Alina stared out the window of the taxi, her reflection blending with the cold city lights beyond the glass. Every streetlamp they passed, every blurred figure walking the sidewalk seemed to stretch the distance between her and the hospital further. It felt as though she was leaving one prison behind, only to walk directly into another.
Her body still ached from the bruises Leon had left on her, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the emotional torment that had been consuming her ever since she woke up in that sterile hospital bed. She hadn't seen him since that night, but he was everywhere—in her thoughts, in the guilt gnawing at her, and in the fear creeping into every corner of her mind.
She clutched her phone tightly in her lap, its screen dim and silent for now, though she knew that wouldn't last long. Leon had been calling, texting, pleading for her to meet him, to let him explain. She had promised to see him after leaving the hospital, but now, sitting in the backseat of this taxi, Alina knew she wasn't going to Leon's. Not yet.
She wasn't ready.
Sarah's apartment wasn't far, but it felt like miles away, a distant refuge from the chaos her life had become. Alina wasn't even sure if going to Sarah was the right choice—her friend had made it clear that she wanted Alina to cut Leon off completely, to never look back. But Alina couldn't walk away so easily. The bond between her and Leon, no matter how twisted and toxic it had become, still held her tightly in its grip. Still, she couldn't bring herself to face him yet, not after everything that had happened.
The taxi pulled to a stop outside Sarah's building, and Alina hesitated for a moment, her hand hovering over the door handle. The weight of the decision she had made—choosing to go to Sarah's instead of Leon's—hung heavy in the air, like a secret she wasn't ready to share with anyone, not even herself.
"Miss, we're here," the driver said, glancing back at her.
Alina blinked, shaking herself from her thoughts. She fumbled for her wallet, handing the driver a few bills before stepping out into the cool evening air. The city felt alive around her—people rushing to and from work, couples walking hand in hand, the distant sound of traffic humming in the background. It was so different from the suffocating stillness of the hospital room, where the weight of her guilt and fear had pressed down on her like a lead blanket.
Taking a deep breath, she walked up to the entrance of Sarah's apartment building, her heart pounding in her chest. She had texted Sarah earlier, letting her know she was being discharged, but she hadn't mentioned that she was coming over. It had been an impulsive decision, made in the backseat of the taxi when the thought of seeing Leon again became too much to bear.
The elevator ride to Sarah's floor felt agonizingly slow, the dim overhead light flickering as the floors ticked by. When the doors finally slid open, Alina stepped out into the narrow hallway, her hands trembling slightly as she approached Sarah's apartment.
For a brief moment, she considered turning around, going to Leon's instead, as she had promised. But then her bruises throbbed in protest, and the memory of his hands on her—rough, unforgiving—flashed in her mind. She couldn't go back to him. Not yet.
She knocked softly on the door, and a moment later, it swung open to reveal Sarah's concerned face.
"Alina," Sarah breathed, her eyes wide with relief as she pulled Alina into a tight hug. "I was so worried."
Alina winced at the contact, her body still tender from the beating Leon had given her. Sarah quickly stepped back, her expression apologetic as she led Alina inside.
"I'm sorry," Sarah said, gesturing for Alina to sit on the couch. "I didn't mean to hurt you. Are you okay?"
Alina sank into the cushions, exhaustion weighing heavily on her. "I'm fine," she lied, though her voice lacked conviction. She wasn't fine. She didn't even know what "fine" felt like anymore.
Sarah sat beside her, watching her closely. "You didn't go to Leon's, did you?"
Alina's heart clenched at the mention of his name. She shook her head, unable to meet Sarah's gaze. "No."
"I'm glad," Sarah said, her voice firm but gentle. "You don't need to see him, Alina. Not after what he did to you."
Alina's throat tightened, and she fought to keep the tears at bay. "I just… I don't know what to do, Sarah."
Sarah reached out, placing a hand on Alina's. "You don't have to know what to do right now. But you need to stay away from him. You need to take care of yourself."
Alina nodded, though her mind was still swirling with doubt. She had promised Leon she would see him. She had agreed to give him a chance to explain, to hear him out. But now, sitting here in Sarah's apartment, the thought of facing him again filled her with a sickening dread.
"What if he's sorry?" Alina whispered, her voice trembling. "What if he really wants to fix things?"
Sarah's expression hardened. "Alina, he beat you. That's not something you can just fix with an apology."
Alina flinched at Sarah's words, the reality of the situation hitting her like a slap to the face. She had been so consumed by her own guilt over cheating on Leon, so wrapped up in the consequences of her actions, that she hadn't fully processed what he had done to her. But Sarah was right. This wasn't something that could be fixed with an apology.
"I know," Alina whispered, her voice barely audible. "I know you're right. I just… I don't know if I can leave him."
Sarah sighed, leaning back against the couch. "You don't have to make any decisions right now. Just stay here for a while. Give yourself some space to think."
Alina nodded, grateful for the offer, though she wasn't sure if time or space would make any of this easier. The bond between her and Leon felt like a weight she couldn't shake, no matter how much distance she put between them.
For the next few hours, Sarah stayed close, offering quiet support without pushing Alina too hard. They talked, mostly about mundane things—anything to avoid the heavy, suffocating reality of what Alina was going through. But even as they made small talk, Alina's mind kept drifting back to Leon, to the promises he had made over the phone.
We need to talk. I can fix this. I just need to explain.
Could he fix this? Could anything be fixed after what had happened? Alina wasn't sure anymore.
As the night wore on, Sarah offered to make dinner, and for the first time in days, Alina felt a flicker of normalcy. It was a small thing, sitting at the kitchen table while Sarah cooked, the smell of food filling the apartment. But it was a brief escape from the nightmare that had become her reality.
"Thanks for letting me stay," Alina said quietly, watching as Sarah moved around the kitchen.
"Of course," Sarah replied, glancing over her shoulder with a small smile. "You don't even have to thank me. You know you're always welcome here."
Alina nodded, her heart heavy with gratitude and guilt. She didn't know how to explain the swirling mess of emotions inside her—the part of her that felt like she was betraying Leon by being here, the part of her that still loved him, despite everything he had done.
After dinner, they settled back onto the couch, the TV playing in the background, though neither of them was really watching. Alina's mind was still racing, replaying the events of the past few days over and over again.
It wasn't until the apartment fell into a comfortable silence that Alina finally let herself relax, her body sinking deeper into the cushions as the exhaustion of the day caught up with her.
But the peace didn't last long.
Her phone buzzed again, vibrating softly against the coffee table. Alina's heart leapt into her throat, her body tensing as she reached for it. She didn't need to check the screen to know who it was. Leon.
Her hand hovered over the phone for a moment, her mind warring with itself. Part of her wanted to answer, to hear his voice, to know what he had to say. But another part of her—an instinct she had been ignoring for too long—told her to leave it alone. To block him. To let him go.
Sarah's eyes flicked to the phone, her expression unreadable. "You don't have to answer that," she said quietly.
"I know," Alina whispered, her thumb brushing against the screen. Her fingers trembled as she stared at Leon's name flashing on the display.
For a brief second, she thought about answering—about giving him the chance to explain, to apologize. But then her bruises throbbed in protest, and the memory of his fists, his anger, came rushing back. She couldn't go through that again. She couldn't let him back in.
With a shaky breath, Alina pressed the button to silence the call.
It felt like a small victory, but it was fleeting.
Sarah reached out, gently placing her hand over Alina's. "You're doing the right thing."
Alina nodded, though her heart still ached with uncertainty. Was this the right thing? Or was she just running away from the mess she had created? She didn't know anymore.
The night wore on, and eventually, Alina drifted into a restless sleep, her body too exhausted to fight it any longer. But even in her dreams, Leon's presence loomed over her—his voice, his touch, the memory of what they had once been. She couldn't escape him, no matter how hard she tried.
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over the apartment. Alina stirred, blinking against the brightness as she slowly sat up. Her body was stiff, her muscles aching from a night spent curled up on the couch.
Sarah was already awake, moving quietly around the apartment, making coffee. She smiled when she saw Alina stirring. "Morning."
Alina managed a weak smile in return. "Morning."
"Did you sleep okay?" Sarah asked, handing her a mug of coffee.
Alina shrugged, taking a sip of the steaming drink. "As well as I could, I guess."
Sarah nodded, her expression thoughtful. "What are you going to do now?"
The question hung in the air, heavy with implications. Alina knew what Sarah was really asking—whether she was going to cut Leon off for good, whether she was ready to walk away from him once and for all.
"I don't know," Alina admitted, her voice quiet. "I don't know if I'm ready to make that decision yet."
Sarah didn't push her, but the concern in her eyes was clear. "Just promise me you'll be careful. Don't go back to him, Alina. Please."
Alina nodded, though she wasn't sure what she was agreeing to. She wasn't ready to face Leon yet. But she wasn't sure if she could stay away from him forever, either.
As the day stretched on, Alina tried to push the thoughts of Leon out of her mind. She focused on the small things—helping Sarah clean up the apartment, trying to distract herself with meaningless tasks. But no matter what she did, she couldn't shake the feeling that this reprieve was temporary. That eventually, she would have to face the consequences of her choices.
And when that time came, she wasn't sure if she would be strong enough to stand her ground.