left his lips, he knew they were far from the truth.

Sand's brow furrowed with concern, his eyes searching Ray's face for any sign of the truth. "Ray, please," he said softly, his voice tinged with desperation. "You can talk to me. I'm here for you."

Ray's heart ached at Sand's words, the weight of his betrayal pressing down on him like a suffocating blanket. He wanted to lash out, to scream at Sand for lying to him, but he couldn't bring himself to do it.

Instead, he forced a weak smile and nodded. "I know, Sand. Thanks."

But as Sand hovered by his side, concern etched into every line of his face, Ray couldn't help but wonder if he would ever be able to trust him again. The thought filled him with a profound sense of sadness, knowing that the bond they once shared had been irreparably damaged by Sand's deception.

Tensions reached a boiling point as Sand's concern clashed with Ray's anger and hurt. Sand reached for Ray's cheek, his touch meant to comfort, but Ray's emotions erupted in a swift motion, slapping Sand's hand away before it could reach his face.

"I said I was fine!" Ray's voice crackled with anger, his tone sharp and cutting.

Sand's expression hardened, his concern morphing into frustration. "Well, clearly you're not fine, Ray. What's wrong?" His tone shifted to a more serious one, his worry evident in his voice.

Ray's anger flared at Sand's persistence, his frustration boiling over. "Can you just get out! You're always here, and I don't need a babysitter!" Ray's words were sharp, leaving Sand in shock.

"What are you saying?" Sand leaned closer to Ray, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Do you feel okay? Are you getting sick?" He reached out to check Ray's temperature, his concern overriding his own hurt feelings.

But Ray pushed him away, his emotions raw and unbridled. "I said get out!" he shouted, his voice filled with pain and anger.

Sand hesitated, his heart heavy with the weight of Ray's words. He wanted to stay, to help Ray through whatever he was going through, but he knew he needed to respect Ray's wishes.

With a heavy sigh, Sand nodded reluctantly. "Okay, Ray. I'll go," he said softly, his voice filled with regret. "But if you need anything, anything at all, please don't hesitate to call me."

Ray didn't respond, his gaze fixed on the floor as tears threatened to spill from his eyes. As Sand turned to leave, he couldn't shake the feeling of guilt gnawing at him, knowing that he had caused Ray so much pain. But he also knew that he needed to give Ray the space he needed to heal, even if it meant leaving him alone with his thoughts.