Quiet Confessions

May 31st

"Tell me everything." Ember stood before Evan who slumps in the couch, drunk again. He'd been sober for 5 years, but that ended when Ember had taken on a bigger project at work. She was fuming, devastated and hurt. The woman's photo in the screenshot seemed to mock her: with her beautiful long, red hair, her pearly white smile, her perfect body, she stared into Ember's disintegrating soul.

Evan covered his face with his hands and rubbing hard as he cried. He'd been at it for twenty minutes now, ashamed and upset he'd been caught. He knew what the stakes were when he slept with her- even when he sent the first message. He didn't care then; why would he be now, she wondered. She waited for his answer, but all she'd gotten were pathetic sobs.

The living room was littered with empty beer bottles and take out containers. Evan had promised he'd cleaned up, but ended up making more of a mess-of their home and himself. Ember drew back the blinds to the windows, illuminating the garbage. That included the lump of it, sobbing on the couch in front of her. She felt that the room was a good depiction of how she was feeling.

"Tell me, now. I have half a mind to message her myself. I've got her name; hell, I'm sure I could find where she works and pop in for a visit if I have to. Does she know?"

"About what?" Evan slurred his words while wobbling his body forward and dug his elbows into his knees attempting to steady himself. He held his head with his hands and kept his eyes closed, more than likely to avoid eye contact with Ember- or because he was too drunk to open them. She could smell the stale stench of the alcohol in the room, but even more so on Evan.

"That you're getting MARRIED? Does she know that your fiancée lives with you? Or did you go to her place?"

"She knew, but she didn't care. We agreed this would be a one-time thing, I swear. I fucked up, I know it." The words tumbled from his mouth onto the floor and his hands fumbled, attempting to wipe crocodile tears from his eyes.

"I can't believe you'd do something like this. I thought you were better than that. I don't know if we can bounce back from this. I'm trying to make more money so we can get a second vehicle, for you, and you cheat on me." She paces the room as tears begin to sting her eyes. She felt sick.

She considered how difficult it would be to stay; she didn't trust him anymore. How could she knowing what she does? How was she to compete with another more beautiful woman? She seemed so.. perfect. The thought made her stomach twist and turn. Ember caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror across the room and nearly startled herself. She looked unfamiliar in the moment. Her bumpy nose and boring hair amplified her feelings of inadequacy. Maybe this is a deeper issue, she thought. Maybe he just didn't like her anymore and found an excuse to pull the trigger.

She considered how daunting leaving felt; she was comfortable here and loved Evan with every fiber of her being. He was her best and only friend here. She never got around to making new friends when she moved. Her heart sank, torn between her previous happiness with Evan and the dagger in her heart from whom she loved.

She came to realize love may not be enough to save them.

Evan begins to hiccup, and with every jump, he nearly falls to his side. Ember wondered how drunk he'd have to be to be acting like this- or was it an act. Regardless, Ember wasn't backing away from this. She needed answers. Now.

"I'm- *hiccup* sorry, okay? It was a one-time thing. Promise." He words were drawn out and nearly incoherent. He phone pings. Before he could react, Ember strides over to swipe it from the coffee table. "I- *hiccup* promise, Em." He notices she has his phone and sits up straight. His eyes half open, still hiccuping, he says plainly, "give me my phone back. I'm waiting to hear from *hiccup* Josh."