The silence in the apartment was deafening. It had been days since Julian had left, and though the weight of his departure still lingered in the air, there was a sense of finality that Vivian couldn't deny. She had made her choice. No more games. No more lies. The betrayal was too deep, the scars too raw. She had drawn her line, and now she needed to stand by it.
Her gaze drifted to the balcony, where the world beyond felt distant, disconnected from the storm swirling inside her. The phone rested on the coffee table, a silent reminder of the calls and messages that still flooded in from Julian. Yet, she couldn't bring herself to open any of them. What was left to say? What was there that could undo the damage he'd done? Vivian knew she was done with him, but she didn't know if she was truly ready to let go of everything he represented.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the soft knock at the door. Vivian hesitated, her heart pounding in her chest. Damien.
It had been a few days since their conversation—since she had revealed just how much Julian's betrayal had shattered her. Damien had listened, his calm presence a quiet refuge in the storm of emotions she couldn't control. He hadn't pushed her. He hadn't rushed her to get over the pain. He just... let her be. And that meant more than she could ever express.
But now, as the door opened, she wasn't sure if she was ready for what came next. Damien had been there for years, always a friend, always a steady force in her life, but things had changed. She had changed. Her heart felt guarded, wrapped in layers of hurt and distrust. She had built walls so high that she wasn't sure if anyone could scale them. Not even Damien, no matter how kind or understanding he had been.
"Hey," Damien greeted softly, his voice warm as he stepped inside. He looked at her, his eyes reflecting a quiet concern. "How are you holding up?"
Vivian shrugged, giving a small, uncertain smile. "I'm... getting there. Slowly."
She gestured for him to sit on the couch, taking a seat beside him. The space between them felt too wide, and yet, too small. She couldn't find the balance, couldn't find the right words. She didn't even know where to start.
Damien studied her for a moment, his gaze steady but gentle. "You're still processing everything, huh?" he asked, as if reading her mind. "I get it, Viv. It's not something you just bounce back from."
Vivian nodded, her eyes staring ahead, focusing on the view outside, but not really seeing it. "It's hard," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I trusted him... I thought he was different. But everything he said—it was all a lie. Everything. The trips, the late nights, the excuses. And now... now I'm left picking up the pieces."
Her voice cracked slightly, and Damien reached out, his hand lightly resting on hers. "You don't have to do this alone, Viv. You've got me. You've always had me."
Vivian closed her eyes, letting out a breath. "I know. And I appreciate that more than you know. But it's... it's not about you, Damien. It's about what I let happen. About how I ignored the signs. About how trusting I was. Now I don't know how to trust anyone again."
Damien didn't respond immediately. Instead, he let her words hang in the air, his hand still resting over hers. He understood the depth of her pain because he had seen her vulnerability before. He had been a part of her life long before Julian had ever come into the picture. They had shared so many moments, so many conversations, but this was different. This wasn't just about their friendship anymore. This was about healing—and Vivian wasn't sure if she was ready for that kind of change. Not yet.
"You don't have to have it all figured out right now," Damien said quietly, his voice low but firm. "You don't have to be okay right away. It's okay to be unsure, to be scared. Hell, I'd be scared too if I were in your shoes. But that doesn't mean you have to shut everyone out. Especially not me."
Vivian felt a pang in her chest. She knew what he was saying was true. She knew that, deep down, she needed to stop isolating herself. But her heart was torn. How could she trust again? How could she let someone in, knowing the risk that came with it? The risk of betrayal, the risk of being hurt again?
"I don't know if I can do that," Vivian admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I want to believe you, Damien. I do. But I can't... I can't promise that I'll be able to open up again. Not yet."
Damien nodded, his fingers gently squeezing hers. "I'm not asking you to make promises, Viv. I'm not asking you to jump into anything. I just want you to know that I'm here for you, whenever you're ready. You don't have to do anything you're not ready for."
She met his gaze then, and for a moment, the walls that had been built around her heart seemed to crack just a little. Damien wasn't pushing her. He wasn't demanding anything. He was offering his support, his patience, his time. And that, in itself, was more than enough.
"I'm sorry," Vivian said, her voice thick with emotion. "I didn't mean to shut you out. I just... I'm scared. Scared of getting hurt again. Scared of trusting too easily."
"I get it," Damien reassured her softly. "And you don't have to apologize for that. What happened with Julian... that was his fault, not yours. You didn't deserve any of it. And you don't have to rush into anything with anyone. Especially not me. But just know that I'm here, no matter what."
Vivian took a deep breath, her gaze dropping to their intertwined hands. She couldn't promise him anything, not yet. But for the first time in a long time, she felt like she was moving toward something better. Something that wasn't weighed down by the past.
"Thank you, Damien," she whispered. "Thank you for being here."
Damien smiled softly, his thumb brushing the back of her hand. "Always, Viv. I'm not going anywhere."
And for the first time in weeks, Vivian allowed herself to believe it. Maybe, just maybe, she didn't have to go through this alone. Maybe, just maybe, she could trust again. But only time would tell. And for now, that was enough.