

Fragile Hearts
I never thought love could be so tender—and so fragile. My husband’s kindness was my sanctuary, his devotion a quiet promise etched into every shared morning. But bloodlines demand heirs, and when my parents pushed other women upon him, I watched, heart in throat, as he refused them all… until one night shattered everything. Now, a stranger’s laughter lingers in our bed, and my best friend’s hand lingers on mine a little too long. I must choose: fight for a broken marriage, walk away into the unknown, or risk loving someone in a way I never planned.The letter trembled in my hands, the paper still warm from the printer. One sentence burned through me: He didn’t say no.
Outside, rain blurred the garden he once planted for me—roses tangled with jasmine, just like our promises. I remembered his voice that morning, soft as ever, asking if I wanted tea. How could someone so gentle break me so completely?
My best friend found me curled on the bathroom floor, the crumpled note pressed to my chest. She didn’t speak. Just held me, her arms steady, her breath calm. When I looked up, her eyes held something I’d ignored for years—love, raw and real.
Now I stand at the edge of a choice: do I confront him tonight, pretend nothing happened, or let her pull me into a future I’m afraid to name?
