BURNING PASSION

ied by, each lost in their own world, as vendors called out to passersby, trying to sell everything from fresh produce to handmade jewelry. The air was

y fridge. I needed a job-urgently. Quickening my pace, I scanned each storefront, my eyes searching for any 'Help Wanted'

en bench, I watched families and couples stroll by, laughter and conversation filling the crisp air. Nearby, a young boy with chubby cheeks and sticky fingers clung to his

ng, and a voice in the back of my mind nudged me, "Wow, Bella,

nder my breath. Hunger does

l he was standing right in front of me. He cleared his thro

intrusion. Seriously? Of all times? "No,"

ed, clearly not picki

ing thin. "I have a boyfri

rred. "We can st

uder than intended. His mouth dropped open,

letting the peaceful scene distract me. But the moment was already tainted, and I felt a rising urge to leave. It was getting d

d in my pocket. It was Scarlet. Instantly, a guilty pang hit me-I hadn't told her I got fired. I could practically feel her fury i

would ha

ing out, then qu

call. Sorry, today's been hecti

a single emoji-a knife. I chuck

life itself. She had this fire about her-something bright and undeniable. At twelve, I didn't know what to make of her. I was th

ng the other kids run around, when she came up to me with her usual grin. "You look like you're

rting conversations. But there was something about her, something disarming in the way she th

s twinkling with mischief. "There's a ju

But there was no way I could say no. Her energy was infectious, and before I knew it, I was in the middle of the schoolyard, awkwar

then-strange but good. No one had ever made me feel like I was part of something, like I was enough. But Scarlet, in her unassumin

ircle expanding, her charisma making her the center of attention wherever she went. She was the kind of person who walk

I was too serious. In return, I was her calm, her sounding board when things got overwhelming, her steady support. When the world seemed too chaotic, she wo

thing pure in her loyalty, something solid that made me believe she would never let me down. Scarlet was the kind of friend who show

g me feel like I matte

a doubt, that our frie

water wash away the stress of the day. I was scrolling mindlessly t

Where a

bled up, and I hesit

be. I'm at wo

Bella. Just dig that

Lunch t

ly. As much as I dreaded the conversation, it felt inevitable-like a storm you see gathering on the horizon. After hours of pacing, I finally hailed a cab and he

ied to him. He hated dishonesty. My heart pounded, each step up to his door heavier than the last. I paused just outside, taking a deep breath to steel myself. I stood there like a statue, c

t the sound grew louder, unmistakably intimate, filling me with a slow, creeping dread. My pu

yself, shaking my head

I was intruding on a private moment, yet I couldn't look away. My eyes locked onto James; and for a moment, we just starred at each other. He froze, I saw a flash of guilt, of shame, before he quickly looked away. The woman on the other hand, seemed oblivious to my presence. She continued to move, her mo

into an eternity of betrayal and hurt. I thought of all the times James had told me

fixed on the bed, trying t

excuses, their justification. So I cut him off. My brain went blank as I stared at them both. Their voices were like an e

time, lock the door, and Scarlet, your moaning is too loud." They stared at me, dumbfounded, clearly not expecting my calm reaction. I wanted to screa

a!" He was trying to catch up with me, fully dressed now. "Bella, I'm sorry..." I stopped and turned to face him. "When did it start?" I demanded. James hesitated b

d on my face. "You said you would wait till I was ready," I said, my voice cold and detached. "You lied." James tried to justify himself, but I wasn't having it. "Bella, I

like wading through quicksand, as if pausing would pulled me under. But I