Echoes of submission

But then she dropped a bombshell that left me reeling.

"Think again, Erica," she sneered. "Do you know why he ignored your calls yesterday? He couldn't tear himself away from me to pick up your calls, let alone leave me for you."

Her words hit me like a ton of bricks, my heart sinking with each syllable. It was a brutal wake-up call, a stark reminder of the harsh realities lurking beneath the surface of my burgeoning relationship with Benjamin.

As she stood to leave, her parting words echoed in my ears like a haunting refrain.

"It was a friendly warning," she declared, leaving me to grapple with the harsh truth of her revelation.

As I made my way back to gather the items I had been purchasing, a heavy ache settled in my chest, weighing me down like a fish out of water for far too long.

Each step felt like a struggle, my mind consumed by thoughts of Benjamin and the woman who had shattered my illusions.