Dark Grey

Chapter 10: Shattered Dreams

I woke up slowly, feeling the warmth of Jake’s arms around me. For a moment, everything felt perfect, like I was living in a dream. The soft morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a golden glow over the room. I couldn’t help but smile, the memories of last night flooding back to me. Jake had been so gentle, so caring—like he was a completely different person from the one I knew at school.

But the bliss was short-lived. Jake stirred beside me, and as soon as his eyes opened, the look of horror on his face made my heart sink. His arms dropped from around me like I was something toxic, something he needed to get away from as fast as possible.

“What the hell?” he spat, his voice laced with disgust as he scrambled away from me. “What did you do?”

I blinked, the happiness that had filled me just moments ago evaporating like smoke. “Jake, I—”

“It was the alcohol,” he cut me off, his voice rising in panic. “That’s all it was. I was drunk, okay? I didn’t mean any of it. God, I hate you!”

His words hit me like a sledgehammer, each one a direct blow to my heart. I wanted to scream, to tell him that he was lying, that he didn’t mean it, but the look in his eyes told me everything. He wasn’t just pushing me away—he was trying to erase the entire night, erase me from his life.

Tears welled up in my eyes as Jake got out of bed, furiously throwing my clothes at me. One of the buttons on my trousers hit me on the chest with a stinging force, making me flinch. But the physical pain was nothing compared to the emotional agony tearing me apart inside.

“Get out,” Jake snarled, his voice trembling with something that felt like fear. “Just… get out, and don’t ever come near me again!”

I could barely see through the tears streaming down my face as I fumbled to pull on my clothes. My hands were shaking so much that I could barely manage it. I didn’t care that my shirt was inside out or that my hair was a mess. All I wanted was to get out of there, away from the boy who had just shattered my heart into a million pieces.

Without a word, I grabbed my phone and bolted from the room. My vision blurred as I raced down the stairs and out of the house, the cold morning air biting at my tear-streaked cheeks. I didn’t stop running, not even when my legs started to burn from the exertion. I just needed to get away, to run as far as I could from the memory of what had just happened.

By the time I reached my house, I was gasping for breath, my body trembling from exhaustion and the overwhelming surge of emotions. But there was no reprieve waiting for me at home.

As soon as I stepped through the door, the familiar stench of alcohol hit me, and I knew I was in trouble. My father’s voice, slurred and angry, came from the living room.

“Where the hell have you been?” he shouted, his bloodshot eyes glaring at me as he stumbled toward me. “You think you can just disappear all night without telling me? You worthless piece of shit!”

His words were like daggers, each one piercing deeper into my already shattered soul. I tried to stammer out an explanation, but the words caught in my throat. All I could do was stand there, tears streaming down my face as my father’s rage washed over me.

He grabbed my arm, his grip bruising as he shook me. “Crying again? What, did the little baby have a rough night? You disgust me!”

I couldn’t take it anymore. The weight of everything that had happened—the rejection, the betrayal, the constant abuse—it all came crashing down on me at once. With a choked sob, I yanked my arm free and bolted up the stairs, slamming the door to my room behind me.

As soon as I was alone, I collapsed onto my bed, the tears coming in full force. I cried harder than I ever had before, my body wracked with sobs that I couldn’t control. It felt like my heart was being torn apart, piece by piece, until there was nothing left.

Just when I thought I couldn’t cry anymore, my phone buzzed beside me. I wiped my eyes and glanced at the screen. It was Jimmy. He’d called me over thirty times.

With a shaky hand, I accepted the call, trying to steady my voice as I spoke. “Hey, Jimmy…”

“Jae?” Jimmy’s voice was soft but urgent, full of concern. “What’s wrong? I’ve been calling you nonstop. Are you okay?”

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to sound normal, even though everything inside me was screaming. “I’m fine,” I lied, my voice cracking. “Just… a rough morning, that’s all.”

“Don’t lie to me, Jae. I can hear it in your voice. I’m coming over. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

“Jimmy, you don’t have to—”

But he’d already hung up. I stared at my phone, my heart pounding in my chest. The thought of seeing Jimmy right now, of facing anyone, was terrifying. But at the same time, I needed someone. I needed him.