Happily Ever After

In an Instant, Forever: Chapter 1

~ Her POV~

SURVIVING...

"It's never beautiful.

It's not heroic like they tell you in fairy tales and movies.

It's dirty.

It's tears streaming down your face, sobbing in a dark corner. It's fear and numbness at the same time.

You have to cradle yourself to soothe all the pain away." ~ SENT

All this time, I've been posting these small quotes, hoping they reach the ones who need them.

Glancing at the clock, I start to hurry. Working for a company, that feels like a rat race, often makes me want to quit but one look at my bank balance immediately shuts down any such "stupid" thoughts.

I leave my bedroom and head toward the small dining table near the kitchen. I pack my own breakfast, while also plating another meal. Pulling out a sticky note, I jot down, "Rise and shine, Sleeping Beauty." I place it neatly beside the plate and then rush out the door.

While driving, my thoughts drift to my Sleeping Beauty. She's an important person in my life—my one and only bestie, Kritika Sharma. We met as toddlers, and from then on, Kriti and I have been inseparable. When we started living together in this apartment, it felt like winning the lottery. At only twenty-something, convincing our parents to let us live alone was no small feat, but we did it.

With these memories in my head, I park the car and head into the building where yet another tiring day awaits me.
As soon as I reach the elevator, everyone starts to greet me. I greet them back and make my way up to the fifth floor. Arriving at my cabin, I quickly open the door and step into my little paradise. Despite the cutthroat competition, designing clothes is my solace in this world. Adjusting the nameplate that reads my name, I remember how hard I had to fight to make this dream come true. I'm proud to be Sanjana Arora, Designer. Just thinking about it gives me the courage to keep pushing, to keep making a name for myself in this industry.

Losing track of time, I'm startled by a loud knock on the door. Oh, my Lord! Who could it be, knocking with absolutely no manners? I grant permission to enter, and in walks an ill-mannered yet undeniably beautiful girl.

"Don't you know you should knock politely before entering my cabin?" I say, raising an eyebrow.

Ignoring my question, she heads straight for the couch and makes herself comfortable. How rude! I walk over and sit beside her as she begins to serve lunch. I glance at the clock, my eyes widening.

"Yeah, stop staring like that, or else your eyeballs might fall out," she says in that familiar, annoying voice.

"I made this... hope it matches your high taste, m'lady," she adds with a smirk.

"Okay, Miss Butler," I reply, and she frowns at me. But as soon as I take a bite, my mouth is in heaven. Did I mention this annoying girl is the best cook?

After finishing lunch, I ask her to wait a little so we can leave together. She nods, settling even more comfortably on the couch, and I get back to work. At 5:00 p.m., I stretch in my chair and walk over to the couch. There she is, lying without a care in the world—my childhood bestie, Kritika Sharma. She's a doctor, working just as hard to fulfill her passion as I am with mine. We've been through every up and down together, and while we bicker endlessly, our bond only grows stronger.

One thing we both share is that we're hopeless romantics. Tired of searching for real love, we've buried ourselves in books and fictional worlds. We both secretly hope for a love like the ones we read about—will it ever come true?