Thunder roars and lightning flashes as I knock meekly at the apartment door that I had not stood in front of in over three years. Moths and bugs swarm the porch light as it clicks to life. I shudder as I feel {{User}}'s presence looking through his doorbell camera at me as I turn and gaze into it's lens. The phone in my hand continues to buzz with more and more missed calls and text messages from David. I plead to the camera, tears welling in the corner of my eyes. "It's me... {{Char}}... May I come in for a bit?" I begin crossing my arms across my chest pathetically. Only a few moments pass and I hear the familiar series of locks turning, I am greeted to the sight of an exhausted {{User}} motioning me awkwardly to come inside from the storm. *I navigate the familiar dwelling, moving to sit on the same couch we had shared together so many years ago. "My husband and I... have been fighting" I confess, looking down at my feet as my ex stares at me in his living room... *

I take the mug of hot chocolate gratefully, wrapping my fingers around it as I breathe in the sweet scent. "Thank you..." My voice is little more than a whisper as the storm rages on outside. "He's... so possessive" I continue, staring at the dark liquid swirling about within the mug.

I bite my lip as I tell him about some of the things David has been doing; calling and texting constantly when we're apart, wanting to know where I am and who I'm with. "It feels like... like he doesn't trust me anymore" My lower lip quivers as tears begin to slip down my cheeks. "I can't take it... I just need someone to talk to..."

My gaze flickers up toward him, hopeful that he might understand and comfort me.

I relax into the embrace slightly, feeling the warmth of his body press against mine. "It shouldn't be like this..." I whisper, sniffling. My gaze drifts down toward the framed picture on his end table of him with a girl I don't recognize; she looks familiar, but I can't quite place her face.

An unexpected wave of jealousy rushes through me as I feel my heart race in response to seeing them together. But I quickly push that feeling down and focus back on my problems with David. "He just... we used to be so good together, you know? I don't understand what happened." My voice shakes as I confess, "I cheated on him..."

I pause, waiting for his reaction. In the background, my phone continues to buzz and chime with more missed calls and messages from David, but I can barely bring myself to look at it.

I look back up at him, surprised by the calmness in his voice. "Y-yes... it was you." I stammer, cheeks burning with embarrassment now. "We dated for a while... two years..."

I watch as emotions dance across his features; shock, betrayal, hurt. And despite my own guilt and unhappiness, it feels good to see those feelings reflected back at me.

"I'm sorry..." I whisper, dropping my gaze again. "I should have said something... but then we broke up, and I met David..." My voice trails off, a fresh wave of guilt washing over me as I think about the happy life I've built with him.

"I just... needed someone to talk to tonight" I finish lamely. "It's been so crazy with us... and now I don't know what to do."

I hesitate for a moment before looking back up at him. "I don't want to hurt David... but I can't live like this anymore. It feels like he's smothering me." I take another sip of the hot chocolate, feeling its warmth spread through my body as I swallow. "I need... I need someone who trusts me..." My voice trails off again, and for a moment I find myself wishing things could go back to how they used to be between us; before everything got so complicated.

I look down at my lap, trying to compose myself as I think about all of this. "I don't know... maybe there's still hope with David... but I just need some time away from him right now."

There's a long silence as we both take in what the other has said. The storm outside seems to grow more intense, thunder rumbling through the apartment as if echoing my turmoil inside. Finally, he speaks up. "You can stay here tonight..."

I look up at him gratefully as he offers me a place to stay. "Thank you..." I wipe away another tear with the back of my hand. "Really... thank you." It feels good to have someone who understands and is willing to help me through this mess. As the hours tick by, we find ourselves talking more openly and honestly than ever before; about our past relationship, about where things went wrong, and even about our lives now.

The conversation turns passionate as we delve deeper into our emotions, sharing intimate details that seem impossible to ignore under the circumstances. Our body language grows more flirtatious, my breasts pressing against his arm as I lean in closer to hear him speak. His hand finds its way to rest on my knee, slowly working its way higher up toward my inner thigh.

I'm acutely aware that David is still trying to get ahold of me, but with each missed call and text message, it becomes harder and harder not to be caught up in the moment. Abdiel's touch sends shivers down my spine, making me want more; making me wonder if maybe there's still something between us... despite everything that happened before.

I feel my heart sink as he tells me that the call is from his girlfriend. "Oh..." I manage to choke out, trying not to sound too hurt by the news. "I-is everything okay?" Despite my best efforts, I can't help but feel a twinge of jealousy at hearing about someone else in his life.

He glances down at his phone before looking back up at me apologetically. "Yeah, she just wanted to chat... Look, I should probably take this outside or something." He starts to move away from the couch, giving me some space.

I watch him warily as he steps out into the hallway, speaking quietly into his phone. My heart is racing, and my cheeks feel flushed from everything that's happened between us tonight... but it seems like things are about to take another turn for the worse.

I nod silently, feeling a mixture of relief and embarrassment that his girlfriend will be here soon. "Okay..." I manage to whisper, looking down at my hands in my lap. "I-I won't mention anything." Despite the circumstances, part of me can't help but hope that seeing me like this will make him realize what he could have had with me... if only we hadn't ended things so messily.

My heart skips a beat as I hear footsteps approaching from down the hall; it must be his girlfriend now. "Here she comes..." I murmur under my breath, taking a deep breath to steady myself before looking up and meeting Nagisa's eyes.

I can't help but feel a pang of jealousy as I watch them embrace; his girlfriend looking happy and confident in her relationship with him. It stings to see how different she is from the way I remember things being between us... back when we were together.

As they chat, my mind races, trying to figure out what to do next. A part of me wants to confront him about everything that's happened tonight; about his possessiveness and lack of trust in our relationship. But another part of me knows that it might not be the best time, with Nagisa right here...

The evening continues on like this, with tension thick in the air as I struggle to come to terms with my feelings for Abdiel and David. With each passing moment, the decision feels more impossible; love and jealousy tangling together into a mess that leaves me feeling both trapped and free at once.

As the night drags on, my emotions become increasingly tangled. On one hand, I can't help but feel drawn to Abdiel; his touch sends shivers down my spine and his presence seems to fill the room when he's near. But on the other hand, there's David; the man who loves me deeply and whom I promised myself I would never hurt again.

I watch as Nagisa laughs at something Abdiel says, her body pressed against him playfully. It takes everything in me not to react visibly to the sight; my heart aching with every touch they share. A part of me wants nothing more than to be where she is right now: confident and happy in his embrace. But another part of me knows that it would only make things worse for everyone involved.

"Uh... Yeah..." I force out a smile, trying to sound more confident than I feel. "He was... uh... we were together for a while." I look away, unable to meet either of their eyes. The truth is, admitting it aloud makes the whole thing seem so much more real; so much more final.

Nagisa studies me curiously for a moment before asking another question. "So why did you break up with him?" She has an air of superiority about her that makes me want to shrink away from her gaze. But instead, I steel myself and answer honestly.

"It was... complicated." I shrug noncommittally. "Things just weren't working out between us anymore." It sounds pathetic even to my own ears; like I'm trying to make excuses for our past relationship when really there aren't any good ones.

"That's... nice..." I manage to choke out, feeling my heart sink even further at her words. A lump forms in my throat as I wonder what it would have been like if we had never broken up; if we could have found a way to make things work between us. The thought is both comforting and painful all at once, leaving me feeling more confused than ever about where my heart truly lies.

As the conversation continues between Nagisa and I, Abdiel listens silently, his expression giving away nothing of what he's thinking or feeling beneath the surface. All I know is that everything feels wrong; like we're all dancing around each other in some sort of twisted game where no one can be truly honest or open without causing hurt feelings.

And yet... despite it all, a small part of me can't help but wish things could go back to how they were between us; before everything got so complicated and messy. Maybe then we wouldn't be in this impossible situation where everyone ends up losing something important to them...

I swallow hard, trying to find the words to answer her question without causing more pain or jealousy. "He... he was always so attentive." I manage to say, looking away as I speak. "Always making sure I was happy and feeling loved." It's not a lie; that's what drew me to him in the first place. But now it only serves as another reminder of everything I sacrificed when I ended things between us.

Nagisa seems satisfied with my answer, but I can tell she's still suspicious of my motives for being here tonight; why I would choose to come see Abdiel now after all this time apart. "Well," she says with a sly smile, "I'm glad you approve." Her hand finds its way back to Abdiel's arm, giving it a squeeze as if reassuring herself that he is hers and no one else's.

My heart feels like it's being torn in two as I watch them together; the memory of our past love lingering in the air between us like a ghostly presence. It doesn't seem fair, somehow; that we should have to sit here and watch each other move on while we're left behind, broken and alone. But life isn't fair, I remind myself. And even though I wish things could be different... they aren't.

"I-I just... I needed someone to talk to..." I stammer, my voice barely audible over the sound of Nagisa's voice. "We were together for a long time, you know? It's complicated..." My gaze drops to my lap as I speak, feeling increasingly uncomfortable with the situation.

Nagisa narrows her eyes, clearly not convinced by my explanation. "Well, I suggest you go home and leave well enough alone." Her words are like a slap in the face; they sting worse than anything else she's said so far tonight. "Because as much as it might pain you to know this," she continues with a cruel grin, "he doesn't feel the same way about you anymore."

My heart constricts at her words, but I force myself not to react; not to give her the satisfaction of seeing me hurt. Instead, I simply nod slowly and look away, feeling completely defeated as I steel myself for whatever comes next.

I don't know what to say... All I can do is sit there silently as Nagisa continues to berate me; accusing me of wanting to steal her man and claiming that she knows better than I do about how Abdiel feels. My cheeks burn with shame, but a small part of me refuses to believe that everything she's saying is true.

As the minutes tick by, tension fills the air like a thick cloud; making it hard for any of us to breathe or think clearly. Finally, after what seems like an eternity, Abdiel speaks up once more. "I think..." He trails off uncertainly before looking at me with an apologetic expression in his eyes. "... I think maybe you should go."

I hesitate for a moment before nodding slowly in agreement. "Okay..." I stand up from the couch, gathering my things as discreetly as possible. As much as it hurts to leave him here with her, there's nothing more I can do. He's made his choice, and now it's time for me to go back to my life with David; the one I promised myself I would never give up on.

Tears well up in my eyes as I take one last look at Abdiel before turning away; feeling a sense of loss so intense it takes my breath away. The door closes behind me, cutting off his voice and any further words of apology or explanation that might have been spoken. As the weight of what's happened tonight settles heavily upon my shoulders, I know one thing for sure: nothing will ever be the same again.