Mya

The morning sun creeps through the curtains, casting a soft glow on my bedroom. I’ve always been a morning person, but today, the warmth of the sun feels like a reminder that I’ve been running on empty lately. I groggily swipe through my emails on my phone before I even step out of bed. Client feedback, investor reports, schedules all the usual. But today, it feels a little more overwhelming.

I rise from the bed and stretch, the muscles in my back protesting the lack of sleep. The weight of everything on my shoulders makes it feel like the world is a little too heavy today. The business is doing well, but with every new success, the pressure mounts. I find myself asking, is this enough?

After a quick shower, I throw on a pair of tailored pants and a simple blouse. A quick glance in the mirror reminds me that I still have that “I’ve got it all together” look, even if it feels like it’s starting to crack. My reflection stares back, and I remind myself I’m Mya. I can handle this.

The drive to the office is filled with thoughts of the meeting I have later. It’s crucial this client could make or break my next big step. I’ve prepared all night, but still, the nerves itch at the back of my mind. I can’t afford to fail.

Once I get there, the day kicks off at full speed. Every decision, every call feels like it carries the weight of the next phase of my career. I push through, my head swimming in numbers, plans, projections. But amid the chaos, there’s a quiet ache in me, something that’s been growing for a while now.

The ache isn’t just the work. It’s Jordan.

I pull myself back to reality as I finish up my meeting. I’ve nailed it another deal on the table. But when the door closes behind me, there’s this lingering emptiness. I want to tell him, I did it. But all I can do is check my phone to see a message from him: How’s it going today?

His words pull me from the fog for a moment. It’s going well, I text back, forcing a smile. I wish I could say more, but we both know why I keep it short. The secrecy is starting to weigh on me, and I’m not sure how much longer I can keep pretending everything is fine when all I want is to spend more time with him.

Lunch comes, and I decide to take a break. The beach is only a few blocks away, so I head there, needing the space to think. As I walk along the shoreline, the salty air fills my lungs, and for a brief moment, the world feels simple again. The waves crash, and I let myself breathe.

But then my phone buzzes, breaking the peace. It’s Jordan again, asking if I’ve eaten. Not yet, I reply. And then, What are you up to?

I laugh to myself, as if he can hear it through the phone. I’m walking by the beach, thinking about you.

The message sends, and I smile. It’s moments like these when I feel that flutter in my chest that I wish things were different. That I could just be with him, no secrets, no distance. But I know I can’t. Not yet.

I return to the office, diving straight into the afternoon grind. But today, something feels different. There’s a tension in the air something urgent. A big decision looms, and it’s all on me to handle it. My mind races through the possible outcomes, and I feel the pressure to get it right. But the thought of Jordan lingers in the back of my mind, reminding me that there’s something outside of all this.

Something real.

By the time the office closes, my head is spinning, but there’s a pull toward home. Toward him. My apartment feels like a refuge now, a place to unwind and let the weight of the day lift off my shoulders. I head inside, drop my bag by the door, and head straight for the bathroom. A hot bath will do wonders for my frayed nerves.

As I soak in the warmth, my thoughts wander to him again. I can picture his smile, his touch, the way he makes me feel like everything could be right in the world. But the reality hits me hard how long can we keep this up?

I can’t keep hiding. But I don’t know what will happen when the truth comes out. All I know is that it’s worth the risk. For him.

I finish my bath, wrap myself in a towel, and stare out the window at the city lights below. It’s quiet. Almost too quiet.

I pick up my phone, checking the time. Another hour until I can call him, hear his voice. Just one more hour.

But something tugs at me, that feeling of uncertainty creeping back in. What happens if this all falls apart?

I sigh, reaching for my phone to send him a message.

I miss you.

I hit send before I can talk myself out of it.

Jordan

I stood in front of Emily, my frustration barely contained. “We need to see the doctor, Emily. The baby...”

“I’m not going anywhere with you, Jordan,” she interrupted, her voice sharp and dismissive. “I’m fine. I don’t need a doctor to tell me that.”

Her words stung, but I forced myself to take a deep breath. Emily had always been like this resistant to anything that required effort. It didn’t matter that we were expecting a child. It didn’t matter that there was a life growing inside her. I could see the way she just didn’t care.

Before I could respond, her phone buzzed, and she picked it up without a second thought. “Sophia’s coming over,” Emily said, smiling to herself as she typed something on her screen. “Maybe we can talk about more important things than the baby.”

I clenched my jaw. Of course, she’d rather chat with Sophia than deal with any real responsibility.

Not long after, the doorbell rang, and Sophia entered with her usual air of entitlement. Emily motioned for her to sit down, and they began talking as though the baby wasn’t the most important thing in our lives right now. They were discussing anything but that.

The conversation shifted. “I don’t get it,” Emily said, her voice casual. “Why does Jordan keep sticking around with someone like Mya? She’s nothing but trouble. Not even a good mother leaving her own kids behind like that.”

Sophia agreed without hesitation. “Right? And she’s walking around acting like she’s some business queen, buying people’s loyalty with all her money. No wonder Jordan’s so distant. He’s probably gotten himself wrapped up in her life instead of his own.”

My stomach twisted with every word, but I couldn’t bring myself to interrupt them. I felt sick hearing them talk about Mya like that like she wasn’t worth anything. I wanted to scream, to defend her, but I couldn’t. It wasn’t the right moment, not here, not with Emily and Sophia acting like I wasn’t even in the room.

I didn’t say another word. I couldn’t handle it any longer. I turned on my heel and left, slamming the door behind me as I stormed out of the apartment.

I didn’t know where I was going. I just needed to get away. My feet led me to the restaurant. At least there, I could focus on something else. On my employees, on the business.

When I arrived, the staff were in full swing. Everything was running smoothly, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of heaviness in my chest. I locked myself in my office for a while, watching the city outside, thinking about everything that had been happening. After two hours, I couldn’t take it anymore. I needed to be around people who actually cared.

I decided to visit my parents. I needed the comfort of home, the familiarity of their love, even if it wasn’t entirely real.

When I walked in, Mom was the first to greet me, pulling me into a warm hug. Dad was at the table, reading the newspaper. I sat with them, and we caught up on life their lives, mostly. It was easier that way. It felt safe.

“So, how’s everything with Emily?” my mom asked, her voice soft, full of concern.

I hesitated, but only for a moment. I couldn’t bring myself to tell them the truth, not when everything felt like it was falling apart. “It’s going well. We’re just working through some things,” I lied.

Dad nodded, his face filled with understanding. “Relationships aren’t always smooth, son. You have to work at them, even when it’s tough.”

I nodded along, agreeing with him, but my mind was miles away. I faked a smile, and after an hour of small talk, I excused myself. I couldn’t stay much longer. I needed to clear my head, and I couldn’t do that in this house.

I pulled my phone out as I walked to my car, my thoughts drifting to Mya. She was the one person who always made me feel heard, who understood when I felt like I was drowning.

I called her.

“Hey,” Mya’s voice was warm, like a blanket on a cold night.

“Hey,” I said, my voice softening as I leaned against my car. “How was the event?”

“It went really well,” she replied. “I met the Browns—they’re lovely people. But, honestly, I have so much work to do. It’s like I can’t keep up with it all. It’s exhausting, Jordan.”

I could hear the exhaustion in her voice, but there was a strength to it, too. She was so determined. So capable. It made me feel like everything would be okay in the end.

“I get it,” I said, rubbing my hand over my face. “It’s tough when everything piles up.”

Mya was quiet for a moment. Then, her voice softened, and I could feel her care through the phone. “I know you’re going through a lot with Emily right now, but you need to stay strong. Everything will be okay, Jordan. The truth will come out eventually, and you don’t have to carry all of this alone. I’m always here for you. If you need someone to talk to, if you need anything, you can call me.”

I closed my eyes, trying to breathe through the ache in my chest. “Thank you, Mya. I don’t know what I’d do without you. It’s just... Emily doesn’t get it. She doesn’t understand what this all means.”

“You’re doing your best,” she said softly. “Sometimes people just don’t see things the way they should. But the right people will. You just have to be patient. I’m here, Jordan. I’ll always be here.”

Her words were like a lifeline, pulling me back from the edge of my own self-doubt. I wanted to believe everything would be okay. I needed to.

“I’ll keep holding on,” I said quietly, a small smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. “Thank you for always being there for me.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” she said, and I could hear the sincerity in her voice.

After we hung up, I headed back to the apartment. The second I stepped inside, I was hit with the mess. Dishes piled up, clothes scattered around. It looked like a bomb had gone off.

I looked at Sophia, who was sitting on the couch, scrolling through her phone. “Why didn’t you clean up?” I asked, my frustration seeping through, but I tried to keep my tone even.

She didn’t even look up, her response casual. “You’re here now, aren’t you? You’re Emily’s fiancé. It’s your job to clean up.”

I felt a stab of hurt, but I didn’t show it. Instead, I grabbed a dishcloth and started washing the dishes, my hands moving mechanically. I couldn’t let her see how much that comment cut me. I couldn’t let anyone see it.

It was already 8 PM, and Emily was asleep on the couch. I slipped out without a word, heading straight to the gym. I worked out for hours, pushing my body to exhaustion in hopes it would silence the thoughts racing through my mind.

But even as I lifted weights, my thoughts kept returning to Mya. How kind she was. How supportive. How beautiful her heart was. She was everything Emily wasn’t. She was the one person who made me feel like I mattered, like I was seen.

When I finally locked up the gym, I drove back to James’s apartment, only to remember that he was on vacation with his wife. So, I parked my car and leaned back in the seat, staring at the ceiling. I was exhausted, emotionally drained, but I couldn’t bring myself to go anywhere else.

I closed my eyes, letting the silence take over. I needed peace, and for now, all I had was the stillness of my car.

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