Aline

My body trembled, my knees gave out and I fell to the ground, still trying to process the words. My mind raced with questions. How could I not have known? How long has this been going on?

The flowers lay on the ground, crushed by my own feet. My heart feels like it's shattering into a million pieces. "Who is it?" I ask in a strangled voice, unable to believe what I just heard.

The words echoed in my mind like a cruel joke. A boyfriend? How could I not know? Who was he? Why had she never mentioned him before? I couldn't find my voice, but my body reacted on its own, taking a step back. The distance between us felt like a chasm now.