Chapter 2

Anna walked into her bathroom, the cool tiles beneath her feet starkly contrasting the turmoil brewing inside her. She turned on the shower, letting the cold water cascade down her body, hoping it would calm her racing thoughts.

Seeing her mother lying lifeless in the hospital bed had shaken her to her core. The weight of her family's situation was crushing her, and the thought of marrying a stranger to save her mother's life felt like a betrayal of her own desires.

"I can do this," she whispered to herself, trying to muster some resolve. But her mind was a jumble of emotions, and she couldn't shake the feeling that she was making a huge sacrifice.

As she stood under the cold water, her thoughts drifted to her boyfriend Harry. She loved him deeply, and the thought of spending the rest of her life with him had once filled her with so much joy. But now, it seemed like a distant dream.

Anna knew she had to see Harry one last time. She needed to explain her situation to him, to say goodbye, and to let him know that her heart would always belong to him. She decided to sneak out of the house and visit him.

With a newfound sense of determination, Anna got out of the shower, dried herself off, and began to get dressed. She knew what she was about to do wouldn't be easy, but she had to follow her heart, no matter how painful it might be.

She waited patiently for the perfect moment to make her escape. As soon as the house grew quiet and she was certain no one was watching, she carefully opened the window of her room and slipped out.

Her heart racing with excitement and a hint of fear, she dropped down to the ground and took off in a sprint. She ran as fast as she could, her feet pounding the pavement, until she reached the main road.

Breathless and determined, Anna hailed a taxi and jumped in. She instructed the driver, her voice barely above a whisper.

The taxi sped through the streets, her mind whirled with thoughts of Harry and what she would say to him. She hoped he would understand her situation and be there for her, even if it meant saying goodbye.

The taxi finally pulled up to Harry's house, and Anna's heart skipped a beat as she gazed up at the familiar building. She paid the driver and stepped out onto the sidewalk, her eyes fixed on the door. Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself for what was to come and walked up to the entrance.

***

Anna called out "Harry!" but there was no response. She looked around the sitting room and kitchen, but he was nowhere to be found. Determined to find him, she took the stairs and entered the corridor that led to Harry's room.

As she approached his door, she began to hear sounds coming from inside. Her heart sank as she recognized the voice of a woman, speaking in a tone that sent a shiver down Anna's spine.

"You said you loved me, so why are you still with her?" the woman asked, her voice laced with accusation and hurt.

Anna's heart began to race as she realized the implications of what she was hearing. She felt a knot form in her stomach, and her mind reeled with questions. Who was this woman, and what was she to Harry? Anna's thoughts were a jumble of emotions as she stood frozen outside the door, unsure of what to do next.

Her anxiety spiked as she stood outside the door. Her heart was racing, she felt like she was going to be overwhelmed by the emotions swirling inside her. Memories of her time with Harry flooded her mind, and she recalled the way he had been there for her.

As she hesitated, Harry's voice drifted through the door.

"I told you before, I'm just using her. Honestly, she's not my type of girl."

Anna's grip on the door handle tightened, her mind reeling from the implications of his words.

The sound of another voice, presumably the woman Harry was talking to, was muffled, but Anna's imagination ran wild with scenarios. She felt a wave of emotions, from shock to hurt, as she processed what she was hearing.

Anna's heart started pounding harder against her ribcage. Her breath was unsteady. She couldn't bear the pain she was feeling anymore, she had to allow herself to find out who Harry was talking to

"I love you so much. Kate. So let’s forget about Anna for now. Said Harry

“I love you more. But break up with her and focus on me. With that, they both kissed

With trepidation, Anna slowly turned the handle and pushed the door open. What she saw made her heart sink.

"Wow!” She shouts out.

She was met with a scene that made her heart shatter. The woman, Kate, was sitting close to Harry, her hands resting on his back. They were in the middle of a kiss, and they pulled back abruptly, their faces frozen in surprise. Kate's eyes darted between Anna and Harry, a mix of guilt and panic etched on her face.

Harry, still seated, stared up at Anna with wide eyes, his expression a blend of shock and shame. He slowly got to his feet, his gaze never leaving Anna's face. No words escaped his lips; he seemed paralyzed by the sudden revelation.

Anna's eyes locked onto Kate, her mind racing with memories of seeing them together before. She had always thought of Kate as just a friend, but the scene before her revealed a different truth. Anna's body trembled with each ragged breath, her vision blurring as tears welled up in her eyes. The pain was overwhelming, and she felt like she was drowning in her own heartbreak.

"Anyway... you can carry on. I just came here to say goodbye." Her words hung in the air, laced with pain and resignation. Harry remained frozen,

She couldn't bear the stillness anymore. Her heart shattered into a million pieces, she turned and ran out of Harry's house, the sound of her footsteps echoing through the silence. Tears streamed down her face as she disappeared into the night, leaving Harry and Kate in the uncomfortable silence that followed.