Sophie sat on the couch, her legs tucked under her, phone pressed to her ear. The soft hum of the evening was broken only by the rhythmic click of the clock ticking in the background. It had become routine now, these nightly calls with her boyfriend, Lucas. He had been her best friend since childhood, and their relationship had naturally evolved into something deeper over the years. It was supposed to be comforting—hearing his voice across the miles, bringing them closer despite the distance. But tonight was different.

Sophie’s mind wandered as she absentmindedly twirled a lock of hair between her fingers. They’d been talking for almost an hour, about everything and nothing. Sophie had always enjoyed their late-night conversations, but tonight, she noticed a slight tension in Lucas’s voice. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but there was something there—something not quite right.

“Hey, babe, I’m gonna go meet up with the guys for dinner. I’ll talk to you later,” Lucas said, his tone casual but rushed.

“Okay,” Sophie replied, her voice light, trying to shake off the unease that had crept into her chest. “Have fun, don’t stay up too late.”

“Of course,” Lucas responded, and there was a soft click as the line went silent. Sophie figured he had hung up, but something felt... off.

She glanced at her phone screen and realized that the call was still active. Her curiosity piqued, Sophie leaned back on the couch, not quite sure why but feeling drawn to listen. Maybe it was just the late-night fog playing tricks on her. Maybe it was her own insecurities creeping in, but the thought of hearing Lucas’s voice as he spoke to his friends made her feel... connected.

She could hear the clatter of plates and glasses in the background, and the low murmur of male voices. Lucas’s laughter echoed through the speaker, followed by a few jokes from his friends. She let out a soft sigh, settling into the moment, ready to let the sounds lull her into a sense of peace. But then, something happened.

“I don’t know why she’s so clingy. It’s like she’s suffocating me,” Lucas’s voice came through, clear and steady, almost too clear.

Sophie froze. Her heart skipped a beat, and she slowly sat up, her hands clammy. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Was he talking about her?

“Isn’t that what they all do?” One of his friends replied with a chuckle. “I mean, you’ve been doing long-distance for a while now. She should trust you.”

“Yeah,” Lucas muttered. “But it’s not just that. She’s always acting like she’s the one who’s in control. Like everything needs to revolve around her.”

Sophie’s mind raced. What was he saying? She wanted to believe it wasn’t true, that this was just some temporary frustration. But there was no mistaking the bitterness in his voice.

“And don’t get me started on her family,” Lucas continued. “Her mom is always up in my face. And don’t even get me started on her dad. He’s just—ugh—always acting like I owe him something.”

Sophie’s breath caught in her throat. She could feel the bl00d rushing to her face, heat creeping up from her neck. Her stomach turned. This was not the Lucas she knew, the Lucas who had always been sweet and kind, who had made promises to love her and respect her, even when they were young. Her hands trembled as she clutched the phone tighter, the reality of what she was hearing sinking in.

“And the worst part? She’s always so damn needy. I swear, she wants to control everything. She’s so used to being the center of attention in her little world.”

Sophie’s throat closed. The words, each one sharper than the last, stabbed at her heart. He was talking about her—the woman he claimed to love. How could he speak about her so coldly, so carelessly, to his friends?

“But she’s really cute, man,” one of his friends interrupted, trying to lighten the mood. “I get it, you’ve been together for a while, but she’s definitely hot. Just give her some space.”

“I don’t know,” Lucas muttered, his voice heavy with frustration. “I’m just tired of all the drama. I want something easy, you know? Not someone who’s constantly questioning everything.”

Sophie closed her eyes tightly, willing the tears not to come. The words were like daggers, each one cutting deeper than the last. How had they come to this? How had she missed the signs? She had trusted him with everything. She had opened her heart to him, and now here he was, talking about her as if she were a burden, a weight he couldn’t carry.

“Don’t worry,” another friend chimed in. “You’ll figure it out. You always do.”

“Yeah,” Lucas replied, sounding distant, as if he was already mentally checking out of the conversation. “I hope so.”

Sophie’s hands were shaking now. She didn’t want to hear more. She didn’t want to believe that the man she had shared her heart with was capable of such coldness. And yet, as the words kept flowing, the image of the man she loved shattered, piece by piece.

With a shaky breath, Sophie ended the call, her finger trembling as she pressed the red button on the screen. She stared at the phone in her hands for a long time, her mind racing with confusion, hurt, and disbelief. She couldn’t believe he had said those things about her—about them. Had he really been this unhappy, this disillusioned with their relationship?

Tears welled in her eyes as she stood up, her legs weak beneath her. She couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t think. She needed to get out of there. She needed to leave.

She grabbed her coat, not caring about the mess she left behind, and stumbled out the door, needing to clear her head, to understand what had just happened. Her thoughts raced, but nothing made sense. The more she thought about it, the more her mind went back to the conversation, playing back every word Lucas had said. Each word stung, each sentence leaving a mark she wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to erase.

As she walked aimlessly down the street, Sophie thought about all the times Lucas had reassured her, all the times he had said he loved her, all the promises he had made. Where had it all gone wrong? Was it her? Was it something she had done?

Suddenly, a voice broke through her thoughts. A woman’s voice, soft and gentle, called her name.

“Sophie? Is that you?”

She turned, startled. Standing before her was Anna, one of her oldest friends, a woman she hadn’t seen in months. Anna’s face softened when she saw the tears streaming down Sophie’s cheeks.

“What happened?” Anna asked, her voice laced with concern.

Sophie shook her head, unable to find the words. She tried to speak, but all that came out was a choked sob. Anna wrapped her arms around her, holding her tight as the tears flowed uncontrollably.

“He… he doesn’t love me,” Sophie whispered between sobs. “I overheard him talking about me, Anna. He doesn’t care. He wants someone else. He’s tired of me.”

Anna pulled back, holding Sophie at arm’s length. Her eyes were filled with sympathy, but also something else—anger. “Sophie, listen to me. This isn’t your fault. He’s the one who’s failed you. He’s the one who’s been selfish.”

Sophie looked at her, her heart heavy with confusion. “But… I loved him. I gave him everything. How could he do this?”

“You deserve so much more, Sophie,” Anna said firmly. “You deserve someone who respects you, who loves you for who you are. Not someone who only sees you when it’s convenient for them.”

Sophie wiped her eyes, a small spark of hope flickering in her chest. “What do I do now?”

“You take a step back,” Anna said softly. “You take a deep breath. And you realize that you are enough. You’re worthy of real love, Sophie. Don’t let his words define you.”

Sophie nodded slowly, the weight in her chest starting to lift. She wasn’t sure where her journey would take her from here, but she knew one thing: she wasn’t going to let Lucas’s cruelty hold her back. She had a life to live, a future to create—and she was going to do it on her own terms.