Chapter 2 ****Healing Takes Time

The quiet hum of my apartment felt like a soundtrack to my heartache. I sat on the couch, staring blankly at the wall, surrounded by memories of Nathan. The room seemed too still, too quiet for my mind, which was anything but. I could feel the heaviness in my chest, the weight of the past few days pressing down on me like a thousand-pound boulder. Each second felt like an eternity.

I had always prided myself on being strong, independent, and level-headed. But now? Now, I felt like a shell of who I once was. The breakup wasn't just a loss of love-it was a loss of the future I had envisioned. A life I thought I'd be living was suddenly ripped away.

Nathan and I had been together for two years, and in that time, I had poured everything into our relationship. I was convinced we were heading toward something real. But his sudden coldness, the arguments, the distance... it all led to this: him walking away, leaving me with nothing but shattered dreams and unanswered questions.

What had I done wrong?

I tossed my phone onto the coffee table, where it lay, silent but ever-present, a constant reminder of everything that had slipped away. My mind wandered back to the breakup. His words echoed in my head, his tone sharp, final. "I just don't feel the same anymore." My heart clenched at the memory. It wasn't just the end of a relationship-it felt like the end of me.

A knock on my door snapped me out of my thoughts. I quickly wiped away the stray tear that had escaped down my cheek, not wanting anyone to see my vulnerability. But I knew exactly who it was. Clara.

I opened the door to find her standing there, arms crossed, eyes scanning my face. Clara was the type of person who could read you like a book. The kind of friend who never sugar-coated things but always had your back.

She didn't speak right away. She didn't need to. Her presence alone was a comfort, a reminder that I wasn't alone in this.

"Come on," she said finally, uncrossing her arms and stepping inside. "You're not going to stay in here feeling sorry for yourself. We're going out."

I gave her a half-hearted smile. "Where?"

"Doesn't matter. We'll figure it out on the way," Clara replied, taking a seat beside me. "But we're going out. No more sitting in your feelings. Trust me, that's the last thing you need right now."

Clara had been my best friend since elementary school. She was one of those people who could always make you laugh, even when everything seemed to be falling apart. She had short, jet-black hair, tattoos on her arms that told stories, and a wardrobe full of bold, vintage outfits. She was the one who always made sure I saw the light at the end of the tunnel, even when I couldn't find it myself.

"You don't get it," I muttered, shaking my head. "How do I just move on from this? I was in love with him. It hurts, Clara."

"I know, babe. I know. But let me remind you of something. Nathan? He's not worth it. He's a douchebag, and you deserve better."

I laughed bitterly. "You always have a way of putting things into perspective."

"That's why you keep me around," she said with a grin. "Now, come on. I've got a killer outfit in mind for you. You're going to look so good that Nathan will wish he never walked away."

She stood, offering me her hand. I hesitated for a moment, then took it. Maybe it wasn't going to be easy, but I knew I had to take the first step. For my own sanity. For my own healing.