The Mistress.

ke a heavy fog. Her heart felt like a shattered mirror, each piece reflecting moments of happiness now tainted w

ie peeked in, concern etched on

ittle, like it might crack under the we

ing balm amidst the chaos in Victoria's mind.

shaking her head. "I just... I d

s sinking under their weight. "You can talk t

ning to spill over. "It's just... I found those texts, and

Sophie filled in gently, he

as nothing, just some dumb texts. But how can it be nothing

and. "You're not broken, Vic. You're just

oice trembling. "I thought we had something real. B

esn't reflect on you," Sophie said, her voice steady.

her heart aching. "Did I miss something? Were there s

sured her. "This is on him, not you. You ca

shaking her head. "He was acting differently, disappe

good in him," Sophie replied softly. "It's

ow. "Love. What even is that anymore? If it can

it. Love is complex, and sometimes it leads us down dark paths we never

at the word. "Now it feels like a lie. Every

said, her voice steady. "You're allowed to feel hurt, Vic. Y

. "It just hurts so much. I feel like I'm drowning in it. I ca

around Victoria's shoulders. "You don't have to have all the a

her voice barely above a whisper. "I feel broken. I don't know

You've always been strong, even if it doesn't feel that way now.

support. "What if I'm never whole again?" sh

not defined by this moment. You're still you, and you will come

he floor, her mind racing with memories of better times. The laughter, the intimacy, the

e. "Have you thought about talking to Dan

Every time I think about it, it just brings ba

o take a step back. Right now, focus on you. What d

t heavy. "I just feel... lost. Like I'm in

red her. "You don't have to rush toward the light. Ju

settle within her. "I don't want to be in this pain forever," she

ming, but you're not alone in it. I'm here with you,

ice filled with gratitude. "I don'

ed, squeezing her hand again. "That's the

pe amidst the shadows. She didn't know what the future held or how she would find her way back to he