Broken Until You

Episode4

Broken Until You

The Smile She Could No Longer Wear

Amelia Hart's POV

It had been three weeks .

Three weeks since the afternoon that had shattered the future Amelia had imagined for herself.

She hadn't told anyone.

Not Lily.

Not her parents.

Not even herself—not completely.

Replaying that very afternoon.

She was only one her way to the cafeteria with Lily when she saw him Ryan alongside Jason .

Hey beautiful he said and I smiled hey Ryan it ,

That day made it the third week we have been seeing each other since when we have hit it off not long after Lily called my attention towards him we got to know each other and I figured out he was a good guy and new to our school .

We figured out our interests aligns and I think I like him and that thinking made me blush my heart keeps fluttering he's gat the charm .

Hey Amelia remember today is my birthday uhn

Yeah i remember, I replied while sweeping back my hair with a smile .

I Already prepared a gift. I said

I'm looking forward to having it then.

Sure but I left it at home.

Once I get back home this afternoon I'll bring it back so let's meet at the coffee shop . I said

That will be great but, can you follow me somewhere later .Ryan asked with a pleading tone

It must mean a lot to him for him to be like that I thought so without thinking I said yes although I wasn't very comfortable to agreeing to go to who knows where with him but I still said yes,

And that was the greatest mistake I ever did

On getting to the coffee shop we left on Ryan's bike and after a ride which wasn't very long we appeared at the front of a single apartment.

I guess it must be a place given to him by either of his parents or a place he stays when he doesn't want to be bothered so I felt a bit happy he was willing to bring me there .

Being naive ,stupid and love struck I thought of it as acknowledgement. After parking his bike he held my hand .

"Hey beautiful" Ryan said smiling and I smiled back at him ,

Let's go in he said and while going in i asked him about what has been on my mind since we got there .

Whose house is this is asked

It belongs to my mom this is what she left me and I do come here once in a while for some quite .

Oh okay I said knowingly.

Now we are here he said while setting down the gift I brought to him down on the bed .

It a single room apartment not extravagant but okay I thought while looking around lost in thought it looks nice although not very spacious and I couldn't help noticing the fact that he appears to be clean ,

or maybe just maybe he put in efforts knowing I was going to come ,and that unsettled me a bit .

It now made me conscious of the fact that we are alone in a cramped space .

I shifted uncomfortable on one foot while watching Ryan stroll to the door to secure the lock .

That made my heart race and panic start setting in but I decided to keep it at bay thinking he's a good guy he won't try anything improper .

Then he came back to my side hey beautiful

sit will you .

or don't tell me you don't feel like sitting cause you find here uncomfortable and not to your taste it all i have .

He said invoking some pity in me although I know he won't want that ,nobody like being pitied .

No no I said while sitting then not long after I was now feeling a bit much more relaxed since he's started engaging me in more talks before he later on made a move on holding my hand and later on placed a kiss on it .

It was a very strange thing for me but I still pretend to be fine while smiling.

that made him grow bolder then he advanced but it got to one level that I started to protest but he just won't give up although I obviously and strongly object to engaging in any improper act.

but that only fueled him more and he forcefully had his way with me .

I left feeling distress,humiliated and deeply wounded .

He only saw what he did as a normal happenings between a boyfriend and a girlfriend, and he was even being sarcastic about it .

He told me there was nothing wrong it was normal he never felt sorry about what he did and that opened my eye.

It was heart wrenching I couldn't stop crying.

I just can't tell anybody .

I don't want people knowing about the humiliation but then .

I remember Lily and her warning, It made me feel sad ,

But there is nothing I could do.

I must never tell her I can't

She loves me like a sister if I were to tell her then other will know she might tell my parents and that might break them and invite more trouble or they might even be disappointed in me if things turn other ways I possibly can't tell any one about it .

I already ended things with him before leaving and he was acting as if he never even cared not even once .

I just can't believe this i just got deceived.

My thinking of forever love is shattered.

A lone tear slipped down the side of my eye.

Every morning she stood in front of her bedroom mirror, forcing herself to look normal.

She brushed her hair.

Applied a little lip balm.

Smiled.

The smile never reached her eyes.

Downstairs, Grace looked up from the breakfast table.

"There you are, sweetheart."

Daniel smiled warmly.

"I made your favorite pancakes."

Amelia looked at the plate.

Normally she would have reached for two.

Today...

"I'm not hungry."

Grace frowned.

"You skipped dinner last night too."

"I had a late snack."

It was a lie.

Daniel exchanged a worried glance with his wife but didn't press her.

"At least take some fruit with you."

"I will."

She picked up an apple she knew she wouldn't eat, kissed both parents on the cheek, and left before they could ask more questions.

The moment the front door closed behind her, her smile disappeared.

She felt exhausted.

Not physically.

Emotionally.

The world kept moving as though nothing had happened.

Cars drove past.

Children laughed on their way to school.

People greeted one another with cheerful smiles.

How could everything still look so ordinary when she felt as though her world had fallen apart?

---

College didn't feel the same anymore.

The familiar paths she once loved now felt endless.

The fashion studio that had once inspired her now stood silent.

She sat through lectures without hearing a word.

Her sketchbook remained closed.

Professor Carter noticed immediately.

"Miss Hart?"

Amelia looked up.

"Would you stay behind for a moment after class?"

Her heart tightened.

"Yes, Professor."

When the classroom emptied, Professor Carter sat across from her.

"This isn't about your grades."

Amelia lowered her eyes.

"I know."

"You've changed."

"You've stopped drawing."

"You've stopped asking questions."

"And today..."

She hesitated.

"...you looked frightened when someone accidentally touched your shoulder."

Amelia's fingers tightened around her notebook.

"I'm just tired."

Professor Carter's voice remained gentle.

"If something is wrong..."

"...you don't have to carry it alone."

For one brief second, Amelia thought about telling her.

She wanted to.

She wanted someone to understand why she couldn't sleep.

Why she kept replaying every conversation, every decision, wondering if she'd done something differently.

Instead, she simply whispered,

"I'm sorry."

Professor Carter didn't ask another question.

She only said softly,

"When you're ready to talk, my door will still be open."