Exhaustion.

On this particular day after work, I didn't want to go back to my apartment because I didn't feel like being alone, so I decided to drive to Greg's place and spend the night there

It's a great thing that it was Thursday today, so I wouldn't have to worry about getting early for work tomorrow morning because it was a public holiday, long weekend ahead baby!

I knocked on the door twice but there was no response, so I decided to use my own set of keys he gave to me months prior. He wasn't aware I was coming over, I wanted to surprise him.

Inside his apartment it was dead quiet, which was weird because he usually played some music or something. I took off my heels and looked around for him in the house. He wasn't in his study nor the balcony, which were his outermost favorite places to collect his thoughts.

His bedroom door was closed shut, I thought he must be in bed after his late meeting. As my hand turned on the door knob, the groaning and moaning sounds from the other side of the door grew disturbing by the second. I pushed the door slightly open only to catch a glimpse of Greg's glistering body on top of another woman, who was clenching onto his back like her life depended on it as he thrusted deep inside her, with their moans close to an electrifying climax.

I stood paralyzed at the doorway, barely able to move, staring in horror in this ongoing steamy event happening before my eyes. The door must have creaked further open cause Greg turned his head and caught my eye. His face went pale before he tore himself from the other woman’s tight grip and jumped out of bed to search for his clothes. The other woman's mouth dropped in shock as she covered what was visible of her naked body with the sheets around her then looked away in shame, only to notice it was Sheila, his assistant.

“Liv, what are you doing here?”, he struggled to put his trousers on, and I turned to leave. I reached for my heels on the floor as soon as I got to them and stormed outside.

“Livy”, he grabbed me by my arm and turned me around to face him. “I can explain”, he reasoned as I realized his voice was shaking.

“Is this what you meant when you said your schedule was hectic?”, I pointed in the direction of his bedroom. “You meant you're busy fucking your assistant?”

“There's nothing going on between Sheila and I. It was just a one time thing”, he reasoned and inch by inch the love I felt for him slowly dissolved as a swirl of anger, betrayal, embarrassment, sadness and humiliation flooded through me

“How could you do this to me?”, I tried to force a cry, but I couldn't. “I trusted you Greg”, I began to hit him on his bare chest. “You made it okay to trust you”

He grabbed both my hands and pinned them together. The tears that had gathered into my eyes started streaming down my face.

“It won't happen again baby, I promise”

“How I supposed to believe what you're saying to me?”, I was now sobbing, slightly experiencing shortness of breath

“I don't know how to explain it to you but you shouldn't have seen that”

Wrong answer

“Let me go”, I tried to yank my hands from him, but he tightened his grip around them

“Let's just talk about this, please”, he wasn't willing to let me go as I put up a struggle

“Screw you Greg and screw your fucking assistant”, I paused for a second. “Oh no wait, you did that already”

“Olivia”, he snapped, rudely gaining my attention and I looked at him, wide-eyed. “Could you just shut up for one fucking minute?

I blinked blankly at him, did he just raise his voice at me?

“You knew from the beginning that I wasn't much of a relationship person but you forced things, you pushed and nagged for us to try this relationship thing and see where it leads us. Because it was you, I gave us a chance and just like that”, he snapped his fingers together. “We were in a serious relationship”

His words pieced inside me deeper than any sword could have. I was honestly speechless to hear him say all these things to me. He then took a deep breath.

“I never planned for all of this to happen, but it did and-”, I interrupted him by ripping myself from him to walk to my car, but he blocked my way.

“Olivia, I can try harder, I promise”

“You knew what you were doing the second you took your clothes of to sleep with her. You went ahead and made a choice because you know exactly how to live in the moment, right?”, I said only to watch his face drop in disappointment. “Now you have to live with this”

He blocked my way again. “It doesn't have to end like this”

“It's over, Greg”, I pushed him out of the way and got inside my car and locked the doors

“Don't do this Liv, please”, he knocked on the window and tried to yank the door open as I turned the ignition on. I knew I was in no condition to drive, but I couldn't stand the sight of him anymore because he clearly wasn't who I thought he was. I honestly found him repulsive. I couldn't go to my apartment either because he would just follow after me since he also has keys to my apartment.

After driving around the city for what seemed like hours. I found myself outside Anna's flat building. I knocked on the door and leaned on the door frame, barely able to hold myself up any longer before the door pulled open and Rick's figure stood tall opposite me.

“Olivia?”, he seemed surprised to see me and that I probably looked like a terrible mess

“Hi Rick”, my voice broke. “Is Anna here?”

“Yeah she is”, he opened the door wide, inviting me in. “Come inside”

“Thanks”, I strode inside, barely unable to keep my emotions inside. Anna took one look at me before walking towards me with her arms open and gripped me in a bear hug.

“What's wrong Liv?”, she asked and the moment I was locked in her warm embrace I broke down, unleashing all the heaviness that weighed down my heart. She gently led me to the couch and caressed my arms softly.

“I'll give you two a moment. I'll come back later”, Rick announced and Anna nodded her head in agreement then he walked out.

“Oh honey”, she rested her head against mine. “What's wrong?”

I couldn't find my voice anymore as I carried on crying on her shoulder. She sighed as she continued caressing my arms. “It's going to be okay”

She rocked us back and forth before she started humming the vocals to a song as she stroked my hair softly. After a while, I seemed to have settled down, feeling a little calm.

“It's weird seeing you cry”

“What are you talking about?”, I sniffed. “I cry sometimes when we're watching sad movies”

“You hardly cry. I didn't see you even shear a tear when we were watching the Titanic”

“Why is this a big deal again?”

“Crying is good for your soul Olivia”, I laughed a little before she fixed her gaze on me again, concern raining from her eyes. “Tell me what's wrong sweetie”, she reached out to grab the box of tissues on her coffee table and handed them to me so that I can blow my nose. “What got my baby drenched in tears?”

I took a deep breath before opening my mouth to speak. “I found Greg in bed with his assistant, Sheila”

“Wait”, she closed her eyes before tilting her head to the side. “What?”

“He was cheating on me”, I sobbed and her face softened before she pulled me in for a hug again

“I don't believe this. That son of a bit-”, she was interrupted by me bursting into tears again, and I felt her tighten her arms around me. “Oh sweetie”, she ran her hand up and down my back. “I'm sorry”

“I really thought we were going to work out Anna. That we would go back to how things used to be between us before he made partner”, I sobbed.

“I know all about that honey. It's okay. Let it all out”

“I feel so betrayed and so fucking pissed”, I pulled away from her, I was now getting angry just thinking about it. “He said I forced him to love me”

“Girl, he's not worth it”, Anna held me firmly with both arms. “Don't even waste your time thinking about his dumb ass”

“You're right”, I got all fired up before I stood to my feet. “It's not like my feelings mattered to him anyway”

“You'll get over him”, she snapped her fingers together before she stood up to walk to the fridge and came back holding a tub of chocolate ice cream and two spoons

“To being done with men”, I rose my spoon towards hers, and she hesitated for a second

“Uh. You know I'm still in a relationship right?”, she pointed out, and I rolled my eyes.

“To me being done with men”, I repharsed, and we clicked our spoons together

“Is Tristan involved in this whole being done with men think?”, she questioned, and I threw her a deadly stare

“Really?”, I deadpanned. “What on earth is wrong with you woman?”

“Okay, I'm sorry, I'm sorry”, she quickly put up her hands in surrender. “To you being done with men”