Almost Together

Sanya had never been one to believe in fairytales. Love, to her, wasn't a story with a beginning, middle, and happily-ever-after. It was a series of painful lessons, bruised expectations, and quiet loneliness. People had come and gone, promises had been broken, and trust-once so freely given-had been locked away, buried beneath walls she'd built higher than anyone could climb.

At 23, she found herself standing at the edge of a life she couldn't understand, let alone embrace. She had a job she loved, but it was starting to feel like a trap-a well-meaning cage that held her in place without offering anything more. And she was tired. Tired of pretending everything was fine when it wasn't. Tired of feeling like she was sinking without anyone noticing.

But the thing with loneliness? It didn't make sense. She was surrounded by people, and yet, she was invisible. Or at least, that's how it felt most days. The friendships she had once clung to had shattered, leaving her with little but the remnants of broken promises. She couldn't trust easily anymore. Not after everything. Especially not after her last betrayal.

And yet, life had a way of throwing the unexpected into the mix.