Tragedy of Love

Echoes of Deception

Denise

The sharp trill of my alarm pulled me from a restless sleep. I groaned, reaching out to silence it. For a moment, I lay still, staring at the ceiling and letting the events of the previous day wash over me. The confrontation, the move, Kevin's sweet messages—it all seemed like a whirlwind.

I wanted nothing more than to take an extra five minutes, to bury my face in the pillows and escape reality for just a little while longer. But my phone buzzed insistently with an incoming call, breaking the brief peace. I grabbed it, seeing Madison's name flashing on the screen.

"Madison, it's too early," I grumbled, answering the call.

"Denise! Are you okay?" Madison's voice was laced with concern.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Why?" I replied, still groggy.

"Preston called me last night and this morning, asking about you. I wouldn't have answered if I had his number saved."

My heart sank. "What did he say?"

"He sounded kinda angry, demanding to know where you were. I played dumb, of course. Told him I had no idea and that he should just give you space."

"Thanks, Madison. I really appreciate it."

"I'll tell you more when we see each other at the university. Just wanted to give you a heads-up."

"Alright. See you soon." I hung up, feeling the weight of Preston's persistence pressing down on me. He wasn't going to let go easily, but neither was I.

I dragged myself out of bed, shaking off the remnants of sleep. I needed to be strong today. I had to face Preston's attempts to reel me back in and, more importantly, start reclaiming my life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

After a quick shower, I dressed in my favorite outfit—a simple but elegant blouse and a pair of jeans that made me feel confident. I wanted to look good, not for anyone else, but for myself. I needed to remind myself that I was still in control of my life, no matter how chaotic it seemed.

I grabbed my bag and, headed to my car and drove to the university. The campus was bustling with students, and for a moment, I felt a sense of normalcy. Life was still moving forward, and so was I.

I met Madison outside our usual spot. Her expression was a mix of concern and determination.

"Denise, you look good," she said, giving me a once-over.

"Thanks," I replied, taking a deep breath. "So, what did Preston say?"

Madison's eyes flashed with anger. "He was frantic, asking if I'd heard from you, if I knew where you were. He sounded kinda angry. I played dumb, of course. Told him I had no idea and that he should just give you space."

I nodded, grateful for her support. "Thanks, Madison. I appreciate it."

"Of course. You don't deserve this. And you certainly don't need him stalking you."

We walked to our to our classrooms. When I sat down, I couldn't help but glance at my phone, half-expecting another message from Preston. But instead, there was a text from Kevin.

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Kevin: Morning! Hope you had a good night. 😊

Me: Morning! It was okay. Thanks for checking in.

Kevin: Are you at work today?

Me: Yes, just getting started.

Kevin: Great! See you soon. 😉