GUILTY

5

My heart shattered into a million pieces, each fragment piercing my soul like a dagger. The weight of my past mistakes crushed me, suffocating me beneath its unrelenting pressure. I wailed, my voice cracking under the strain of anguish.

Tears streamed down my face, a deluge of regret and sorrow. My chest heaved with sobs, as if my very essence was being ripped apart. Memories of my transgressions haunted me – Lala's battered face, Michael's wounded shoulder, Declan's hollow eyes.

"Oh, God!" I moaned, my voice trembling. "Why did I do it? Why did I destroy the one person who truly loved me?"

My mind replayed every cruel word, every thoughtless action. The pain was palpable, a living, breathing entity that writhed within me. I felt my heart tearing, ripping apart at the seams.

"If only...if only I had a second chance," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "I would do it right. I would love him, truly love him, without condition."

But it was too late. The damage was done. Declan's love had been ravaged by my indifference, his trust shattered by my infidelity.

My body shook, convulsing with sobs. I felt like I was drowning in my own despair. My regret was a tidal wave, crashing down on me with relentless fury.

"Why did I take him for granted?" I wailed, my voice hoarse from crying. "Why did I throw away our love?"

The agony was all-consuming, a burning fire that incinerated my soul. I was left with nothing but ashes – the remnants of a love I had callously destroyed.

My cries echoed through the darkness, a haunting reminder of my failures. Self-loathing consumed me, its venomous fangs sinking deep into my heart.

"Why did I let my friends influence me?" I sobbed, my body shaking. "Why did I betray Declan's trust?"

Memories of our laughter, our whispers, and our tender moments tormented me. I had squandered our love, replacing it with pain and regret.

My mind raced with "what ifs": What if I had stood up for Declan? What if I had cherished our love? What if I had been faithful?

Each question stabbed at my soul, deepening the wound. I felt lost, trapped in a prison of my own making.

Suddenly, the darkness seemed to close in around me. I couldn't breathe, suffocating under the weight of my mistakes.

"Declan, forgive me!" I screamed, my voice cracking. "Please, give me another chance!"

Declan's eyes locked onto the monitor, his gaze fixed on Jerome's anguished face. Despite the pain Jerome had inflicted, Declan's heart still ached for him. He couldn't help but shed a tear, his emotions raw and exposed.

Memories flooded his mind – their whirlwind romance, laughter-filled nights, and whispered promises. Everything had seemed so right, so perfect. Jerome was his first and only love, the one person who had touched his soul.

Declan's thoughts drifted to their initial encounter at the bar, Jerome's captivating smile, and their effortless conversation. He recalled the thrill of their first date, the excitement of discovering shared interests, and the comfort of finding a kindred spirit.

As he watched Jerome's tears, Declan's chest tightened. He longed to hold him, comfort him, and erase the pain he had caused. But how could he? Jerome's betrayal still lingered, a festering wound.

"Why, Jerome?" Declan whispered, his voice barely audible. "Why did you hurt me so deeply?"

His mind replayed the moments leading up to the betrayal – Lala's battered face, Michael's wounded shoulder, and Jerome's indifference. The pain swelled, threatening to consume him.

Yet, amidst the turmoil, Declan's love for Jerome persisted. He couldn't extinguish the flame, no matter how hard he tried.

"Oh, Jerome," Declan sighed, his voice laced with sorrow. "I still love you. I miss our laughter, our late-night talks, and our silly jokes."

He remembered the way Jerome's eyes sparkled when he laughed, the way his hair curled slightly at the nape of his neck, and the way his smile lit up the room.

Declan's fingers instinctively reached for the monitor, tracing Jerome's face as if trying to reconnect with the man he loved.

"How could you throw it all away?" he whispered, his heart heavy with grief.