Chapter 1
“Only love can hurt like this...” The melody reverberated through the dimly lit room, wrapping around her like a dark cloud. The clock struck 12, its chime echoing in the silence, a reminder of the time that had passed.
Sighing, she picked up the wineglass and clinked it gently against the empty one beside it. “Happy anniversary, Orion,” she whispered, her voice trembling as she stared at the clock and their picture. Her eyes, heavy with unshed tears, traced the contours of his face in the photograph—the strong jawline, the piercing gaze that had once held a spark of something she had dared to hope for was love. It was their wedding photo. Even in that, he wasn’t smiling. Orion rarely smiled, but his striking green eyes conveyed everything people had to know.
The dark and decadent wine tasted bitter on her tongue, just like the bitter memory of their marriage. Every moment of their marriage was a punishment for him. She knew it.
She took a long sip, her hand shaking, and closed her eyes, letting the music wash over her, amplifying the ache deep within her chest.
The walls seemed to close in on her, suffocating her with their silent accusations.
The picture frame felt cold and unforgiving in her hands. Lyra traced the outline of Orion’s face, her fingers lingering on the smile that never quite reached his eyes. “Why did you marry me, Orion?” she whispered, her voice breaking. “Was it out of duty? Obligation? Or was it to please our families?
She laughed cruelly. Who was she kidding? She was the one who married him—jumped in happiness when her parents put forth that proposal.
Her gaze shifted to the empty chair across the table, a reminder of the vast, lonely space between them—hatred for her that had grown wider with each passing day. She remembered the day they got married, how he had looked at her, not with love, but with something that felt like a cold, distant resentment.
A tear slid down her cheek, mingling with the wine as it fell into her glass. She didn’t bother wiping it away. “Do you even think of me, Orion? Do you remember this day, or am I just a shadow in your life?”
The pain was a constant companion, an ache that gnawed at her soul. She felt like she was drowning, each breath a struggle, each heartbeat a reminder of the love she had given freely and the indifference she had received in return. She yearned for a touch, a kind word, anything to break the monotony of her loneliness.
Lyra stood up, the room spinning slightly from the wine. She approached the window, pressing her forehead against the cool glass. The city lights twinkled in the distance, contrasting with the darkness that enveloped her heart. She watched life go on outside, people moving, laughing, loving—living the life she had dreamed of but never attained.
“Why does it hurt so much?” she murmured, her breath fogging the glass. “Why does love have to be so cruel?”
The song changed, but the pain remained, and an uninvited guest refused to leave. She knew she couldn’t go on like this, but she didn’t know how to break free from the chains of her own heart. Her love for Orion was like a double-edged sword, cutting her deeply even as it kept her tethered to him.
As the night wore on, Lyra remained by the window, her heart heavy with unspoken words and unfulfilled dreams. She clutched the wine glass tightly. She has to put on a brave front tomorrow. Like the brave woman that she pretends to be. But tonight, she allowed herself to grieve, to feel the total weight of her sorrow, and to mourn the love that had brought her so much pain.
“Happy anniversary, Orion,” she whispered one last time, her voice barely audible. “I hope you find what you’re looking for. I hope you understand the depth of my love for you one day.”
And with that, she turned away from the window, leaving behind the memories and the pain, if only for a moment, as she walked towards her doomed future.
