The Distance Grows

The days that followed were a blur of emotions. Ria cut herself off from Arun, refusing to answer his calls or messages. She immersed herself in her work, staying late at the office and distracting herself with anything that could take her mind off him. But the ache in her heart never went away.

Every time she saw a message from Arun, every time she thought about their time together, she felt the crushing weight of his betrayal. Arun had been her world, and now that world felt like it had crumbled beneath her feet.

Priya, as always, was there to lend a supportive ear. She knew how much Ria had been hurt, and she did her best to comfort her friend, even if it meant putting her own feelings aside. Ria found solace in Priya's unwavering support, even as she began to question everything she had once believed about love.

"Maybe you were right all along," Ria said one evening, her voice quiet. "Maybe Arun was too good to be true."

Priya gave her a sympathetic look, but she didn't say "I told you so." Instead, she placed a hand on Ria's shoulder. "You don't need him to be happy. You're strong enough on your own."

But Ria wasn't sure she was. The emptiness left by Arun was more than just a hole in her heart—it was a gaping chasm, a constant reminder of what had been lost.