ra's

. My dark hair framed my face perfectly and I adjusted my lip gloss. The b

I froze glancing around,but I think the noise seemed to come from one of the sta

it again, loude

at. That name sent shockwaves through me. Adriano? My Adriano? No, this

ing, each beat hammering a reminder of my growing fear. I took a hesitant step toward

what Is he.......? I couldn't even think of it . The moaning grew louder and more insistent.

flashed through my

hands, I slowly turned the handle and pushed the door open. What I saw stopped my world. Adriano

hispered, my voi

ed to pull away, his face contorted with guilt. Mira

ay, his face conto

ano began, but I

was cold and det

shut behind . I couldn't breathe. Couldn't th

o me ? How could they

ce. He looked at me with concern and I perceived he knew what wa

mories flood my mind. She has been the life of the party, my confidant, my rock. And Adriano, the man I loved , th

shook the walls. Belinda and Dorcas, who had been chatting quietly by

with a mixture of concern and curiosit

ser and hurled it at the mirror, shattering it into a thousand pieces. "Aaargh!!!! How could he!" I y

tand, the sound of shattering glass and breaking plastic filled the room. Belinda and Dorcas gasped

charming, the man I thought was perfect, is cheating on me. Our dream wedding, the future I had imagin

r eyes wide open. "Aurora, what the hell is wrong with you? Why no

ed, added. "Talk to us, Aurora. " Her voice

rlwind of images, him with another woman, the lies he told, the promises he broke. The p

the room, stopping just short of me . "Aurora, you're gett

eighed down on all of us. I felt trapped, suffocated by my

er ready to get down for her friends,always a st

eaching out to touch my arm. "Aurora, we

ncern in her eyes. I opened my mouth to speak but no words came out, tears kept p

e words sounded dead, like they belonged to someone e

r faces a mixture of anger and sadness. "I knew it

race warm and comforting

limmer of hope. Maybe , just maybe, I can survive. But dee

ive Adriano for W

ano'

ourite vanilla candles. As she sat on the bed, in a tight hug while Belinda stroked her hair, her eyes red and swollen with tears, I took a

n disbelief. "A mistake? Adriano, do y

e. "It's never a mistake, Adriano," she said in a loud, accusatory voice. "Why don't y

in the gut. Her eyes widened with shock and pain. Her rage boiled over. She stood

el, grabbing her hair and pulling it violently. Mirabel screamed struggling against Belinda'

nda yelled, her eyes blazing with fury. I rushed to Mirabel, helping her to stand , I turned to Au

ther I begged you to make love to me," I continued bitterly, "Yo

about to collapse . I felt guilty, but put it aside. "No one should blame Mirabel,

ears streamed down her face as she glanced at me, her eyes filled w

ding and fix a day for our wedding," I

r her breath, "Damn, you should have

wedding altar to break the news. Aurora's sobs echoed