Comfort

Back in her apartment, Ayla collapsed onto the couch, her body wracked with sobs. The revelation of Tyr's engagement felt like a betrayal of everything they had built together. She had given him her heart, believing that their love was true and unbreakable. Now, she felt adrift, unsure of what to believe or who to trust.

As the hours passed, her tears slowly subsided, replaced by a numbness that left her feeling hollow and exhausted. She replayed their conversations in her mind, searching for signs she had missed, clues that might have warned her of the secret he had been keeping.

But despite her anger and hurt, Ayla couldn't deny the depth of her feelings for Tyr. She loved him with a passion that defied logic, and the thought of losing him forever was almost too much to bear.

She knew that she needed time to process everything, to decide whether she could forgive him and fight for their love. But one thing was clear: their relationship could never go back to the way it was. The foundation of trust had been shaken, and rebuilding it would require more than just words and promises.

Ayla stood up, her resolve hardening. She needed to confront her own emotions, to find the strength to face the uncertainty of their future. And if Tyr was truly committed to making things right, he would have to prove it with actions, not just words.

For now, all she could do was take things one day at a time, hoping that the love they shared would be enough to guide them through the darkness and into the light.

***

The sun had risen on a new day, but for me, it felt like I was trapped in a never-ending night. I had barely slept, my mind consumed by the revelation of Tyr's engagement. It was a betrayal that I hadn't seen coming, a fracture in the perfect world we had built together.

Unable to face the silence of my apartment any longer, I reached for my phone and sent a quick message to Kristel, my best friend since childhood. Kristel had always been my rock, the one person I could turn to in times of crisis. Within minutes, Kristel replied, suggesting we meet at our favourite café.

As I walked to the café, I replayed the conversation with Tyr in my mind. Each word, each moment, felt like a dagger to my heart. I had trusted him completely, and now that trust was shattered. But more than that, I was grappling with the deep love I still felt for him, despite the pain.

Kristel was already seated at a corner table when I arrived, a look of concern etched on her face. She stood up and enveloped me in a tight hug. "Hey, you. What's going on? You sounded really upset when I saw your message."

I hugged her back, feeling a rush of emotion. "I'm so glad you're here, Kristel. I really needed this."

They sat down, and I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words to start. "Tyr told me something last night… something that's turned my world upside down."

Kristel's eyes widened with concern. "What happened? Did he hurt you?"

I shook her head, my voice trembling. "Not physically, no. But emotionally… yes. He told me he's engaged, Kristel. He's been engaged all this time, and I had no idea."

Kristel's mouth dropped open in shock. "Engaged? How could he keep something like that from you? That's… I don't even have words."

I felt my tears welling up again, but I blinked them back. "He said it's a family arrangement, that there's no love between them. He said he's trying to find a way out of it, but it's complicated."

Kristel reached across the table and took my hand, squeezing it gently. "I'm so sorry, Ayla. That's such a huge thing to hide from you. I can't imagine how betrayed you must feel."

I nodded, my voice barely above a whisper. "It hurts so much, Kristel. I thought we had something real, something worth fighting for. And now… I don't know what to think."

Kristel leaned back, her expression thoughtful. "Do you believe him? About the engagement being a family arrangement and all?"

"I want to believe him," I said, my voice filled with uncertainty. "But I'm so angry that he didn't tell me sooner. If he had been honest from the beginning, maybe we could have faced this together. Now, it feels like everything is tainted by this secret."

Kristel sighed, her eyes filled with empathy. "Secrets have a way of doing that. They eat away at trust. But the fact that he told you now, even if it's late, says something. It means he couldn't keep it from you any longer. Maybe he really does want to be with you and is willing to fight for it."

I looked down at my hands, struggling to find clarity. "He said he loves me, that he wants to be with me. But how can we build a future together when his past is so entangled with someone else? How do I know he won't keep more secrets?"

Kristel squeezed my hand again. "You don't. And that's the hard part. Trust is something that needs to be rebuilt, one step at a time. If you decide to give him that chance, it's going to take a lot of work from both of you."

I nodded slowly, feeling the weight of Kristel's words. "I know you're right. But it's so hard to see a way forward right now. I love him, Kristel. I really do. But I also don't want to lose myself in this mess."

Kristel smiled softly. "You're stronger than you think, Ayla. And you don't have to decide everything right now. Take some time to process your feelings, to figure out what you really want. And remember, I'm here for you, no matter what."

I felt a rush of gratitude for Kristel's unwavering support. "Thank you, Kristel. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"That's what friends are for," Kristel said with a warm smile. "Now, let's get some coffee and try to take your mind off things for a bit. We can figure out the rest as we go."

We ordered their drinks, and as we sipped our coffee, the conversation shifted to lighter topics. Kristel's ability to make me laugh, even in the darkest times, was a gift I cherished deeply. We reminisced about old memories and shared stories about work, and slowly, I felt a small part of my normality returning.

After a while, I felt a bit more grounded, the initial shock and pain of Tyr's confession starting to settle into a more manageable ache. I know the road ahead would be difficult, but having Kristel by my side gave me the strength to face it.

As we were getting ready to leave, Kristel gave me one last piece of advice. "Ayla, whatever you decide, make sure it's what you truly want. Don't let fear or guilt drive your choices. Follow your heart, but also listen to your gut. And remember, you deserve to be happy."

I nodded, feeling a renewed sense of determination. "I will, Kristel. Thank you for everything."

With a final hug, we parted ways, I headed back to my apartment with a bit more clarity and a lot more resolve. I knew I needed to talk to Tyr again, to understand his situation better and to decide whether our love was worth fighting for.