At first, I felt the hit straight in my chest — heavy, sharp, and unexpected. Those words kept circling in my mind like vultures: “Things are falling apart at your place.” It was the kind of message that could break a man already fighting to stay steady.
I walked back inside and leaned against the wall, closing my eyes. My heart was racing. I could’ve panicked. I could’ve rushed out without thinking. I could’ve let the fear swallow me.
But something inside me finally shifted.
For the first time in months, I told myself:
“Wait. Breathe. Don’t let other people’s chaos decide your peace.”
I took a slow breath. Then another. My hands were shaking, but my mind tried to anchor itself. I reminded myself of everything Rebecca and I had survived — the rumours, the distance, the physical pain,
