Heartbroken in love

Awkward in New York

(where we left of)

As I feel her lips press against mine, a wave of shock washes over me, and time seems to freeze in that fleeting moment. Every thought in my mind momentarily evaporates. Just as quickly as it began, I pull away, my hands instinctively finding their way to her shoulders, creating a barrier between us that feels necessary to maintain my composure. I lock my gaze onto her, searching for some semblance of understanding in her eyes.

"What was that?" I manage to ask, my voice tinged with disbelief and confusion. She simply stares back at me, her expression unreadable, silence hanging heavily in the air between us.

"I'm with Victoria, you know that?" I continue, my tone shifting to a firmer edge as I struggle to process what just happened. The agitation bubbling within me growing, and I can feel my frustration spilling over.

"Maria, why would you do that?" I demand, trying to keep my voice steady despite the storm of emotions swirling inside me. Her silence only deepens my unease, leaving me grappling with the confusion and hurt of an unexpected betrayal.

"I... I didn't mean to," she finally whispers, her voice barely audible. "It just happened."
I feel my heart sink at her words. It wasn't just a momentary thought; it was a choice—a choice. "You didn't think about me? About Victoria?" I can hear the disappointment in my own voice, a sharp edge that I can't seem to soften.

"I thought about you," she insists, her voice rising slightly, a hint of frustration creeping in. "You're always on my mind. But it's complicated. You know how it is between us."

"Complicated?" I scoff in disbelief, my hands falling to my sides in exasperation. "This isn't just complicated, Maria. This is crossing a line."

Her eyes flash with something I can't quite read—anger, maybe? Or is it fear? "I didn't plan this. I didn't want to hurt you, but I also can't pretend that I don't feel something for you. I thought you felt it too."

I shake my head, trying to process her words. "I do care about you, but I'm with Victoria. I made a choice."

"Did you?" she challenges, stepping closer again, her expression intense and vulnerable all at once. "Or are you just trying to convince yourself that you're happy?"

"Maria, you're crossing a line," I whisper harshly, my words coming out sharper than I intended. Her comments about Victoria cut deep, and I can feel the anger rising within. "Victoria is my person. She's not just some fling; she's the first person I've ever truly wanted to be with, to share everything with—her happiness, her sadness, her anger, her frustrations. I want to be there for all of it because I love her."

I take a step back, trying to put some distance between us, to gather my thoughts. "Those four months we've been together, they're the best of my life... I love you, Maria. You're one of my closest friends, and I appreciate our friendship. But I'll be damned if I let you ruin everything I've just built."

The truth spills out of me, raw and unfiltered. "I've been in love with Victoria since the day she moved in two years ago. I've waited so long for this, for us to finally find each other, and now that we have, you can bet I'm not losing that. I will protect her and our relationship with everything I have."

My heart races as I finish, the weight of my words hanging in the air between us. I can see the realization dawn on Maria's face, the understanding that this isn't just a passing moment for me; it's everything. The silence stretches, filled with the tension of our unspoken feelings, and I can feel the distance between us growing, not just physically but emotionally as well.

"You... you really love Victoria?" Maria's voice drips with disbelief as she scoffs, her laughter drained of any real humor. She downs the last sips of her drink in one swift motion, the glass clinking harshly against the coffee table as she sets it down with force.