Criminal Hearts

Chapter 3: The Weight of Silence

Sophia's POV (Flashback)

The day had dawned bright and clear, but inside Sophia's heart, a storm raged. She sat at the kitchen table, her hands trembling around the coffee cup, staring into the swirling liquid. The weight of her unspoken truth felt like an anchor dragging her down, and she longed to share it with Ethan. But every time she opened her mouth, the words lodged in her throat like shards of glass.

Ethan was sprawled on the couch, his eyes glued to the television, engrossed in the latest highlights from a football game. She watched him, the love she felt battling against the turmoil in her heart. He looked so carefree, so innocent, completely unaware of the darkness that had seeped into her life.

"Ethan?" she began, her voice barely a whisper. But as soon as he turned to look at her, his gaze flickered back to the screen.

"Hang on, Soph! Just one more minute. You won't believe this play!"

She felt a pang of frustration. This wasn't just any news. She needed him to hear her. "It's important," she pressed, her pulse quickening.

"Yeah, I know! Just let me finish this—" he replied, enthusiasm still brimming in his voice.

But the moment slipped away, and the words she needed to say faded back into the recesses of her mind. She dropped her gaze, biting her lip, feeling the sting of tears welling up. She was losing her chance. What if she never got another?

A few hours later, the sun dipped low in the sky, casting long shadows across their small apartment. Sophia sat on their bed, cradling a stack of books she had collected for her classes. Each one felt like a reminder of her dreams, dreams that felt so far from her grasp now.

"Ethan," she said softly, her heart racing as she finally worked up the courage. "I really need to talk to you about something important."

He looked up from his phone, momentarily distracted. "Can it wait? I'm really busy right now. I'll be done in a bit."

That "bit" never came. Hours passed, and Sophia felt the walls closing in. She paced the small space, running her fingers through her hair in frustration. She tried again, "Ethan, please—"

He cut her off with a sigh, "Can't it just be a normal day for once? I've had a long week."

His words felt like a knife to her heart. It was true, he had been busy, but so had she. Every day had become a battle to keep her head above water. She was drowning, and he didn't even notice.

As darkness fell, she found herself standing at the window, looking out into the city that felt more like a stranger than home. Maybe she should leave. The thought hung heavy in her mind. Leaving would be a fresh start, a chance to escape the haunting memories and rebuild herself.

But leaving meant she would have to abandon everything they had built together. And the thought of it made her heart ache.

She took a deep breath, heart racing, and turned back to him. "Ethan, I—"

But he was already immersed in his game again, laughter echoing through the living room from the TV. The warmth of their shared moments felt like a distant memory, and in that moment, she realized she might never find the words.

The decision came like a bolt of lightning, sharp and sudden. She would leave. It was the only way she could find herself again. She wouldn't tell him. Not now. She didn't want to burden him with her pain or ruin the carefree life he seemed to enjoy so much.

The next day, Sophia packed her things in silence, the weight of her decision pressing down on her. She glanced at Ethan, who was still asleep, blissfully unaware of the heartbreak unfolding around him. It was a final act of love—leaving without a proper goodbye. She hoped he would understand one day, that this was what she needed to heal.

As she took one last look around the apartment, the memories flooded in—the laughter, the late-night talks, the promises they had made to each other. Each corner held a piece of her heart, but she needed to take it back.

With one final breath, she slipped out the door, leaving behind a life that had become too painful to bear. As she stepped into the world outside, the sun greeted her, but all she felt was a profound emptiness. No goodbyes. No explanations. Just a girl in search of herself.