lights out, jake sim.

17.

In the realm of heartbreak, where love and pain intertwine, their tragic love story leaves timeless and unsightly scars on their hearts. The hearts that were once alive with invigorating sensations, were now dulled with profound ache. Their love had blossomed like a delicate flame amidst the darkness, only to be extinguished by the cruel winds of the shrivelling misfortunes.

Her good-for-nothing naivety, which he had condemned, was a testament to her love for him. Had she not taken leave of her senses, blinded by his lies, she may have been able to save herself from the humiliation of rejection. She was too blinded by the woven tapestry of his idyllic promises that she couldn't see the cracks forming beneath the surface on which they had built the utopian castle of their love.

Unrelenting moments of heartache turned into days and days into weeks. Her initial reservation as an escapade from the wicked turn of fate was to shut herself off completely from the cruelties of the outside world; confining herself to her bubble of comfort where no one could see her unguarded and scattered. He had shattered her trust, unveiling her innermost vulnerabilities. She couldn't love after this, let alone trust anybody in retrospect to their fleeting love; intense but brief. 

As she gazed in the mirror, a reflection stared back at her but there wasn't any Lily. There was someone else entirely; a shattered soul whirled in a tumultuous emotional disarray. Reaching out her trembling hand, she glided it across its surface, hoping to erase the image mocking her. Her movements turned forceful as though the sight of it was making her sick. Then with a piercing cry of anguish, she hurled the nearest object at the unsightly sight.

The shards of the broken mirror scattered on the bathroom tiles, the fragments mirroring her own scattered self. Silence engulfed the atmosphere as she stood amidst the wreckage, gasping for breath. As if the release of the agonizing scream from earlier had unleashed her surging emotions, exposing her to the cruel depth of her scars.

Turning on the tap, she splashed water on her face as though getting rid of the anguish etched on her face. Glancing at herself for one last time in the broken mirror, she wiped the bitterness off her face and discarded the towel on the sink, rather harshly.

The sound of the shattered mirror crunched under her feet as her footsteps echoed through the room. Every step served as a reminder of the brutality she had rendered her heart to, the sadism purely mocking her thoughtless heart, unwary of the plausible consequences when you throw yourself at someone and wear your heart at sleeve for them.

She picked out the best dress from her closet and carefully laid it on her bed as she observed it. It was a vibrant red dress, a stark contrast to the emotions that had surrounded her before. It was an elegant dress with a flowing silhouette, peculiarly chosen for a special occasion.

Today was the day.

Slipping into the dress, it hugged her curves elegantly, giving her a sense of empowerment. Applying light makeup to hide the ugly scars that marked her past as it concealed the physical reminders of the hideous pain he had inflicted upon her. Each scar was a testament to the ugly narrative she wished to forget.

With a final glance in the mirror, she stepped out in the chilly night, ready to turn over a new leaf.

It took her precisely fifteen minutes to reach her destination. With a sense of confidence and an air of determination, she pushed through the heavy doors of the club that was owned by the family of one of the students at her college. The ostentatious glints of the club blinded her vision glaringly. The air was thick with anticipation and rhythmic beats of music reverberated through every corner.  

Her eyes darted around the crowd, scanning for a familiar presence or perhaps a hint of something elusive.

As she moved further into the club, she found herself finding solace in the vibrant chaos, portraying her very own emotions.

She felt her body swaying to the rhythms of the throbbing music, oblivious to the surroundings. Getting lost in the euphoria of the moment, she was transported to another realm.

Memories of her past flashed across her mind, as she danced, letting the tears of desolation gracefully stream down her face. That's how getting drunk on the pain felt like.