582Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYUJNK56ww
Lena sat on the couch, staring at nothing.
582Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxqHQElkgz
The TV was off. The lights were dim. The only sound was the slow tick of the cheap clock on the wall.
582Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZJx92K4wK
She pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders. It smelled stale..she hadn’t washed it in weeks.
582Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnw1SA2BQAf
Outside, traffic hissed on wet pavement. Car horns blared, people shouted, the city moved like it didn’t care she existed.
582Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqajUFKcUQz
She hadn’t left the apartment in two days.
582Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZf1wo5x9V
Empty mugs cluttered the coffee table. Cold takeout cartons stacked near the door. She told herself she’d clean it all up tomorrow. She’d been telling herself that for a week.
582Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRh3HYCLoZt
Her phone buzzed on the cushion next to her.
582Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZe2e5xME9
Marcus.
582Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqZCXJcvvq
She watched it vibrate silently until it went still.
582Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oQNKQW0yK
Then it lit up again.
582Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9pWxypVecd
Marcus (2 missed calls)
582Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVVGHM425G
Lena closed her eyes. The fatigue wasn’t physical. It was in her bones, in her chest. Like a lead weight pressing her down.
582Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOelR0u5BO
She felt tears sting behind her eyes but didn’t bother wiping them.
582Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Rxxtfkvjx
She let one fall. Then another.
582Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKjQmcQ9hL
But she didn’t sob. She didn’t make a sound.
582Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK13SfpVdVX
Crying quietly was something she was good at.
582Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42SLnpkdeb
Her phone buzzed again. This time a text.
582Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7rLHyx45R
Pick up. Please.
582Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05NQaoH36L
582Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmpvtNOx5P
582Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWg1lPC7BA
She didn’t.
582Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwfDj5sN7j
She let the screen go dark.
582Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSiPXzxzDDU
The apartment felt huge and empty.
582Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoG01rwElCk
She curled up tighter, pulling the blanket over her head.
582Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyY2vAnoTBj
If she was lucky, maybe she could sleep for a while.
582Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33wJjMzllJ
Forget she was here at all.
582Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNJJpdpbmV
582Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBffr4fvoKh
---
582Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQbVJx6sO6
AUTHOR’S NOTE
582Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMplgBMgQnG
This is a fictional story, but the feelings are real for many people. If you’re struggling, please reach out to someone you trust. You don’t have to do it alone. 💛
ns216.73.217.114da2
and then Add to home screen.