A Secret Between Us

Gemma adjusted her silver earrings, gnashing her teeth slightly as she stared closely into the mirror. Her reflection stared back… polished, poised, and ideal. The ideal daughter, the ideal girlfriend, the ideal disappointment. She shook her head looking worried and stepped out of her childhood bedroom which was full of memories, The sound of clinking glasses and a faint murmur of voices drifted upstairs. At the Alexandra home, dinner was usually a show. There is no other way her mother, Mrs. Alexandra, would have it. The dining area was a work of art with refined luxury: a ridiculously long oak table, a glittering chandelier, and flower arrangements that most likely cost more than Gemma's rent each month. Naturally, it was all for show. Behind the immaculate exterior, their family was a broken wreck. Gemma walked down the staircase, her heels clicking against the polished marble floor. She sighted her parents near the bar, chilling with guests. Her mother stood in her usual pose chin tilted slightly, drink in hand, and a smile that didn’t quite reflect in her eyes. Her father, Mr Alexandra, nodded and giggled with a business associate, his focus drifting as always. And then there was Aurora, her half-sister Gemma stumbled when she spotted her half-sister, who was wearing an orange dress that held onto all of her curves. Aurora had always been the star of the show because of her humorous comments and flawless appearance. Gemma wasn't what their parents had hoped for in a daughter, but she was. “Gemma, sweetheart! The sound of her mother's voice cut through her mind. “You’re late. Again.” “I'm sorry, Mom," Gemma said in a deliberately casual tone. "I had a meeting late." Her mother glanced at her as if examining her attire for flaws. Finding none, she nodded approvingly and moved away, already bored with her second-born. With a sigh, Gemma walked up to the table. Soon Marcus will be arriving, and for once she was excited to see him. In a household that made her feel disconnected, Marcus, her boyfriend of nearly four years, had always been her rock and her escape. But tonight, something felt not right... Dinner went by quickly, with fake smiles and light chat. With a bloated tummy, Gemma hardly touched her food. Marcus didn't arrive on time. Though the explanation seemed flimsy, he had texted earlier to claim he had been delayed at work. Aurora, who was across the table, smiled as though she knew something Gemma didn't. The thought chilled her. Gemma excused herself to catch her breath after dinner. Sounds of laughter echoed down the corridor, and she felt as though the walls of the house were closing in on her. With each step, the sound grew louder as she made her way to the kitchen. And then she heard it… his voice. Marcus. With her heart racing, she froze. He was in the kitchen, but why? And to whom was he speaking? She moved forward, driven by curiosity and fear. She took a step forward and looked around the corner. And there they were. Aurora and Marcus shared an intense kiss. Aurora's fingers entangled themselves in his hair as his hands grabbed her waist, pulling her nearer. It was personal, unvarnished, and completely heartbreaking. The floor trembled under Gemma's feet. She was temporarily unable to think or breathe. Her body deceived her, even while her mind cried out for her to turn away and flee. She gasped. Although it was a tiny sound, it was loud enough to shake their grasp. When Marcus saw her, he turned, his face turning white. Ever composed, Aurora just raised an eyebrow while grinning proudly. “Gemma, I…” Marcus started to move in her direction, but she stopped him with a hand gesture. “Don’t,” she said, her voice shaking. “Don’t you dare?” Her eyes were watering, but she fought the need to cry. Not in this place. Not in their presence. With her heels clicking quickly against the floor, she turned on her heel and ran to the front door. Although the cold night air felt like a slap, it didn't do much to quiet the inner storm. Gemma staggered to her car and struggled with the keys while tears blurred her vision. How could he? How could they? She was aware of Aurora's greed all along, but this? Even for her, this was a new low point. Marcus was more than just her boyfriend, too. He was meant to be her confidant, her partner, and the only person she could rely on. She looked at the screen as her phone buzzed in her fingers. “Gemma, please. Let me explain myself.” the message from Marcus read. Anger and sadness gripped her chest as she stared at the text. Explain? What was there to explain? She had personally witnessed it. Gemma started the car and threw the phone on the passenger seat. Before she did something she would later regret, she wanted to get away and clear her head. For what seemed like hours, she drove without direction, her thoughts racing while the city lights blended. She was reminded of her first date with Marcus, their late-night conversations, and their vows of eternal love. Now it all seemed like a horrible joke. And Aurora… Gemma's knuckles turned white as she tightened her grip on the steering wheel. As the family's star, Aurora had always been the one who could do no wrong. Despite Gemma's best efforts, she was never able to compete. Aurora had now taken the one item that was most important to her. Her phone rang again. This time, it was her mother. “Where are you? Guests are asking about you.” her mother questioned. Naturally. Her world was collapsing, but her mother didn't care. Appearances were all that counted. Gemma parked on the side of the road and put the phone down again. She was unable to return home. Not quite yet. She needed time to gather her thoughts and figure out how to deal with them all without losing her mind. Although the betrayal was more painful than she thought it would be, a hint of resolve was visible beneath the pain. They wouldn’t shatter her. Not Aurora. Not Marcus. Not her family. Gemma wiped her tears and took a deep breath. This wasn’t the end. It was just the beginning.