~Emily~
~May 20th 2024~
I stared at the screen, my finger hovering over a particularly stunning lace gown. It was the perfect blend of classic and modern, with intricate embroidery and a flowing train.
I'd been dreaming about this day for years, and now that it was finally getting closer, the reality of it was setting in. I turned to Colby, who was sitting on the couch, his eyes glued to the football game.
"What do you think?" I asked, holding up my phone.
He glanced at the dress, then back at the TV. "It's nice," he mumbled.
I sighed. "Nice? That's all you've got?"
He shrugged. "It's a dress. What's there to think about?"
I rolled my eyes. "It's my dress, Colby. It's supposed to be special."
He looked up at me, a smirk playing on his lips. "Well, maybe you should try losing a few pounds first. You know, get back into shape."
My heart sank. I'd been feeling a little insecure about my post-baby body, but I hadn't expected him to say it out loud.
"What the FUCK did you just say?" I demanded, my voice rising.
He looked startled. "I didn't say anything."
"Don't be a bloody coward, Colby. Tell me what you said." He hesitated, then repeated what he'd said.
I felt a wave of anger wash over me. "How dare you! You have no idea what it's like to push a human out of your body, let alone growing one for nine months! Fuck you!"
I yanked Aspen from her playpen and stormed out of the room. Colby called after me, but I ignored him. I needed to be alone.
As I walked down the hallway and into a nearby loft with fluffy couch, I could hear Aspen crying into my shoulder. She must have sensed the tension. I sat down on the couch and held her close, trying to calm her down.
"It's okay, baby," I whispered, tears streaming down my face. "Daddy's just being mean."
Colby came into the room and stood in front of me. "Emily, please look at me." His eyes followed me as I stood up. "Where are you going?"
"Where do you think I'm going? I'm going in the bedroom. It's doing no good staying down here next to you."
"Don't be like that, Emmy. I'm sorry.
Please look at me.""Sure you didn't. Think before
you speak next time, Colby."I stomped upstairs and slammed the bedroom door. I snuggled with Aspen in bed, sobbing. I could hear the other roommates, Sam, Jake, Corey, Katrina, Devyn, Tara, and my sister Isa, yelling at Colby downstairs.
"How could you say that? You need to go apologize to her. That was a really low thing to say," they were saying.
I tried to hold back the tears, but they kept flowing. I collapsed onto the bed, sobs wracking my body. Singing had always been my solace, my escape.
So, I started, my voice raw and trembling, pouring my heart out into Billie Eilish's "What Was I Made For?" Each note, each word, was a piece of me, a reflection of the storm raging within. Anger, betrayal, sadness, guilt, disgust – every emotion, every tear, every sob found its way into the melody. I sang my heart out for what felt like hours trying to calm myself.
A soft knock interrupted my catharsis, jolting me out of my emotional release.
Embarrassment washed over me as I hastily wiped my eyes and silenced the piano. I turned to the door, my heart pounding.
"Who is it?" I asked, clearly irritable. "It's me." Colby's voice echoed through the wooden door as I rolled my eyes.
"Go away Colby, I don't wanna see you." There was a moment of silence before he spoke again. "Please 'Em, I just want to talk." I sighed heavily as I walked over and turned the door knob, cracking the door open.
There, in the doorway of our shared space, stood Colby, his eyes filled with regret and sorrow.
"Emily, I'm sorry." he began, his voice barely a whisper.
I tried to shut the door in his face, but he stopped me, gently pulling me into a tender embrace. I stiffened, my initial instinct to push him away.
But as his arms wrapped around me, something within me softened. The tears flowed freely once more, and I clung to him, my body shaking.
"You can't just say that," I sobbed, my voice muffled against his chest. "You really hurt me."
"I know," he replied, his voice filled with remorse. "And I'm so sorry. You know, for what it's worth, you have a beautiful voice."
A small chuckle escaped my lips, a bittersweet sound amidst the tears. He kissed my forehead, a gentle gesture that somehow managed to soothe my aching heart.
"You know you couldn't resist me." He said with a sly smirk. I rolled my eyes. "Fine you win.." I leaned up and kissed him. "I love you." He said looking into my eyes, "I know."
YOU ARE READING
Tangled Hearts.
RomanceTangled heart is an enemy to lovers story about two unlikely people falling in love after they had a rocky start. Raelyn's Childhood Home-https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/31-Polo-Dr-Jackson-MS-39211/3074492_zpid/?utm_campaign=iosappmessage&utm_med...