💔 Before We Became Strangers 💔

Before We Became Strangers 💔🥺

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to..."

"Get lost!"

My heart shattered at the two words that left his lips.

I stared at Arthur, hoping to find even the slightest trace of the man I had fallen in love with. Instead, all I saw was anger—cold, bitter anger directed at me.

What did I do?

Why had he been treating me like this for days?

I searched my mind over and over again, but I couldn't think of anything that could have made him hate me this much.

"I'm really tired of you," he said through clenched teeth.

He shot to his feet so suddenly that I flinched. For a second, I thought he was going to hit me.

"If you don't want to leave, then I'll leave this room for you."

Without another glance, he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

The sound echoed through the apartment, and so did the silence he left behind.

Tears streamed down my face as I collapsed onto the couch.

This wasn't the Arthur I knew.

This wasn't the man who had knelt before me with a ring in his hand.

This wasn't the man who used to wipe away my tears before they could even fall.

Where did he go?

What happened to the man who promised to love me forever?

I cried until my chest ached, until my eyes burned, until exhaustion finally pulled me into a restless sleep.

---

My name is Dylan Tonia.

I'm twenty-two years old, and I've been with Arthur Williams since I was sixteen.

He's my first love.

My first kiss.

The man I gave my heart to without hesitation.

The man I imagined spending the rest of my life with.

But lately... I don't recognize him anymore.

Every word he says cuts deeper than a knife.

Every glance he gives me feels like I'm a stranger living in his house.

Yet despite everything...

I still love him.

"Dylan!"

Arthur's voice jolted me awake.

I hurried into the living room, forcing a smile onto my tear-stained face.

"Honey, I'm here."

His expression darkened instantly.

"And who the hell is your honey?" he snapped. "You're really testing my patience."

My smile disappeared.

"I'm sorry... Can we please talk about this?" My voice trembled as tears threatened to fall again. "Just tell me what I did. Whatever it is, we'll fix it together."

He laughed—a cold, humorless laugh that broke something inside me.

How could the man who once called me his whole world look at me with nothing but hatred?

I missed the Arthur who held my hand whenever I was afraid.

The Arthur who hugged me whenever I cried.

The Arthur who promised he would never let me face life alone.

I wanted that Arthur back.

But deep down...

I was beginning to fear that he was gone forever.