The familiar scent of Liam's cologne filled the air, a comforting presence as he meticulously jotted notes in his history book, his brow furrowed in concentration. For three years, he had been my constant, my anchor, and I believed, my forever. I was only eighteen, but I knew, with a certainty that hummed in my veins, that he was the one.

My gaze drifted from him to the stack of textbooks on the worn wooden table, a stark reminder of the upcoming exams and my dream of becoming an engineer. The squeak of the old floorboards echoed as I walked to the fridge, pulling out a soda. Just then, Liam's phone rang, jarring the quiet. "Yes? I understand, I'll be home in ten."

He turned to me, his face a sudden mask of distress. "It's my mom, I have to go." His blue eyes, usually so expressive, were a swirl of sadness and worry. He gave me a quick kiss, a fleeting brush of lips, before rushing out, leaving his books scattered. "Love you too," I whispered to the empty air, a knot of unease tightening in my stomach.

I tidied the kitchen, the clock on the wall ticking towards 7 pm. A walk would clear my head before my parents returned. Keys in hand, I stepped out, locking the door behind me. The vibrant flowers lining our pathway, the grass where my sister Jasmine and I once played, all felt distant. I started down the road, heading towards the small town square, the river beside me a silent companion.

Twenty minutes later, the cold breeze raised goosebumps on my arms. As I rounded an alley, I froze. Two figures, intertwined, their movements fervent. My heart seized. It was Liam, vigorously kissing and touching another woman. The world blurred. My heart didn't just break; it shattered into a million pieces, each fragment tearing at my soul. I turned and ran, not stopping until the forest swallowed me whole, my legs giving out, collapsing against a tree. The sobs wracked my body until no tears were left, and the world faded to black.