"What the hell are you talking about?"

"You know damn right what I'm talking about," Nate sneered from above me.

I pushed him off me and sat up in bed, my body pulsing with shock and anger.

"You can't be in my room. What do you think you're doing?" I exclaimed, with a mix of anger and frustration in my voice. "This is my private space, and I don't want anyone coming in here without my permission."

"As if you respect people's privacy. As if you respected mine." Nate moved away from the bed, his body so tense and seething with anger. "How you exposed my family to the world. Do you have any idea what you have done?"

I was taken aback by the accusations, that I physically reared my head back.

"Nate, what are you talking about?" I asked, my voice filled with confusion. I stood up from my bed, my hands on my hips, trying to understand what was happening. "What do you mean I exposed your family to the world?"

"You know exactly what I mean, Ellie," Nate said, his voice filled with anger. He pointed an accusing finger at me, his body tensed as if ready for a fight. "You shared my family's story online and now everyone knows what we've been through."

"I would never do that, Nate," I said, my eyes wide with shock. I took a step back, feeling as though I had been punched in the stomach. "I never looked into your family or you."

"Well, it's out there now," Nate said, his voice filled with frustration. He ran a hand through his hair, pacing back and forth in front of me. "And it's all your fault."

"Nate, I swear I had nothing to do with this," I said, my voice trembling with emotion. "I would never betray your trust like that. We're friends, remember?"

Nate stopped pacing and looked at me, his eyes filled with a mixture of anger and disbelief. I could see the hurt and pain in his eyes, and it broke my heart. Whatever was published online must be severely damaging. What was worse is that, I had no clue who he really was. I guess the people online knew more than me.

"I need to see it for myself," Nate said, his voice cold and distant. He turned to leave my room, but I reached out to stop him.

"Nate, please," I said, my voice choking with tears. "I didn't do this. You have to believe me. I would never hurt you or your family like that."

But Nate just shook his head and continued walking out of my room, leaving me feeling lost and alone. I sank back down onto my bed, tears streaming down my face. How could this have happened?

I sat there for what felt like hours, trying to make sense of what had just happened. Eventually, I got up and went to my computer, determined to find out what had happened and clear my name.

But as I scrolled through social media, my heart sank. There it was, in black and white - a post about Nate's family, including details I had no cluse about. I felt sick to my stomach.

Nate. Living with his parents.

I see an image of a woman. Her beauty was both striking and effortless. Her skin was like porcelain, smooth and unblemished. Her eyes were a stunning shade of emerald green and she was smiling in the picture.

Her hair was a rich shade of chestnut brown, cascading down her back in loose waves.

I see the headlines. So big and loud.

Dead.

This woman was dead.

Death by suicide.

I see a picture of Nate below hers, smiling and looking so young and youthful.

And the online news reporting website that first to have seemingly published this was owned by none other than my father. And I always published any information I wanted out in the world on this site.

What the fuck?

Confusion riddled my brain until I couldn't take it anymore. I shut my computer off and crawled back in bed.

****

The next morning came too soon.

As I lay in bed, I could feel the comfortable weight of my blankets cocooning me, keeping me warm and safe. But even though I was still asleep, my senses were slowly starting to awaken to the sounds of the morning.

The soft rustling of leaves outside my window caught my ear, reminding me of the gentle breeze that was blowing. The distant sound of birds chirping softly was like a lullaby, comforting and familiar. And as the sun began to rise, a golden glow filled my room, painting everything in a warm and soft light.

But despite all these peaceful sounds, my mind was still consumed by the events of the previous night. I couldn't shake off the feeling of dread that was weighing down on me, the memories of the arguments and accusations that had filled the air.

I lay there for a few more moments, savouring the peace and calm of the morning. And even though I was still technically asleep, my mind was starting to come alive, my thoughts gradually turning to the day ahead.

But even as I tried to push aside the events of the previous night, I couldn't help feeling a deep sense of dread and sadness. I didn't know how to fix things, or if they could even be fixed at all.

It was a difficult way to start the day - to be surrounded by the gentle sounds of the morning, while still feeling the heavy weight of what had happened the night before. But I knew I needed to push through, to find a way to make things right again.

Finally, with a deep sigh, I forced myself out of bed. My legs felt heavy as I stumbled towards the bathroom, still feeling the weight of everything that had happened.

I turned on the shower and let the warm water wash over me, trying to wash away the memories of the previous night. I closed my eyes and let the water run down my face, feeling the tension in my muscles slowly start to ease.

As I shampooed my hair and soaped my body, I started to feel a sense of renewal and a new perspective on things. I realized that no matter what had happened the night before, I had the power to control my own emotions and reactions.

I stepped out of the shower and toweled myself dry, feeling refreshed and ready to face the day. As I walked out of the bathroom, I was suddenly interrupted by the sound of someone barging into my room. I turned to see Lorna standing in the doorway with a look of panic on her face.

"Ellie, you overslept!" she exclaimed, her voice high with alarm. "Your dad's hosting a dinner party tonight and you need to be ready by six."

I was taken aback, my mind still reeling from the events of the previous night. "A dinner party?" I repeated, still in a state of shock.

"Yes." Lorna replied in a clipped tone. "He wants you dressed up impeccably."

I stood there for a moment, still trying to process everything that was happening. I was overwhelmed by the sudden change in plans, and I didn't know how I was going to make it through a dinner party after everything that had happened the night before.

But even as I felt a sense of panic rising within me, I knew that I had to put on a brave face. I took a deep breath and turned to Lorna, forcing a smile.

"Okay, I'll be ready," I said, trying to sound confident. "Let's make sure tonight goes smoothly."

With that, Lorna nodded and headed out of the room, leaving me to get ready for the evening ahead. Despite my reservations, I was determined to make the best of the situation, and to show my dad and his guests that I was capable and in control.

I walked over to my closet and opened the doors, feeling a sense of dread wash over me. I knew that I needed to look my best for tonight's dinner party, but I didn't know where to start.

I scanned the shelves, taking in the rows of neatly folded clothes. My eyes landed on a red dress that I hadn't worn in ages. I took it off the hanger and held it up against myself, trying to imagine what I would look like in it.

Next, I pulled out a black jumpsuit that I had only worn once. I looked at myself in the mirror, cringing at the thought of wearing something that I wasn't completely comfortable in.

I sighed, feeling overwhelmed by the choices before me. I had no idea what I wanted to wear or what would make me look my best. I felt like a fish out of water, struggling to keep my head above water in the sea of options before me.

I took a deep breath and tried to calm my racing thoughts. I needed to focus, I reminded myself. I needed to find the perfect outfit for tonight's dinner party and show my dad and his guests that I was the confident and capable woman that I wanted to be.