Just A Random Story

chapter 9

~his pov~

It's been almost three days since I last called her, and a restless ache gnaws at my insides. What is she doing now? I picture her sitting outside at night, a pack of cigarettes clutched in her hand, smoke curling up into the dark sky like whispered secrets escaping into the void. I remember the way she would light one after another, lost in her thoughts, until she finally trudged inside, defeated and weary, the weight of her worries clinging to her like a shroud. Those nights felt endless, stretching into a black hole, echoing with her troubles and sighs that hung heavily in the air.

I can still recall the times when her anger boiled over, and she'd drain a bottle—or two—turning our home into a chaotic mess, with remnants of shattered glasses and scattered memories littering the floor like a battlefield. It didn't happen often, but when it did, it was as if a storm had swept through, leaving destruction in its wake. I wonder if it's happening again, that familiar tempest of emotions swirling just out of reach. Wait. Why do I care? I shouldn't care. I don't want to care anymore.

Confusion wraps around me like a suffocating blanket, stifling my thoughts. I know I love Kloe. She's the only one I want to be with, the only one who ignites a spark within me, who makes me feel alive. So why does my heart feel heavy with this uncertainty? Why do I miss Kendra, of all people? I didn't even truly love her.

Love isn't supposed to feel dull and predictable. It should be vibrant and chaotic, a whirlwind of emotions that leaves you breathless and exhilarated. It should challenge you, pushing you to your limits while also grounding you in a partnership where you embrace each other's flaws. You're supposed to see the worst in one another but endure it, because your love runs deeper than any disagreement.

I don't know. Kendra was never the one for me. She was too... mundane. Kloe is a vibrant contrast, a kaleidoscope of colors and feelings. Sure, she can be manipulative, but she also has a sweetness that can warm the coldest of days. Maybe her jealousy stems from insecurity, a shadow of past hurts lurking beneath her fierce exterior. Or maybe she loves me so deeply that the thought of me being with someone else sends her spiraling.

But Kendra could be fun too. On her good days, when the weight of the world lifted off her shoulders, I could catch glimpses of the woman I fell for. Before the kids came, we had time to enjoy each other's company, to laugh and be free. After they were born, it felt like we were drowning in responsibilities, trapped in a relentless cycle where we were merely co-parents, not partners. Kendra's strict parenting style clashed with my more relaxed approach. To her, cleanliness was next to godliness; she couldn't stand it when the kids got dirt or paint all over themselves. But I see childhood as a time for exploration, a messy adventure where getting your hands dirty is part of the journey—a tapestry woven from laughter and discovery.

Kloe knows how to embrace the messiness of life. She revels in it, thriving outdoors, her spirit as untamed as the wild itself. Beneath her guarded exterior lies a pure heart, though she often hides it behind walls built from past hurts, a fortress she's erected to shield herself from the pain.

I don't regret leaving Kendra, though a flicker of guilt creeps in at times, a whisper of doubt in the stillness of the night. I can't let her pull me back into the shadows. I'm finally with the one I love, and I won't allow Kendra's memory to tarnish my chance at happiness. It's time to embrace this new beginning, to step into the light with Kloe, and leave the past where it belongs—behind me, fading into the distance like a haunting echo.