Maria's Point of View
I stood there, numb, Fredrick's apology hanging in the air like a slow-acting poison. Every second that passed, I felt the walls of my world crumbling around me. Betrayed wasn't even the right word-it was something deeper, something that carved out pieces of my heart.
"I'm sorry, Maria." His words rang in my ears, over and over, like a curse I couldn't escape.
I stared at him, my mouth parched dry, unable to utter a word. The punch in the gut was the truth of his confession. This was Fredrick—the friend who stood by me at everything, even when it seemed that all else was falling apart. And now. this.
"You. What?" I finally rasped, my voice no louder than a whisper, as if the wind had stolen the strength I needed to speak. "Fredrick, what are you saying?"
He look
