In an unfulfilled life, Lorianna finds herself caught between the echoes of loyalty and the whispers of a new beginning. As she navigates the complexities of love, betrayal, and societal expectations, a chance encounter promises a path to happiness...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Lorrie straddled Tevin's lap, her lips grazing his neck as she whispered, "Just a quickie." Her body moved sensuously, coaxing a low hiss from his throat. She reveled in his reaction, satisfied that she could still make him feel something. Trailing her kisses lower, her hands wandered over his broad chest, but before she could continue, Tevin's firm grip halted her movements. His hand clutched her waist, and he groaned, clearly irritated, "Not right now, baby."
She paused, momentarily deflated, her eyes tracing his sharp jawline as he glanced at his watch. Tevin was always rushing off somewhere lately. Work, meetings, some never-ending crisis, it seemed. Lorrie bit her lip in frustration, trying to fight the familiar ache of rejection. He was pulling away again, just as he had been for the past year. Her fingers ran across the fabric of his shirt, desperate for some connection.
"You never have time for me anymore, Tevin. We didn't even celebrate my birthday together." Her voice trembled with suppressed emotion. "Gifts aren't enough. I need you."
Her words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of unspoken tension, but Tevin barely acknowledged them. His focus was already elsewhere, his fingers fumbling through the closet as he searched for his tie. "We'll talk about this later, Lorianna," he said, cutting her off as he pulled his suit from the hanger. The dismissiveness stung, as it always did. Lorrie blinked rapidly, trying to keep her emotions in check. She felt her heart twist, an all-too-familiar feeling she had grown used to over the past year.
"I love you," she wanted to scream. "But I'm tired of feeling like an afterthought."
She stood up from the bed, arms crossed as she watched Tevin dress with barely a glance in her direction. His back was turned, his mind seemingly miles away, lost in whatever new project consumed his time. She wanted to shake him, make him see her again, make him feel the desperation that clawed at her every time he ignored her. But all she managed to say was, "Are you not attracted to me anymore?"
Tevin froze for just a moment, and Lorrie felt a flicker of hope. Maybe now he would finally tell her what was really going on. But then he sighed deeply, turning to face her with an expression that bordered on exasperation. "Lorrie, you see this house, these clothes, the life we have? You wouldn't have any of this if I didn't work as hard as I do. This isn't about you." His words were harsh, but what stung the most was the lack of emotion in his voice, as though she were an obligation, a duty, rather than the woman he had once cherished. "Unless you want me to quit my job and end up homeless," he added with biting sarcasm, as if that was even an option.
Lorrie swallowed her retort, the lump in her throat growing larger as she watched him straighten his tie. Tears prickled at the corners of her eyes, but she forced them back. She loved him. She had always loved him. But lately, she felt like she was loving a ghost—someone who used to be present, attentive, affectionate, but had drifted away into a version of himself she barely recognized.
She had met Tevin when she was eighteen, wide-eyed and full of dreams. Against everyone's warnings, she had married him just two years later. At first, it had been perfect, or at least it felt like it was. Tevin was older, more mature, and he seemed to know what he wanted. He wanted her. But now, as she watched him exit their bedroom without so much as a goodbye, she couldn't help but wonder if all those warnings had been right. Maybe they had been too different from the start. Maybe the age gap had finally caught up with them.
"Tevin," she sighed as he walked out the door, already on his phone, laughing with someone on the other end. His grin was infectious, the same smile that used to light up her world. But now, that smile was directed at someone else, someone he seemed to have endless time and energy for, while she was left with scraps.
"He should've married that damn job," Lorrie muttered under her breath as the door clicked shut behind him. Frustration boiled over, and she grabbed her phone, dialing the one person she knew would listen without judgment.
"Hi, Mommy," she said when her mother picked up the FaceTime call. As soon as her mother's concerned face appeared on the screen, the dam broke, and Lorrie let out a shaky breath.
"Lobug, what's wrong? Is it Tevin again?" Her mother's voice was soft but filled with a knowing sympathy that made Lorrie feel both comforted and exposed. She hated how transparent her emotions were to the people who knew her best.
"I don't know what to do anymore, Mama. It's like he's a stranger. He doesn't even touch me. I'm trying so hard, but nothing I do seems to matter," she confessed, her voice thick with emotion. She blinked rapidly, trying to keep the tears at bay. "I love him, but I'm starting to wonder if he even loves me back."
"Baby, don't you dare let that man make you feel less than what you are. You're the prize, and if he can't see that, well..." Her mother's voice trailed off, but Lorrie knew what she was thinking. Her mother had never liked Tevin much. She thought he was too controlling, too focused on his career to ever truly make Lorrie happy. But she didn't say that now. Instead, she added, "You deserve to be loved, truly loved. Don't settle for less."
Lorrie nodded, though her heart felt heavy. "I know, Mama. I've thought about leaving more times than you know. But I just can't. I married him for better or for worse, and... I don't want to give up on us yet."
Her mother sighed on the other end of the call, clearly holding back what she really wanted to say. "Just remember, my door's always open, Lobug. You don't have to stay in a marriage that's making you miserable."
After hanging up, Lorrie stood in the bathroom, staring at her reflection in the mirror. She brushed her hair back, her fingers trembling as she tried to pull herself together. The tears she had held in finally spilled over as she looked at herself—really looked. She was tired, worn out, and despite her outward appearance, she felt small, diminished. She had always been proud of her curves, her confidence, but now she wondered if Tevin saw her the same way. Did he still find her beautiful? Did he even notice her anymore?
With a sudden burst of frustration, she grabbed her phone, snapping a few photos for Instagram, hoping for validation from the outside world. It didn't take long for the photos to gather attention. As the likes and comments poured in, she felt a brief flicker of confidence, but it quickly faded. Social media compliments were nice, but they couldn't fill the void in her heart.
After pacing for a few more minutes, she made up her mind. She packed a small bag and grabbed the keys to her car. She couldn't spend another night alone in their cold, empty house. She needed to be with someone who made her feel seen, even if just for a little while. Sariyah, her best friend, would understand. She always did.
Lorrie drove the 12 miles to Riyah's place in silence, her mind swirling with a thousand thoughts. As she pulled into the driveway, a strange sense of relief washed over her. Maybe it was time to let go. Maybe it was time to finally put herself first.
When Riyah opened the door, she didn't ask any questions, just pulled her into a tight hug. And in that moment, Lorrie made her decision. She was done fighting for a man who no longer fought for her. She was divorcing him. She was tired.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Leave his ass boo, put that lil kewchie on a real nigga. Or however that song go.
