Shattered Foundation

The cold hospital corridor blurred as I walked away, my heartbeat pounding in my ears. The walls seemed to close in, the antiseptic scent stinging my nose, but I kept moving one foot in front of the other, each step heavier than the last.

Girlfriend.

The word echoed in my mind, sharp and relentless, cutting deeper with every repetition.

How could I have been so stupid?

I had let myself believe just for a second that Kristoff meant what he said. That he wasn't the type to walk away, that he wouldn't abandon me. That maybe, just maybe, I didn't have to do this alone.

But reality had a cruel way of proving me wrong.

I pushed through the hospital doors and stepped outside, the cool air hitting my face like a slap. It wasn't enough to ground me. My hands trembled as I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to contain the storm raging inside me.

Breathe, Ariella. Just breathe.

But I couldn't.

Because this wasn't just heartbreak. This was betrayal. Again.

I had come here worried about him, terrified that something had happened. And in return, I walked straight into another lie.

I pressed a hand to my stomach, a bitter laugh bubbling in my throat.

How pathetic was I? Carrying his child while another woman sat at his bedside, holding his hand, claiming to be his girlfriend.

I had to get out of here.

Turning on my heel, I walked toward the parking lot, my mind racing with every step.

What now?

What was I supposed to do now?

The weight of my situation pressed down on me, suffocating. I had already been terrified of this pregnancy of the uncertainty, of what the future held. But now? Now it felt impossible.

I couldn't tell Kristoff. Not anymore.

I had thought he deserved to know, that he had a right to be involved. But why should I give him that when he had already chosen someone else?

The anger simmering beneath my heartbreak grew stronger.

He had made his decision.

And now I had to make mine.

The Aftermath

The next few days passed in a haze.

I ignored Kristoff's friends when they tried to reach out. I ignored my phone entirely, afraid that at any moment, he might wake up and try to explain.

But there was nothing he could say that would make this better.

Instead, I buried myself in work, trying to pretend that my life hadn't just been turned upside down.

But the nausea didn't let me forget.

Neither did the exhaustion.

Or the quiet, nagging ache in my chest that refused to go away.

Sophie noticed, of course.

"You look like hell," she said bluntly, dropping onto my couch one evening.

"Thanks," I muttered, sipping the ginger tea she had forced into my hands.

She narrowed her eyes. "Talk to me."

I shook my head. "There's nothing to talk about."

"Ari." Her voice softened. "I know you. And I know when you're about to self-destruct."

I clenched my jaw, staring down at my tea. The warmth seeped through my fingers, but it did nothing to melt the ice lodged in my chest.

"I went to see Kristoff," I admitted finally.

Sophie didn't say anything, just waited.

"He was in a coma," I continued. "And there was a girl sitting beside him. His girlfriend."

Sophie sucked in a breath. "Oh, Ari…"

I let out a bitter laugh. "Funny, right? How stupid can I be? I thought he was different. I thought maybe, for once, I wouldn't be the one left behind."

Sophie scooted closer, wrapping her arms around me. "You're not stupid."

I swallowed hard, my throat burning. "I can't do this, Sophie. I can't raise this baby knowing that the father " My voice broke, and I had to take a breath before I could continue. "Knowing that he lied. That he had someone else the entire time."

Sophie's grip tightened. "You don't have to make any decisions right now. But, Ari… don't let his betrayal make you feel like you're alone in this. You have me. You have people who love you."

Tears welled in my eyes. I hated how fragile I felt, how lost.

But Sophie was right.

I wasn't alone.

I had people who cared.

And maybe… just maybe… I had myself.

A Decision Made

That night, I lay awake, staring at the ceiling, my hand resting on my stomach.

This baby deserved better.

I deserved better.

Kristoff had made his choice, whether he realized it or not. And now, I had to make mine.

So I did.

The next morning, I called my boss and resigned from work.

Then I packed my bags.

It was time to leave.

Time to start over.

Time to figure out who I was who I wanted to be without the ghosts of my past haunting me.

And this time, I wouldn't wait for anyone to save me.

This time, I would save myself.