uld see was Nicole, standing there, her voice quivering as she announced her pregna

un in a hundred different directi

nted so badly to believe her, but how could I? The evidence, the betr

rt of me wanted to trust her again. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe she wasn't ly

can't be falling for this, Taylor! After everything she's done, you actually believ

n. Nicole's face crumpled, and her voice shook as sh

dly. "Stop trying to drag me into your web of lies, Ni

s. My own best friend was confirming what

urt on her face. I turned away, unwilling

cold. She flinched, as if I'd slapped her, and that

ration. "Taylor, please, I just told you I'

hed bitterly, hollowly. "I'm done with your lies, Nicole. I w

me. A part of me felt shattered, but I couldn't let myself feel that

straighter, as if summoning every bit of strength

hout a second glance, and handed them back to me. I stared down at her signature, barely able to believ

r voice hollow. "You

g to maintain my composure. "Let

, to put distance between us as quickly as possible.

life felt like it had been uprooted, twisted, and I didn't even recognize myself anymore. I

ocked, her voice soft but reassuring. "You did the right thing, Taylor. She'

p inside, I felt like I was missing something. What

liar. She was only telling me what I wanted to hear. But why,

regnant, the desperation in her eyes, the way her voice h

ough I knew better. But what i

hands. My heart wanted to believe Nicole, b

as guilty; my own mother, my famil

was my mother again. "Taylor, darling, come downst

e as I followed her down the stairs. Everyone else had left

g a gentle hand on my shoulder. "But you'll move on.

n I turned to look at her, there was something in her eyes

itter taste

rd the window, watching the rain start to fall

eel relieved, but instead, it felt like

confusion, I saw it: Nicole, stumbling down the str