02: Betrayal Part 02

I cried until I couldn't anymore, sobs wracking my body as I punched the pillow. All those years, I'd believed I had found something special with Gabriel. A loving, understanding man. Now, the illusion shattered, and I felt utterly betrayed.

The morning brought a cruel awakening – the screech of my alarm clock. My eyes were swollen shut, the remnants of a night spent weeping. Aggravation surged through me as I realized I'd have to wear my glasses to work. I hated how they magnified the oddity of my eyes – one blue, the other green, a constant source of teasing in my childhood.

Staring at my reflection, I sighed, hoping no one would notice. I grabbed ice from the kitchen and applied it to my swollen eyes in a futile attempt to reduce the swelling. It did little to soothe the raw ache within me.

Brushing my auburn hair down to hide my face, I glanced at Gabriel's side of the bed. Empty. Of course. He'd be with Julia. Julia Stone, the epitome of everything I wasn't – short, blonde, green-eyed, big-breasted, and blessed with a father who could buy and sell him ten times over. The memory of last night's betrayal returned, and tears welled up once more.

The sting of unshed tears pricked at my eyes, threatening to spill over. I blinked them back fiercely, determined to push down the wave of emotions threatening to engulf me. Last night's betrayal still lingered, a bitter taste in my mouth. But I had a job to do. I couldn't afford to let it consume me.

My morning commute was always a chaotic affair, a stark contrast to the usual ease of Gabriel dropping me off. Relying on public transportation was a necessary evil, a trade-off I'd made to prioritize paying off my student loans. The thought of adding another financial burden, like car payments and insurance, was simply unthinkable.

The bus stop was a bustling hub of activity, a microcosm of the city's daily grind. People hurried past their faces a mixture of exhaustion and grim determination. The usual chatter of the bus ride was replaced by an unsettling silence, everyone lost in their thoughts, likely dreading the day ahead.

The stares of the other passengers on the bus cut through me like icy daggers. I knew I didn't look my best – the remnants of my tear-filled night were still evident on my face. But the intensity of their scrutiny was unsettling, making me acutely aware of my mismatched eyes. My left eye, a vibrant blue, and my right, a startling green, had always been a source of teasing in my childhood. I longed for the anonymity of my contacts, anything to shield me from unwanted attention.

The bus lurched to a stop, and I practically sprinted off, eager to escape the prying eyes. I hurried down the busy sidewalk, my mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.

When I reached the office building, I rushed upstairs to my shared office, grateful to find that Adam hadn't arrived yet. He was my first friend at Wales Tech, a lifeline in the unfamiliar world of corporate life. Fresh out of college, I had been lucky to land a position here, especially considering the possibility of having to relocate for work.

I buried my face in my keyboard, the rhythmic clicking of keys a feeble attempt to drown out the intrusive thoughts. Gabriel's betrayal replayed in my mind, and the images of Julia seared into my memory. A frustrated sigh escaped my lips. I couldn't let this affect my work. I needed to focus, to prove to myself that I was stronger than this.

Placing my head in my hands, I attempted a deep breath, hoping to clear my mind of the unwelcome images that kept flickering through it. "Focus, Ava," I muttered to myself, "focus on the calming rhythm of your breath." Just as I was starting to find a semblance of peace, a tap on my chair startled me.

Adam, my ever-observant co-worker, was standing beside me, a concerned frown creasing his brow. "What's wrong, Ava? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Nothing," I mumbled, burying my face deeper into my hands.

"You haven't even touched your keyboard in an hour," he observed, his voice laced with amusement. "You're usually a coding machine."

"Now you're watching me?" I retorted, peeking at him from between my fingers.

He grinned. "Of course, I am. Everyone enjoys the Ava show."

I rolled my eyes. "Very funny. I just have a lot on my mind."

"Want to go grab some coffee?" he suggested, glancing at his watch. "It's almost lunch anyway."

"Sure," I agreed, relieved by the distraction. As I gathered my things, Adam's gaze finally landed on my face.

"Geez, what happened? You look like you wrestled a grizzly bear last night."

"Oh, I just... stayed up late watching sad movies," I mumbled, avoiding his gaze.

Adam raised an eyebrow. "Sad movies, huh? What kind of tearjerker were you subjecting yourself to?"

I shrugged, "One of those old classics. You know the kind that leaves you feeling emotionally drained and questioning your life choices."

Adam chuckled. "Well, let's go get some coffee. Maybe a strong latte will revive you from the depths of your cinematic despair."

And with that, we headed out, leaving the gloomy office behind.