Ivy sat at the empty bus stop, the cold night air biting into her skin. She had been texting Daniel all afternoon, asking him to pick her up like he usually did. But now it was late—far too late for buses to be running—and still, her messages remained unread. Her heart raced with worry. She knew something was wrong. Alone, with only the distant hum of the city for company, her phone suddenly buzzed in her hand. For a brief moment, she felt relief, thinking it might be Daniel. But when she opened the message, her stomach twisted into a knot.

"Come to the place I sent you, and see what Daniel is doing there."

The number was unfamiliar. Ivy’s heart pounded harder. She quickly opened the map link attached to the message, which led her to a small house not too far away. Panic flooded her thoughts. Was Daniel in trouble? Was this some sort of trap? But she couldn't sit there, doing nothing. The fear that something might have happened to him propelled her to her feet, and she began walking toward the location.

As she neared the house, her dread grew. The night was eerily quiet, every sound magnified. When she arrived, the front door was slightly ajar. Her hands shook as she pushed it open and stepped inside. The dimly lit room revealed a scene that made her heart stop.

Daniel was on the sofa, fully engaged in an intimate act with two women. The sight was grotesque, raw, and more painful than anything she had ever imagined. Ivy’s entire world shattered in that moment. Her legs felt weak, and she collapsed to her knees in the doorway, her breath catching in her throat as she tried to process what she was seeing. She wanted to scream, to cry out, but her voice was gone, trapped somewhere deep inside her.

Daniel didn’t even glance her way. He didn’t care. He didn’t stop.

The betrayal washed over her in waves, and all she could do was flee. Ivy bolted out of the house, her tears blurring her vision as she ran aimlessly into the night. The skies seemed to mirror her emotions, unleashing a torrential downpour. The rain soaked her within moments, chilling her to the bone, but she didn’t stop running until her legs gave out beneath her.

She found herself back at the bus stop, now drenched and trembling. Her wet clothes clung to her skin, her hair hung limp around her face, and her makeup ran in black streaks down her cheeks. She hugged herself tightly, the sobs racking her body as she cried out into the empty night, utterly broken. The cold pierced through her, and her body shook violently from both the rain and the pain she couldn’t hold back anymore.

The sound of footsteps barely registered through her sobbing, but then she saw a figure approaching, holding an umbrella. Ivy tried to hide her tear-streaked face, embarrassed that anyone would see her like this, especially in such a vulnerable state. As the figure came closer, Ivy recognized her—the woman she had always kept at a distance. She looked exhausted, as though she had run a long way to find her. Her eyes were filled with worry as she scanned Ivy’s disheveled form.

The two stood in silence. Ivy couldn’t bring herself to speak, the humiliation of being seen like this, by her of all people, made her want to disappear. But the emotions were too much—too raw, too unbearable. She simply stood there, her expression filled with concern, but she didn’t say anything. It was a quiet presence, and somehow, it made Ivy’s walls crumble even further.

Without thinking, without caring anymore about anything, Ivy stumbled forward and wrapped her arms around her, burying her face in her chest as the sobs returned. It was the first time she had ever touched her, and the gesture seemed to shock them both. Ivy’s body shook uncontrollably as she cried, her tears soaking into her clothes. But she didn’t care. All she needed right now was to feel someone, anyone, who wasn’t going to hurt her.

Her body stiffened in surprise, her heart racing from the sudden contact. Ivy, who had always kept her at arm’s length, was now clinging to her like a lifeline. It took a moment for her to react, but when she did, she wrapped her arms around Ivy gently, holding her close. She didn’t know what to say—words felt meaningless right now. All she could offer was her presence, and for once, that seemed to be enough.

Minutes passed, and the rain continued to pour, but Ivy didn’t let go. She cried harder, her sobs muffled against her chest. The betrayal, the humiliation, the heartache—it all came pouring out, and she held her without judgment, without hesitation.

When she tried to pull away, Ivy tightened her grip, her voice barely a whisper. "Please stay like this... don’t leave me, please." The desperation in her voice broke her heart. She could feel how shattered Ivy was, how fragile she had become in that moment.