Unchained Heart

1. Shadows of the Past

Another day, another hell day.

Even waking up in the morning felt like a challenge for Ania.

"I don't want to get up," she muttered as her alarm blared. She wanted to stay in her room and pour tears into her pillow. But she had no choice; she had to go to university.

On the Way to School

Ania still seemed lost in thought. She was sitting in her mother's car as they drove to drop her off at school. Her mother was also heading to work and dropping her off.

"Ania, Ania..." her mother called.

Ania didn't seem to hear her, staring out the window, watching the scenery pass by.

Ania's POV

"Ania, Ania..." my mother called, but I didn't notice immediately.

I was looking out the car window, watching the clouds chase us. The weather was beautiful, the sky blue, and everything seemed lively. It felt like I didn't belong in this world. Everything around me was moving forward, but I wasn't. I was lost in a fog of confusion, unable to understand how everything could seem so normal when my world had been turned upside down.

I suddenly felt a wave of sadness. I remembered how my relationship with Lay ended.

Flashback Moments with Lay

The sky was a brilliant blue as Ania sat on a park bench, their agreed meeting place. While waiting for her boyfriend, Lay, she observed the surroundings. The trees swayed with the wind, and she could feel the breeze on her skin. The day was perfect for their date, and the weather seemed to agree with her. Ania smiled.

"I feel like something wonderful will happen today," she told herself.

As soon as Ania saw his face, her excitement for their date waned. She had dressed and made an effort, but Lay didn't seem excited to be there. He didn't even notice her new look. Ania's heart sank, and she felt a pang of disappointment.

They exchanged greetings, having not seen each other for days due to Ania's schoolwork and Lay's basketball practice. Ania found an opportunity to give Lay her monthsary gift.

"What's this? What's the occasion?" Lay asked, seemingly clueless about the significance of the day.

"Seriously?" Ania couldn't believe it. She had expected Lay to forget their monthsary, but it still hurt.

"Oh, shoes," Lay said, opening the gift. His expression showed that he didn't appreciate it.

"You don't like it? It's a new release, and you told me last time you wanted new shoes," Ania said.

"I like it. But I already have shoes like this," Lay replied.

Lay usually told his girlfriend everything, but Ania was surprised to learn he had bought new shoes without telling her.

Lay seemed increasingly disinterested, and before they could explore the park, he suggested they go home. Ania understood, thinking he might be tired from basketball practice and wanted to rest.

Lay dropped Ania off at her house but didn't stay long. Ania felt hurt—not only had Lay forgotten their monthsary, but he also hadn't prepared anything special for her as he usually did. Despite her hurt feelings, she tried to focus on the fact that Lay's presence was more important than any gift.

After a few hours, Ania waited for an update from Lay. Since dropping her off, he hadn't said whether he got home, went to practice, or was doing something else. After taking care of herself, Ania lay in bed, checked her phone, and saw Lay was online on social media.

"What are you doing?" Ania sent Lay a message.

Ania waited almost half an hour for Lay's reply. She saw he was typing, but sending the message took a long time, making Ania wonder what he was trying to say. She turned off her phone and waited.

After a while, her message tone sounded. Lay had sent a message. Ania immediately opened it. With the first line, tears began to fall from her eyes. Her heart raced, and her chest tightened. When she finished reading the message, she was stunned, staring at her phone in shock. She felt a mix of emotions-disbelief, heartbreak, and anger.

"Let's end it." Lay's last message echoed in Ania's mind. She couldn't reply because he had blocked her immediately.

Ania buried her face in her pillow. The weather outside was beautiful, the surroundings bright and clear, but Ania felt like she was in a storm. Her room flooded with tears. Her world shattered as she read the message, ending their relationship without a reasonable explanation. Ania's emotional struggle was palpable, her room a refuge for her tears as she grappled with the sudden end of her relationship.

End of Flashback

After reminiscing and staring out the car window, Ania finally arrived at her school. She was about to face another day without Lay in her life. Lay ghosted her, and months had passed without a word from him since their breakup. She was blocked on all his social media, leaving her without closure after almost four years together. The absence of a clear ending to their relationship left Ania feeling adrift, her longing for closure a constant ache in her heart.