tainted love (Niccolò Govender Rossi)

Overslept

I woke up with a sense of contentment I hadn't felt in a long time. The soft morning light filtered through my curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. I stretched, my body still tingling with the memory of Niccolò's touch. The night before had been a whirlwind of emotions and passion, and now, lying alone in bed, I felt a bittersweet happiness. Niccolò was gone, but the mark he left on my heart was unmistakable.

Rolling over, I clutched my pillow and smiled to myself. The memories of our reunion played through my mind like a cherished movie scene. I could still feel his breath against my skin, the way he held me as if I was the only person in the world. It was a night I would never forget.

Rising from the bed, I wrapped myself in a soft robe and headed to the kitchen. I needed coffee and a moment to collect my thoughts. As I brewed my morning cup, I couldn't help but wonder what the day would bring. I hoped Niccolò would come back soon; there was still so much we needed to talk about. But for now, I allowed myself to bask in the afterglow of our time together, feeling a rare and precious sense of peace.

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(Niccolò)

I had left Honey's house early, slipping out quietly to avoid waking her. My mind was racing with emotions. I had just spent a night with the girl I truly loved, and I'm so proud I had finally ended things with Virginia yesterday. But something about the way she looked at me during our last conversation left me uneasy. I hoped she would respect my decision, but Virginia had always been unpredictable.

When I got home, my phone buzzed with a call from Virginia. My stomach tightened as I answered. "Hello?"

"Niccolò, I need to see you," Virginia's voice was urgent, almost panicked. "Can you come over?"

Sighing, I agreed. I had to face this head-on, no matter how difficult it might be.

When I arrived, Virginia met me at the door, her  her eyes wide with worry. "Come in," she said, leading me to the living room.

"What's going on, Virginia?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm.

"I think I might be pregnant," she blurted out, her voice trembling.

"What? Are you sure?"

"I'm going to take a test now," she said, heading towards the bathroom. "Please, just wait here."

I nodded numbly, sinking onto the couch as I tried to process the news. This couldn't be happening. Not now, when I was so close to finally being with Honey.

Virginia emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later, holding the test. Her face was a mask of uncertainty, but when she looked at me, she said, "It's positive."

My heart sank. I didn't love Virginia, but a child changed everything. I couldn't just leave her"Are you sure?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

She nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. "I know this is a shock, but we need to figure out what to do."

I felt trapped, my thoughts spiraling into despair. How could I tell Honey about this? How could I make things right when everything was falling apart?

"Are you planning to keep it?" I asked, my voice flat and distant, feeling a heavy weight settle in my chest.

"Yes," she replied quickly, her eyes already brimming with dreams and expectations. "I already see a future for us, Niccolò. A family."

I looked away, my heart breaking. My true love was slipping through my fingers, and I couldn't do much about it. "So... I guess that means we're back together now," I said, the words bitter on my tongue.