Ember's Heartfelt

When Ember regained consciousness, she opened her eyes in her bed. "Ember, you're getting late," her mother called out. She woke up with a throbbing headache. "Oh God, my head and my eyes are pounding," she groaned. She stumbled to the washroom and, when she saw her face in the mirror, she couldn't help but feel a profound sadness. She covered her face with her hands and sobbed, "I can't take it. Why? Why did you do that? Do you think I'm just a plaything?" She splashed water on her face, trying to conceal her emotions. "I can't let my parents see me like this. I need to move on and forget about him as quickly as possible."

She summoned the courage to push past the negative thoughts, but her heart knew how difficult it was to control the painful memories of the previous day. Ember got ready for college, trying to lift her spirits. She made up her mind to focus solely on her upcoming exams.

When she reached the dining table, her mom served her breakfast, and Ember ate quickly to avoid drawing attention to her face. She rushed to the bus stop, attempting to calm her nerves with some heartwarming songs.

Upon arriving at her class, Ember struggled to keep her thoughts from drifting back to the incident from the previous day. Her friend, Sofia, tried to get her attention, but Ember didn't respond. After a few more attempts, Sofia finally tapped her shoulder.

"Hello, Sofia," Ember said, finally acknowledging her friend.

"I've been calling you for so long, and you didn't respond. Is something wrong?" Sofia asked, leaning in closer for an answer.

"I'm fine; I've just been feeling a bit distracted," Ember replied. Sofia found it odd since Ember's demeanor was the opposite of what it had been the day before.

"Are you sure your health is okay? Your face looks pale," Sofia said, concerned.

"I'm fine; it's just exam stress," Ember explained, trying to put Sofia's worries to rest.

As the lectures started, they both got busy for a while. When all the lectures were over, Ember told Sofia, "I'm going to the library. Let's meet at the bus stop."

"Okay, I have some work in the admission department. I'll meet you there. Bye," Sofia replied.

In the library, Ember tried to distract herself with books, but her thoughts kept drifting back to him. "Why can't I focus on my studies? My mind is consumed by thoughts of him. Even though he hurt me, I can't forget his kindness, even if it was fake. I think I've really fallen for him."

As the day neared its end, Ember and Sofia met at the bus stop. "Ember, you're my friend. Can't you tell me what's bothering you?" Sofia asked, sensing Ember's melancholic mood.

"It's all good, Sofia. I'm alright; you don't need to worry about me," Ember said, patting her friend's shoulder.

"It's good to hear that, but I'm always here for you. Don't hesitate to talk to me," Sofia reassured her with a smile. They had some time before the bus arrived, so they sat down on nearby chairs.

"Sofia, what would you do if someone lied to you?" Ember asked, mustering all her strength.

"I'm glad you're opening up. It depends on the lie," Sofia replied.

"Oh, what if the lie hurt you the most, and it came from someone you hold dear?" Ember inquired.

Sofia reached out and held Ember's hand to comfort her. "If I were in that situation, I'd ask the person to explain because they're precious to me. I'd give them a chance to clarify things, and if their reason is understandable, I'd consider it. If not, I'd try to distance myself. Sometimes it hurts to discover that someone important has lied to us, but we need to understand why they did it."

When Sofia saw tears welling up in Ember's eyes, she embraced her and whispered, "If you don't want to distance yourself, try to help him change. It's not impossible."

After their heartfelt conversation, Ember felt somewhat relieved. She had someone to share her burden with. They said their goodbyes and boarded the bus.

"I think she's right. When I get back, I'll ask him for an explanation," Ember resolved as she headed home.