Lyrics Of My Life

03-Without Me

Karen's POV
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I opened the door to my sister's house, expecting to see my husband Drew's warm smile. But instead, my eyes landed on Tamela, the woman who had left town without a word, leaving me with a broken heart and a million questions. Her piercing green eyes seemed to bore into mine, as if searching for something she knew I couldn't give.

My mind raced as I struggled to process my emotions. I hadn't been ready to see her again, not yet. The wounds were still too fresh, the hurt still too raw. I could feel my heart racing, my palms growing sweaty, as I tried to reconcile the woman in front of me with the memories that still haunted me.

We stood in silence for a moment, the tension between us palpable. Then, Tamela spoke up, her voice soft, but laced with a hint of nervousness. "Karen."

I barely whispered my response, my voice barely audible. "Tamela."

The silence that followed was oppressive, heavy with unspoken words and unresolved issues. I couldn't bear to look at her, couldn't bear to be in the same room as her. But at the same time, I couldn't tear my eyes away, couldn't help but wonder what she wanted from me.

Just as I thought I couldn't take it anymore, my sister Dorinda appeared at the door, a cheesy grin spreading across her face. "Wow, look at this reunion!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement.

Tamela and I rolled our eyes in unison, our shared exasperation a brief moment of solidarity in an otherwise tense situation. "Dorinda, really?" I sighed, shaking my head.

"Hey, someone's got to break the ice!" Dorinda protested, her grin faltering for a moment before she continued, "Why don't you go on into the dining room with the others while I have a quick word with Tamela?"

I shot Tamela a wary glance before turning and making my way into the dining room, my heart heavy with unease. Here's the revised chapter:

I walked into the dining room, my sisters Jacky and Twinkie looking up at me with concern. "Hey, who was at the door?" Jacky asked, her voice soft.

I hesitated, not wanting to admit it. "Just...Tamela," I muttered, trying to brush it off.

Twinkie's eyes widened in surprise. "Tamela? As in, your ex "best friend" Tamela?"

I nodded, my shoulders sagging in defeat. "The one and only."

Jacky's eyes filled with understanding. "Oh, Karen, I'm so sorry. That must be really tough for you."

I shook my head, trying to appear nonchalant. "I don't care. I'm just going to act like she's not...here."

Twinkie's eyes narrowed. "Karen, you can't just pretend like nothing's wrong. You need to face your feelings and move on."

I raised an eyebrow, my voice nonchalant. "Maybe."

Jacky's expression turned concerned. "Karen, don't you think it's time to confront your feelings and put the past behind you? It might help you heal and move on."

I cut her off, my voice firm. "I don't need to confront anything. I'm fine."

Twinkie's voice rose in frustration. "Karen, come on! You can't just keep avoiding your emotions. It's not healthy. Facing Tamela might be exactly what you need to finally move on."