Chapter 2: The Cold Between Us
1023 Words
Despite what she saw, she was still waiting but -
No message from him.
No “Merry Christmas, Lyra.”
No “I miss you.”
Nothing.
She refreshed the inbox. Checked every app. Looked through old chats. Still nothing.
Her chest tightened again. Not from surprise but from confirmation. He didn’t care. He didn’t even pretend to care.
She stared at the screen, her heart sinking deeper. The silence was louder than any goodbye.
She opened their old messages. Scrolled through the “I love you’s,” the inside jokes, the plans for New Year’s. She saw the photo of the bracelet she had sent him weeks ago, asking, “Do you like this?” He had replied, “It’s perfect. Just like you.”
Lies.
She closed the app and threw the phone across the couch. It didn’t break. But something inside her did.
She sat up, wiped her face, and looked around her apartment. It was still the same. Cozy. Familiar. But now it felt like a museum of memories she didn’t want to visit.
She walked to the mirror. Her eyes were swollen. Her lips pale. Her hair tangled. But behind the mess, she saw something else, someone else.
Not the girl who waited for love.
Not the girl who believed in forever.
But a woman who had been shattered and was still standing.
She picked up the red box from her bag. Opened it. The bracelet gleamed softly in the morning light. His name. Her name. Side by side.
She stared at it for a long time. Then she closed the box and placed it in a drawer. Not to forget. But to remember. To remind herself of what she gave and what she deserved.
She didn’t know what would come next. But she knew this:
She would never beg for love again.
She would never wait for a message that would never come.
Days passed after Christmas, and Lyra changed.
She used to smile at strangers, hum songs while cooking, and take long walks through quiet streets. Now, she barely moved. Her curtains stayed closed. Her phone stayed silent. Her heartfelt heavy.
No message from her boyfriend.
No message from her best friend.
Not even a simple “Merry Christmas.”
She waited. She hoped. But nothing came.
So she stopped hoping.
She ordered food online, ate in silence, and stared at the walls. Her apartment felt colder each day, even with the heater on. Her body was warm, but her soul felt frozen.
Then came New Year’s Eve.
Lyra sat curled up on the couch, wrapped in a blanket. A romance movie played on TV. Two people fall in love, dancing under the stars, whispering promises.
She watched quietly for a while.
Then she grabbed the remote and turned it off.
“There’s no such thing as forever,” she whispered.
She picked up her phone to order dinner again. But then her screen lit up.
A message.
From him.
“Happy New Year’s Eve, love. I miss you so much. Can we see each other tonight? I want to start the year with you.”
Lyra stared at it. Her chest tightened. After all this time, he finally messaged. But why now?
Before she could reply, another message popped up.
From her best friend.
“Lyraaaa! It’s New Year’s Eve! Let’s go out tonight. I miss you.”
Her hands shook. She didn’t know what to say. She didn’t want to see them. Not tonight. Not yet..
She typed slowly to them and replied:
“Sorry, I’m not feeling well. I’ll stay home.”
Her boyfriend replied quickly:
“Are you sick? What’s wrong? I can bring medicine or soup. I want to see you.”
Then her best friend messaged:
“Is it a cold? Or are you just tired? I can come over.”
"No, it's fine Camille" she replied to her bff message.
Lyra stared at the screen. Her chest felt tight. She didn’t want to lie, but she couldn’t tell the truth—not yet.
She typed:
“It’s just a headache. I think I need to rest. I’ve been feeling off all day.”
She wanted to type 'love' but it hurt.
Her boyfriend replied:
“Okay, I understand, but if you need me, I can come over."
Lyra’s fingers hovered over the keyboard. She wanted to say, “I saw you.” She wanted to ask, “Why did you do it?” But instead, she typed:
“Thanks, but I’m sorry. I really need to be alone tonight.”
Her best friend sent one last message:
“Okay. I miss you, Lyra. I hope you feel better soon. ”
Lyra didn’t reply.
She turned off her phone, walked to the window, and looked out. The city was alive: people laughing, lights glowing, fireworks starting.
But Lyra stayed inside.
She sat on the floor, hugged her knees, and whispered to herself:
“Out of all the people in the world, why did you two choose to betray me?”
"You both of you who mean so much to me?”
“What did I ever do to deserve this kind of pain from you?”
Her voice was barely a breath. Her eyes didn’t spill tears this time. They just stared, wide and quiet.
She leaned her head against the wall and closed her eyes.
Then remembered their laughter. Their promises. The way they used to protect her, hold her, make her feel safe.
Now, they were the reason she felt broken.
She didn’t know how long she sat there. Minutes. Maybe hours.
When the clock struck midnight, the sky outside erupted with color. Fireworks burst one after another, painting the city in red, gold, and silver. Cheers echoed from the streets below, voices filled with joy and hope for the new year.
Lyra didn’t move. She stayed curled against the wall, her blanket slipping from her shoulders. The explosions of light only reminded her of the silence inside her apartment.
Then whispered again, softer this time, “Happy New Year… to everyone but not for me.”
- Writer
