HER

THE BEGINNING OF MISERY

ALEX's POV

I woke up with a dull throb in my head. The last thing I remembered was dropping Tania off at her hotel lodge, and then—boom! Everything faded. I knew how drinking messed with my memory, and I wasn’t even a fan of it. But Tania had sweet-talked me into taking “just a sip,” and before I knew it, I was out.

I turned to face her, lying beside me, not making a sound. Even in her sleep, she looked like the warmest and most beautiful woman I’d ever met. She used to be my girl, but something about this felt wrong—deeply wrong. No matter what I felt for her, whatever happened couldn't be justified. My mind raced, and I desperately hoped we hadn’t crossed any lines.

Then, I felt her arm slip around me.

"Good morning, baby," she whispered, stroking my beard. I gently pulled her hand away, turning to face her.

"Was this your plan, Tania?" My voice was calm, though my thoughts were anything but. No matter how cruel her actions,

I couldn’t bring myself to be angry with her, let's say I never did.

Her face clouded over. "What are you talking about, Alex? We had a drink, and you passed out after just one glass. Don’t you remember?"

I rubbed my forehead, trying to push through the blurry memory. "Did anything happen?" I asked, locking eyes with hers.

But she looked away, avoiding my gaze. My heart pounded faster, and fear crawled at me. If what I suspected had happened, I wasn’t sure I could live with it. Her hesitation was beginning to pierce my heart.

"We were both tipsy… you wouldn’t stop kissing me," she mumbled.

"And?"

"I think we… slept together."

My body stiffened. "What do you mean ‘think’? What girl doesn’t know if a guy slept with her or not?" My voice grew louder, anger creeping in.

Her face hardened. "Okay, fine. We did. But you can’t put that on me!" she snapped.

My mind reeled. "What?!" I blurted out, my chest tightening. Blood rushed to my head, and I suddenly felt sick. I grabbed her by the shoulders, forcing her to meet my gaze. Tania was always determined, always calculated. Deep down, I knew this was part of her plan, and that realization only fueled my anger. I thought I could never truly be mad at her, but this… this was too much. I couldn't even stop myself from getting angry, but I tried to remain calm.

"You just ruined any chance we had of being friends," I said, my voice low and shaking. "Please, Tania, don’t come looking for me again. I beg you. The sight of you is starting to make me sick."

Her eyes widened, but she said nothing. I stood up, grabbed my shirt from the chair, and left, slamming the door behind me without looking back.

***

I glanced at my phone, my heart sank when I saw five missed calls from Mum. She knew I had always checked in when I stayed out overnight, and the silence was deafening. Usually I should be welcomed by the nice aroma of her cooking. It's her norm every weekend. A sense of foreboding settled in as I pushed open the door, noticing it was half open. Panic set in but I shoved it away. I smelled my shirt, and it smelled like I was drenched in a woman's perfume. I couldn't let her see me reeking of Tania's perfume. I couldn't let her start prying on me if I got a girlfriend.

I sprinted upstairs, my mind still feeling something off. I quickly took a hasty shower and changed my clothes. Later, I was back downstairs, my thoughts consumed by Muna. Guilt gnawed at me; I had wronged her and I can't deny loving her, but I let the pain I felt briefly ruin our chance together and then Tania coming in the picture made me all confused, but now, I think I want Mun back.

As I entered the kitchen, my mind shifted again, and I wondered where Mum could be. Her flight wasn't until Monday, and she didn't have any meetings scheduled. A sense of unease crept over me as I made my way to the sitting area. That's when I saw her.

My jaw dropped, and my face was slick with sweat. "Mum?!" I exclaimed, rushing towards her. Blood dripped from her head, and my tears flowed uncontrollably. I shook her desperately, pleading, "Mum, please say something!" My phone trembled in my hand as I tried to dial a line.

I scooped her up in my arms, but her body was cold, her skin a grayish white, as if life had been drained from her. Without hesitation, I rushed her to the car, my voice cracking as I whispered, "Just hold on, Mum. You'll be okay." I sped away, my heart racing with fear. My thoughts were blank, but I know I can't tell what would happen if I lost her.

The nurses rushed towards us, their faces engraved with urgency, as I cradled my mother's frail body in my arms. They swiftly wrapped an oxygen mask around her nose, and the sight was almost just too much to bear. I clutched her hands, my voice trembling with desperation.

"Mum, please... stay with me. I'll be good, I promise. Just don't leave me, okay?" I whispered to her, as though she was listening.

The nurses gently pried her from my grasp, placing her on a stretcher as they swooped her away to the emergency center. I tried to follow, but a nurse blocked my path.

"You can't go in, sir. You need to wait outside."

Tears welled up in my eyes as mucus dripped from my nose. The thought of losing my mother, the one person that meant the world to me, was suffocating. I felt my knees yielded, and I collapsed to the ground, overcome with grief.

With shaking hands, I managed to dial Muna's number. She arrived in a flash, her face scarred with worry. I fell into her arms, my body wracked with sobs.

"She's in there... fighting for her life... and I... I can't do anything."

Muna held me tightly, but I held her more tightly, my anger and frustration boiling over as I shut my eyes. The doctor emerged, his face somber.

"I'm so sorry, sir... You came in just too late. She lost a lot of blood."

Muna gasped, holding me tightly, but I shook her off. "No, no, no! This can't be happening!" I confronted the doctor, my voice rising.

"What do you mean I'm late? I took her as soon as I found her!"

The doctor's expression was sympathetic, but his words cut deep. "We did everything we could, sir..."

I felt my world crumbling around me. "No! You have to save her! You have to!" I screamed, my fists clenched in desperation.

Muna wrapped her arms around me, holding me close as tears streamed down my face. "Stop it, Mun... You're making it seem like we've lost her."

But deep down, I knew the truth. My mother was slipping away. She had actually slipped away, and I was powerless to stop it. The doctor's silence was deafening, it raised my heart more aches.

As I held Muna tightly, my heart shattered into a million pieces. "Who did this to her? Who took her away from me?" I demanded, my voice cracking with grief.

Muna's silence was the only response I needed. We both knew that my mother was gone, and nothing would ever be the same again.

"I'm sorry, Lex," was all that fell from her lips.