Do you think these tears could stop a fire?
Melani's tears dripped onto her comforter, soaking the fabric with her shame. She couldn't believe she'd let Sevyn see her vulnerable, exposed. Their passionate night replayed in her mind, each intimate moment now tainted with regret.
Flashbacks assaulted her:
Sevyn's gentle touch.
His whispers of affection.
Her surrender.
Melani's stomach churned, protesting the memories. She rushed to the bathroom, barely making it to the toilet before her dinner resurfaced.
The sound of her own retching echoed through the small space, a harsh reminder of her fragile state.
A knock on the door broke the spell.
"Mel, you okay?" Meghan's voice was laced with concern.
Melani wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, flushing the toilet. "Yeah, I'm fine."
Meghan entered, wetting a washcloth in the sink. "Don't lie to me, sis. You're shaking."
Melani accepted the cool cloth, pressing it to her forehead. "Just nauseous, that's all."
Meghan's eyes narrowed. "You sure?"
Melani forced a weak smile. "Positive."
The sisters sat in silence for a moment before Meghan spoke up.
"Hey, you heard about the new soul food spot downtown?"
Melani managed a laugh. "No, tell me."
As Meghan shared stories of the restaurant's infamous fried chicken, Melani's thoughts drifted:
Why did I let him in?
What if he thinks I'm weak?
Ugh, I'm so stupid.
Meghan's voice pulled her back.
"...and the owner's gotta mean collard greens recipe."
Melani smiled, grateful for the distraction. "Sounds like we need to check it out."
As Meghan left, Melani sighed, dropping her head into her hands.
She changed into comfortable sweatpants and a tank top, craving a smoke to clear her mind.
The local park beckoned, its quiet darkness a refuge.
Under the stars, Melani smoked her vape, inhaling deeply. The nicotine soothe her frazzled nerves.
Her thoughts returned to Sevyn:
His gentle hands.
His loving words.
Her surrender.
Melani's emotions seesawed:
Guilt.
Shame.
Longing.
As she exhaled, the smoke vanished into the night, leaving her conflicted heart behind.
Melani's smoke swirled, disappearing into the night. She breathed in the calm, letting her thoughts settle.
But Sevyn's face persisted, haunting her.
"Stupid," she muttered, stubbing out the cigarette.
A nearby bench creaked as she sat, wrapping her arms around herself.
Memories of their night together replayed, each moment now tainted with regret.
"Why the fuck did I let him see me like that?" she whispered to the darkness.
The park's silence offered no answers.
Melani's gaze wandered to the stars, searching for solace.
Her mind drifted to her past:
Dad's abandonment.
Mom's struggles.
Her own resilience.
The familiar ache resurfaced, but this time, Sevyn's face overlaid the pain.
"Maybe he's different," she thought, hesitant.
But fear gripped her:
What if he leaves?
What if he's like Dad?
Melani stood, pacing along the winding path.
The night air carried the whispers of her heart:
"You deserve love."
"You're worthy."
"Let go."
Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, but she held them back.
As she walked, the park's shadows seemed to fade, replaced by a glimmer of determination.
Melani's voice was barely audible:
"I will protect myself."
"I won't let him in again."
But her heart whispered something different,
"You already have."
YOU ARE READING
Say It(DISCONTINUED)
Romansa"I will protect myself." "I won't let him in again." But her heart whispered something different, "You already have." Melani embarks on her journey of self-discovery, love, and growth. As she navigates the complex web of relationships, family dynam...
