It All Started on Christmas Eve

ther's arms. Is this a dream? I wondered as time seemed

me. Raphael's eyes, usually bright and warm, were closed, lost at the momen

llowed by a crushing sense of betrayal.

e venom on my tongue es

y presence. "Amy," he cal

Rachel's hands while Rachel struggled to co

y eyes locked onto Raphael's

like," he mumbled as he s

y heart. A sharp pain of betrayal gnawed at

should leave before I do the unspeakable. I took a step bac

e once familiar space was now hell for me. I could burn awa

l my ears. His face, Rachel's face, their entwined bodies, everyth

away from his place. As fast as my legs could

ating on me with his cousin. The woman I had celebrated three Christmas Eves with. The same person that had che

ars screamed down my face as my legs moved fast. I shuffled i

decorate a Christmas tree with him. Bake Christmas cakes and cookies. Maybe we could g

ng at my blindness to their scheme? How long have I been fooled

s running on the sidewalk, away from the shock of Raphael's betrayal; th

pierced my eardrums. I froze, paralyzed in the middle

hen, they did. I collapsed, squatting on the road, my hands

screeching, people shouting. I felt like I

le touch cut through the chaos that had threatened to consume me. Someon

hony of car horns and screeching tires still echoed in my ears, making my head spin. But the stranger's ha

ice whispered, soft an

y? The question swirled through my head a

ething about their touch calmed me. I let th

road. We reached the sidewalk, and the stranger turned to me to face them.

e asked, his voic

his gaze as I processed what had just happened. But the s

?" he asked, his voic

il inside me. The image of Raphael in bed wi

gentleman that I ran into the road b

," I stammered, tryin

y shoulders, but remained beside me. We stood

nd," he said, breaking the silence,

ind eyes, strong jawline, and a gentle smile. His face looked familiar, but

as Eve but thank you," I whisp

"Change of plans, then. You c

ew one wasn't a part of my option. All I wanted to do was to

tonight. Let's get ice cream and help you calm down. After that

with him. Ice cream or not, I just d