The music from the bar throbbed in Kaelith Ravielle's ears as she stared at her drink. Her fingers tightened around the glass, the ice clinking as her thoughts spiraled. The betrayal was fresh, still gnawing at her chest like a wound that refused to heal.
"I can't believe it," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the blaring music.
Her friend, Lexa, sitting beside her, gave her a pitying look. "Kaelith, you need to let it go. He’s not worth it."
Kaelith snapped her gaze to Lexa, her eyes burning. "How do you let go of your best friend sleeping with your boyfriend? It’s not just about him, Lexa. It’s about both of them!" Her voice cracked, and she downed her drink in one bitter gulp, hating the way it burned all the way down.
Lexa sighed, placing a hand on Kaelith’s arm. "I know, but destroying yourself over it won't make it better. You need to move on."
"Move on?" Kaelith let out a humorless laugh. "From what? From the fact that the two people I trusted most in the world ripped my heart out?"
Lexa winced, her hand squeezing Kaelith’s arm gently. "Okay, maybe not the best choice of words. But seriously, staying here isn’t helping. You’ve had enough to drink. Let’s just leave."
"No." Kaelith shook her head stubbornly. "I’m not done."
Lexa frowned. "Kaelith, you’ve been sitting here for hours. What are you even waiting for?"
Kaelith didn’t answer immediately, her eyes dropping to the drink again. She wasn’t sure what she was waiting for either. Maybe for the pain to stop. Maybe for someone, anyone, to show her that not everyone in her life was going to betray her.
A man approached, his shadow falling over them. "Can I get you ladies another round?" His voice was smooth, practiced. He had the look of someone who’d spent too much time chasing women in bars.
Kaelith looked up at him, her gaze sharp. "No. We’re fine."
The man shrugged, giving her a half-smile. "Suit yourself."
As he walked away, Lexa leaned closer. "Come on, let’s go. You don’t need to drink yourself into a blackout."
Kaelith shook her head again. "One more," she murmured, signaling the bartender. Lexa sighed but didn’t argue. She knew Kaelith too well to push her when she was in this state.
The next drink arrived, and Kaelith stared at it for a long moment before taking a slow sip. Her mind was a whirl of fragmented thoughts and raw emotions. The faces of her ex-boyfriend and her best friend swirled in her head, taunting her with every shared laugh, every lie they told.
"I’m such a fool," she muttered under her breath.
Lexa tilted her head. "What did you say?"
Kaelith turned her head toward Lexa, her vision slightly blurry now from the alcohol. "I said I’m a fool. A complete, gullible fool."
Lexa sighed again. "No, you're not. They’re the ones who are wrong. They’re the ones who—"
"Used me," Kaelith interrupted, her voice barely more than a whisper. "They used me, and I didn’t even see it coming."
Lexa opened her mouth to respond, but Kaelith cut her off, rising from her seat abruptly. The world tilted slightly as she stood, and she had to grab onto the edge of the bar for balance.
"I need to leave," she said, her voice thick with a mix of anger and sorrow. "I can’t stay here."
Lexa quickly stood, steadying her. "Yeah, let’s get you out of here."
They made their way out of the bar, the cool night air hitting Kaelith’s flushed face. She took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions inside her. But nothing helped. The betrayal was too deep, too fresh.
As they walked down the dimly lit street, Kaelith's mind refused to settle. Her thoughts were scattered, jumping between memories and the crushing reality she now faced. Lexa's voice cut through her haze.
"Hey, do you want to crash at my place tonight?" she asked, her tone soft with concern.
Kaelith shook her head, her steps slowing as they approached a quiet alley. "No. I need to be alone."
Lexa frowned, stopping with her. "Are you sure? I don't think you should be by yourself right now."
Kaelith turned to her, her eyes glistening under the streetlight. "I have to be, Lexa. I... I can't face anyone right now."
Lexa hesitated, but she saw the determination in Kaelith’s eyes. With a resigned sigh, she nodded. "Alright. But promise me you'll call if you need anything."
Kaelith gave a weak smile. "I will."
After a long pause, Lexa turned to leave, casting one last worried glance over her shoulder. "Take care, okay?"
Kaelith waved half-heartedly, watching her friend disappear into the night. Alone now, she leaned against the brick wall, sliding down until she sat on the cold pavement. The quiet of the night pressed in around her, and for a moment, she let herself feel everything.
The tears came, hot and relentless, as the weight of her shattered trust bore down on her chest. She wiped her face angrily, hating herself for being weak, for letting them get to her.
Minutes passed, maybe hours, before she finally stood up again, shaky but determined. Her head was spinning, but her mind was clear on one thing: she needed to leave this place, this city, this life behind.
She took a deep breath, the cold air stinging her lungs. "I have to start over," she whispered to herself. "I can’t stay here."
With that decision made, she turned and walked down the empty street, her steps echoing against the silent buildings. The bar was a distant memory now, as was the life she thought she had. All that was left was the road ahead, and for the first time in days, she felt the tiniest flicker of hope.
But even in that moment, as she walked away from the wreckage of her old life, Kaelith had no idea how much more was about to change.
