Second Shot Taken

As the sun set and the sky turned a dusky shade of purple, I felt a hollow ache in my chest. I tried to pinpoint the reason for this sudden, inexplicable emptiness, but it remained elusive. Perhaps it was the contrast between the party's lively atmosphere and my own unspoken turmoil. As I watched my friends laughing and dancing, I felt like an outsider, unable to share in their joy.

Matilda's hand rested in the crook of Mark's arm, and they looked happy, they were happy and here I was hoping they don't end up together. I was a terrible friend to the one who always stood by me.

But despite knowing this, a pang of envy shot through me, like a bitter aftertaste. I was supposed to be happy for her, I knew that, but it was hard. I felt lost in a sea of uncertainty, and I wasn't sure how to navigate these new and unfamiliar waters. I couldn't even explain why I was feeling this way - all I knew was that there was a knot in my stomach and a longing in my heart.