text: With a grin on my face, I step into the elevator, holding the heavy bag of food I've carefully prepared and packaged. "I'm sure he will love this!", I squeal as I press the button for Floor 22. "Hmm, I hope I've got everything, fresh veggies, washed strawberries, a week's worth of reheatable meals, oh! and my secret recipe guac that he loves.. shoot I think I forgot the tortilla chips", I tell myself as I peek into the bag, checking the contents, "he should be back from his work trip later tonight... I'm sure he'll be hungry so this food will come in handy for sure.. I should text him later to tell him to check the fridge when he gets back". Ding! The elevator doors slide open and the cool air from the hallway gently blows on my damp skin as I step out. I take a right and march down the hall, stopping at unit 2203. I reach into my purse and pull out the key with the bacon keychain and shove it into the keyhole. "I'll just put everything in the fridge, hopefully the sticky notes I put on the tupperware don't fall off..", I mumble to myself as I turn the key and push open the heavy door. I had prepared each sticky note with a sweet little message, I wish I could see the look on his face when reads them. I step into the entrance way and slide my sandals off, as I look around for the pair of slippers I like to wear whenever I'm over at his place. A furrow forms between my brows as I fail to spot them, "hmm, maybe he washed them and they are drying somewhere". I shrug and make my way towards the kitchen barefeet. I heave the heavy bag onto the kitchen counter and start taking out the contents, laying them out neatly. The window blinds clatter as they flap in the wind and my eyes drift up to the living room area. "Did he forget to close the windows too? He must have left in such a rush, good thing it didn't rain during the 5 days he was away", I think to myself as I continue to take out the containers of food. Suddenly, I freeze as I hear a giggle. "Wait, am I hearing things? What was that?", my eyes widen and the hairs on my skin perk up. "Not there! Heheheh", I hear a voice say lightheartedly, trailing from the bedroom. "Wait what? Is he back already? His flight doesn't arrive until another 6 hours. Did somebody break in?" I put the box of bacon I'm holding down as quietly as possible and scan the kitchen for anything I might be able to use as self-defense. My eyes land on the knife block, but reconsider and instead open a drawer and reach for a rolling pin. I suck in a deep breath and tip toe towards the bedroom, my right hand firmly gripping the rolling pin. With each step I take towards his room, my heart races faster and faster until I reach the doorway of his bedroom. I hold my breath and pause, "what the hell am I doing?? What if the people who broke in are really dangerous?". Too late now, I slowly peek over the doorway and my eyes are immediately drawn to the center of the room. A mound lay on his bed, under the blankets. More giggling ensues and the mound shifts around. "What the heck? People broke in to do THAT in somebody else's bed??", I gape as my grip on the rolling pin loosens. Then, two heads pop out and the familiar tuff of ash blonde hair over a black undercut appears. My eyes widen and my free hand flies to my mouth, stifling a gasp. "That's Nick!! In bed...with somebody else?? What the hell?". I stumble backwards in shock, losing awareness of my surroundings. Just as I'm about to fall, I grasp the edge of the door frame, steadying myself. I abruptly turn around and bolt towards the kitchen, my mind racing. "What the hell, what the hell, what the hell", I broode as I hurriedly pass the kitchen and finally arrive at the entryway. I fling open the door and charge out, making a bee line for the emergency stairs. Tears begin to pour out of my eyes, lining my cheeks with marks of betrayal. I half-stumble, half-run down the stairs, floor after floor, round and around, the cold hard cement slapping against my bare feet. As I reach the seventh floor, my right foot gives in and I feel myself falling face first. My eyes widen as I see the cement floor practically pull me towards itself as I shield myself by putting up my arms in a cross in-front of my face. I feel myself hit the cold cement, scraping my forearms and my knees and wince at the pain. Then, silence. I stay still, lying on the floor for who knows how long, listening to my breath, feeling the cold of the cement seep into my body, and my heart beat against the floor, my mind blank. Vrrrr, vrrr, my phone suddenly starts vibrating in my pocket as I get snapped out of my trance and back into reality. "Is it Nick? Did he hear me run out? Hah, I wonder what reason he'll come up with. No..... do I even want to know? How could he do this to me.. after all we've been through and after all I've done for him", I wimper as tears begin to well up again, still lying on the floor. The phone stops vibrating and I wait. "He should call again right..? To show that he's sorry? Right..?". What seems like an eternity passes but I get no other calls. "Wow, what a jackass", I mumble as I pull myself off the floor. I examine my injuries and flinch as I see the crimson blood drip off my scraped arms and knees. "Damn, I'm a mess", I sigh as I let out a long breath and press my back to the wall, "now what?". Vrrr, vrrrr, my phone starts vibrating again. "Oh finally, he calls again?", I roll my eyes as I slide my phone out of my pocket and glance at the screen. The screen glows and "Mark" appears. "Wait Mark? Why is he calling me?" Mark is good buddy from uni and he lives in the same building as Nick, just only on different floors, floor 16. I drop by sometimes whenever I vist Nick but I have been visiting Mark less lately... "Dammit, if I don't answer, he'll know something is up," I think as I wipe my tears, clear my throat, and press *Accept Call*. "Heyy!! What's up Mark?", I exclaim trying to sound as enthusiastic as somebody who has just found their boyfriend cheating and has just fallen down a set of stairs can. "Jenn, I noticed your car parked out the front of the building. Are you here? Just in time cuz I still have the camera you let me borrow last time. Come by and pick it up before you leave! You barely come around I've almost forgotten what you look like!", he says with a smile. He has one of those voices where you can just imagine what emotions are spread across their face. I glance down and see the bloodied mess, there's no way I can let him see this. "Ohh sorry man, today won't work.... Nick and I are uh... oh I just parked the car by the apartment but I'm actually somewhere else! I'll come by to pick it up next time okay?", I manage to let out as I try to stifle the lump in my throat. That excuse did NOT sound convincing, I sigh. "Umm alright, you better come by soon!", Mark hollers back, he did not sound convinced but whatever. "Yep, I gotta go, bye Mark," I quickly mumble as I scramble to hit the *End Call* button right away. I let out a big sigh as I stand up, hand on the wall for support. I dust myself off and notice my barefeet and realize that I forgot my sandals up at Nick's place. I wonder if he's noticed yet... but he hasn't called.. I check my phone to see who the previous call was from before Mark. Oh, it was from Mark as well, I guess he called again after I didn't pick up the first time. My mind wanders back what I saw in Nick's apartment and I feel my legs lose strength. "What an asshole," I mumble to myself as I start to make my way down the stairs. I'm really hoping nobody is in the lobby... and I'm sure that once I get out of the building, I can easily get to my car parked out front quickly enough. Once I reach to the bottom of the stairs, I pause at the door leading to the lobby and peek through the little cut-out window in the door. To my dismay, I see a couple standing there waiting for the elevator. Okay, no biggie, I'll wait for them to hop on the elevator and then I'll slip out. Minutes pass and the cold air bouncing off the cement staircase and walls seeps in deeper into my body. I shiver as I finally see the couple enter the elevator and I reach for the door knob. Quietly, I open the door and tip-toe towards the lobby exit. With each step I take on the white marble floor, a chill seems to run from my feet up my spine. I reach the lobby door and pull, spotting my little green beetle VW parked on the sidewalk. I don't need to tip-toe anymore and speed up to a jog until suddenly, I feel a hand grasp my right wrist. Surprised, I turn around only to see a face I was really hoping to avoid. "Jenn? I thought you were somewhere else? Wait.. what happened to you? Are you okay?", Mark asks with a concerned look as his eyes land on my bloodied arms and knees, "what's going on?".