CANVAS OF MEMORY 🥀

Chapter 7: Fractured Reflections

The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft, golden glow across the bedroom. Mia lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, her thoughts a tangled mess of emotions. The conversation with Alex lingered in her mind like a stubborn shadow, refusing to fade even as the new day began.

She had barely slept, her dreams filled with fragmented memories of their time together—good and bad, tangled in a confusing blur. Now, in the clarity of daylight, the weight of it all pressed down on her, and for a moment, she considered staying in bed, letting the day slip away without her.

But Mia had never been one to give in to the temptation of avoidance. With a sigh, she pushed the covers back and swung her legs over the side of the bed. The cool floorboards against her bare feet sent a shiver up her spine, grounding her in the present moment.

She made her way to the bathroom, splashing cold water on her face, as if trying to wash away the lingering remnants of the night before. As she caught her reflection in the mirror, she barely recognized the woman staring back at her. There were dark circles under her eyes, and a tiredness that went beyond the physical—a weariness that came from months of emotional turmoil.

Mia reached up, touching her face as if to confirm that it was really her. The woman in the mirror looked so different from the one she had been just a year ago, before everything had started to unravel. The spark in her eyes was dimmer, the lines around her mouth a little deeper, etched by stress and sleepless nights.

She knew she couldn’t keep living like this, caught between the past and the present, unsure of how to move forward. But knowing and doing were two very different things. Letting go of Alex, of the life they had built together, felt like tearing away a part of herself.

After a quick shower, Mia dressed in her most comfortable clothes—an oversized sweater and jeans—and headed to the kitchen. The routine of making coffee, of pouring the steaming liquid into her favorite mug, was comforting in its simplicity. She wrapped her hands around the mug, savoring the warmth, and walked over to the small dining table by the window.

As she sipped her coffee, Mia let her gaze drift out to the city beyond. The streets below were bustling with life, people hurrying to and fro, lost in their own worlds. She wondered how many of them were going through their own heartbreaks, how many were struggling to make sense of a life that had suddenly changed course.

She was lost in thought when her phone buzzed on the table, snapping her back to reality. Mia picked it up, her heart skipping a beat when she saw a message from her mother.

"Hey, sweetheart. Just checking in. Haven’t heard from you in a while. How are you holding up?"

Mia stared at the message, feeling a pang of guilt. She hadn’t talked to her parents much since the breakup, not wanting to burden them with her pain, especially when she didn’t even know how to explain what had happened.

She typed a quick reply, keeping it vague.

"I’m okay, Mom. Just taking things one day at a time."

Her mother’s response was immediate, filled with the kind of warmth and concern only a mother could offer.

"We’re here for you, Mia. Don’t forget that. Why don’t you come over for dinner this weekend? It’s been too long since we’ve seen you."

Mia hesitated. The idea of being around her family, of pretending to be okay when she was still so broken inside, felt overwhelming. But she knew she couldn’t keep isolating herself, couldn’t keep pushing away the people who loved her.

"I’ll try to make it, Mom. Thanks for understanding."

Her mother sent back a heart emoji, and Mia smiled faintly, her chest tightening with a mix of gratitude and sorrow.

Setting the phone aside, she turned her attention back to the city outside. Her mind drifted to the last time she had visited her parents, months ago, when things with Alex had still been relatively normal. They had gone together, and her mother had made his favorite dish, laughing as Alex told stories that made everyone at the table smile.

It felt like a lifetime ago.

Mia’s thoughts were interrupted by the sudden ring of her doorbell. She wasn’t expecting anyone, and for a moment, she froze, her heart leaping into her throat. The possibility that it might be Alex again crossed her mind, but she quickly dismissed it. He wouldn’t show up unannounced, not after the conversation they’d had.

Setting her coffee down, Mia walked to the door and opened it, surprised to see Emily standing there, a concerned look on her face.

“Em,” Mia said, stepping aside to let her in. “I didn’t expect you.”

“I know,” Emily replied, giving her a small, apologetic smile as she walked inside. “But I was worried about you. I figured you might need some company.”

Mia closed the door and followed Emily into the living room. “I’m… I’m okay. Really, you didn’t have to come all the way here.”

“I know I didn’t have to,” Emily said, sitting down on the couch. “But I wanted to. I know you said you needed time, but I also know you, Mia. You’re probably overthinking everything, and I didn’t want you to go through that alone.”

Mia sat down beside her, feeling a wave of emotion rise in her chest. Emily had always been there for her, through every high and low, and she couldn’t help but feel grateful for her presence now, even if she wasn’t sure she was ready to talk about everything.

“Thanks, Em,” Mia said quietly. “It’s just… everything is so confusing right now. I don’t even know where to start.”

Emily reached over and took Mia’s hand, squeezing it gently. “Then don’t start anywhere. We can just sit here and not talk, or we can talk about something else. Whatever you need.”

Mia smiled weakly, squeezing Emily’s hand in return. “I’m just… I’m so tired of feeling this way. I thought I was making progress, but seeing him again… it just brought everything back.”

“I can only imagine how hard that was,” Emily said softly. “It’s okay to feel confused, to feel hurt. It’s a process, and it’s going to take time. But you don’t have to figure it all out right now.”

Mia nodded, her eyes welling up with tears. “I just don’t know if I can ever really forgive him, Em. I don’t know if I even want to.”

“And that’s okay too,” Emily said, her voice steady and reassuring. “You don’t have to forgive him right now. Or ever, if that’s what you decide. The important thing is that you do what feels right for you. Don’t put pressure on yourself to feel a certain way.”

Mia let out a shaky breath, the tears finally spilling over. “I just want to feel like myself again. I want to be happy.”

“You will be,” Emily said, pulling Mia into a hug. “I know it doesn’t feel that way now, but you will be. You’re one of the strongest people I know, Mia. You’ll get through this.”

Mia hugged her back, clinging to the comfort of her friend’s words. She wasn’t sure if she believed them yet, but hearing them helped, even just a little.

They sat like that for a while, the room quiet except for the soft sound of Mia’s tears. Eventually, she pulled back, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.

“Thank you,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Emily smiled, brushing a strand of hair behind Mia’s ear. “You’ll never have to find out.”

They spent the rest of the morning together, talking about anything and everything but Alex. It was a relief to be distracted, to focus on something other than the ache in her heart. And by the time Emily left, Mia felt a little lighter, a little more like herself.

She knew she wasn’t anywhere near being okay yet, but for the first time in a long time, she felt like maybe, just maybe, she could get there. One step at a time.

To be continued...🥀🥀