Chapter Two
1103 Words
Beneath the Surface
The glow from Ethan’s phone still haunted her.
Renee. The name kept echoing in Lila’s mind long after the screen went dark. She tried to tell herself it was nothing, maybe a simple text, a joke, or something innocent. But something inside her refused to believe it.
Ethan’s breathing had already settled into a slow rhythm beside her. He was asleep, peaceful, untouched by the storm now raging in her chest. Lila turned her back to him and stared into the shadows of their room, counting every beat of her heart.
Sleep would not come. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw that name again, bright and clear, like a whisper she could not unhear.
When morning came, Ethan woke before her. He showered, dressed neatly, and left without saying much. The smell of his cologne lingered long after the sound of the door closing.
Lila sat up in bed and reached for his phone on the table. Her hand trembled before she even touched it. She stared at it for a long time, her conscience and curiosity fighting in silence.
Finally, she unlocked it. The screen opened easily. He had never changed his passcode. For a second, guilt flooded her chest, but it was too late to stop.
Her eyes scanned the screen. Work messages. A few from clients. Then one from Renee.
Renee: Thanks for last night. I needed that talk.
Lila froze. Her vision blurred for a moment. Talk. What talk? There were no messages before that, only this one. The rest of their conversation had been deleted.
She dropped the phone on the bed, her fingers cold. For a long time, she just sat there, staring at nothing.
When her phone buzzed, she jumped. A message from Renee again.
Renee: Morning, love. You free today? Coffee again?
Her throat tightened. She typed quickly.
Lila: Sure. Same place.
She dressed with care, choosing a soft blue dress Ethan once said he liked. As she looked in the mirror, she barely recognized herself. Her smile felt forced, her eyes hollow.
At the café, Renee was already there. She looked radiant, sunlight catching the gold in her hair. She smiled warmly when she saw Lila, the kind of smile that could melt walls.
“Hey, you,” Renee said, standing to hug her. “You look beautiful.”
Lila forced a small smile. “Thanks. You too.”
They sat. The coffee came. The air was filled with the hum of quiet chatter, but between them, silence grew.
“So,” Lila began softly. “You texted Ethan last night?”
Renee’s spoon stopped mid-stir. Her eyes flicked up. “What?”
“I saw your name on his phone.” Lila’s voice trembled slightly. “You said you needed that talk.”
Renee blinked, her lips parting. For a second, she seemed unsure what to say. Then she smiled faintly. “Oh, that. I ran into him at the bar near his office. I was upset after work, and he just listened. That’s all.”
Lila studied her. “You didn’t tell me.”
Renee shrugged, looking down. “It was nothing. I didn’t want to make it awkward. You two were already tense.”
Lila wanted to believe her. She really did. But the image of that deleted chat stayed sharp in her mind.
“Renee,” she said quietly, “if there’s something you’re not telling me”
Renee reached across the table and placed her hand over Lila’s. “Hey, stop. You know me better than that. I’d never hurt you.”
Lila looked at her, at the warmth in her eyes, the way her fingers felt gentle and sure. She nodded slowly. “I know.”
They changed the subject. Chatted about work, about small things that didn’t matter. But inside, Lila’s thoughts kept circling the same question: Why did he delete the messages?
When they parted ways, Renee hugged her tight again, whispering, “Don’t overthink things, Lila. You’ll lose yourself in the noise.”
The words echoed in her head all afternoon.
That evening, she decided to ask Ethan. She reheated dinner, waited at the table, and told herself to stay calm. When the door opened, she smiled, pretending everything was normal.
“Hey,” she said softly. “You’re home early.”
Ethan kissed her cheek absentmindedly. “Yeah. The Meeting got canceled.”
They ate in silence. She watched the way he cut his food, the calmness in his face, like nothing in their world was wrong.
Finally, she spoke. “I saw that Renee texted you last night.”
He didn’t even look surprised. “She did. She said she was having a bad day.”
“So you met her?”
He paused, then nodded. “Yes. For a drink. She needed someone to talk to.”
Lila’s heart twisted. “You didn’t think to tell me?”
“It didn’t mean anything,” he said, his tone firm. “You know how she is. She gets dramatic.”
The words stung. Renee is dramatic. The same Renee who held her hand this morning, the same Renee who made her feel seen.
“Still,” Lila whispered, “you could have told me.”
Ethan sighed, leaning back. “Lila, not everything needs to be a problem. You read too much into things.”
She looked at him, tears welling up. “I wouldn’t have to if you didn’t hide them.”
He pushed back his chair sharply. “I’m done with this conversation.”
He walked away, leaving her sitting alone at the table, her dinner untouched.
Hours later, she lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Ethan’s breathing was steady beside her. She turned to look at him, searching for a trace of the man she once loved. There was only distance now, cold and deep.
Her phone buzzed again.
Renee.
Renee: I can’t sleep. You okay?
Lila hesitated, then typed, No. Not really.
There was a long pause before Renee replied.
Come over. We’ll talk. You shouldn’t be alone tonight.
Lila’s fingers hovered over the screen. Her heart pounded. She looked at Ethan, sleeping soundly, and then back at the message.
She stood up quietly, her feet brushing the carpet. The night outside was dark and silent.
She didn’t know why she picked up her coat, or why she couldn’t stop herself. Maybe she needed answers. Maybe she just needed someone to listen.
Either way, when she stepped out into the night, she knew she was crossing a line she could never return from.
- Writer
