Falling Apart

Chapter-10

The days became indistinct shadows after the talk with Adrian, all blending together in an exhausting haze. His words lingered, heavy in my mind. I didn’t like keeping him in the dark, but the truth was, I had no idea what would happen if I told him everything. He had always been intense, but lately, that intensity was starting to feel less like care and more like control.

His texts didn’t stop. Every few hours, my phone would buzz with another message: Where are you? or Why didn’t you reply? or Who are you with?

At first, I tried to explain it away. He cared. He was the only one who noticed, the only one who saw me. But the constant need for answers, for updates on my every move, was starting to wear me down. The more I pulled away, the more persistent he became.

One afternoon, after school, I found myself sitting alone outside again. The sky was overcast, the air cool, and I welcomed the solitude. I had skipped meeting Adrian for lunch—something I did more often now, needing space that he refused to give. My phone had already buzzed a few times, but I couldn’t bring myself to respond.

I just needed a moment. A moment to breathe without feeling like someone was watching me.

But as I sat there, lost in my thoughts, I heard footsteps approaching. I didn’t have to turn around to know who it was. The tension that flooded my body at the sound of his steps was enough.

“Why haven’t you been answering me?” Adrian’s voice was calm, but there was something in it that made my stomach twist with unease.

I glanced up at him, trying to muster a smile. “I’ve just been busy.”

“Busy?” He raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms over his chest as he stood in front of me. “Too busy to text me back?”

His words felt like a challenge, and the weight of them pressed down on me. I stood up slowly, trying to find the right words to defuse the situation, but my mind was blank.

“I needed some space,” I said softly, my voice shaking despite my best efforts to stay calm. “That’s all. It’s been... overwhelming.”

Adrian’s eyes darkened slightly, and he stepped closer. Too close. His presence towered over me, the air between us thick with tension.

“You needed space?” he repeated, his voice quieter now, but sharp. “From me?”

I swallowed hard, taking a step back, but he moved forward, closing the distance again. “It’s not like that, Adrian. I just... I’ve been dealing with a lot.”

His gaze never left mine, his eyes hard and unyielding. He reached out, his hand brushing my arm, but the touch wasn’t gentle. His fingers tightened around my wrist, just enough to make me wince.

“I’ve been there for you,” he said, his grip tightening. “I’ve always been there, and now you’re telling me you need space?”

The pressure of his hand sent a jolt of panic through me, and I tried to pull my wrist free, but his grip only tightened further. My heart pounded in my chest as I looked up at him, the fear bubbling up, sharp and sudden.

“Adrian, you’re hurting me,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

For a moment, something flickered in his eyes—something that almost looked like regret—but it vanished just as quickly as it came. He let go of my wrist, but the tension in the air didn’t dissipate.

I rubbed my wrist, the skin already tender where his fingers had been. “I didn’t mean to upset you,” I said softly, trying to calm him down, to make this moment disappear. “I just needed a break, that’s all.”

Adrian’s eyes softened slightly, and he sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry,” he muttered, though his voice was distant, like he wasn’t entirely sure he meant it. “I just don’t like it when you shut me out.”

I forced a nod, even though my heart was still racing. “It’s okay. I just... I’ll try to be better.”

He stepped forward again, this time placing a hand on my shoulder, his grip a little too firm. “Good,” he said, his voice gentler now, but the undertone of control was still there. “I’m just trying to look out for you, you know that, right?”

“Yeah,” I whispered, though the words felt heavy on my tongue. “I know.”

He pulled me into a hug then, his arms wrapping around me, and I stood still, feeling the weight of his body pressing against mine. His embrace felt suffocating, not comforting, but I didn’t pull away. I couldn’t. I didn’t want to upset him again.

After a few moments, he let me go, stepping back with that same smile he always wore, the one that seemed so genuine. “I’ll see you after school tomorrow, alright?”

I nodded, forcing a small smile as he turned and walked away.

As soon as he was out of sight, I let out a shaky breath, my hand trembling slightly as I rubbed my wrist again. The skin there was still red from his grip, a faint bruise already beginning to form.

I stood there for a long time after he left, trying to calm the rapid beating of my heart, trying to make sense of what had just happened. Adrian had always been intense, but he’d never grabbed me like that before. He’d never hurt me.

But now, there was a crack in the facade I’d built around him—a crack that I wasn’t sure I could ignore anymore.

---

The next week passed in a haze. I tried to avoid Adrian as much as I could, but he always found me. He was always there, waiting outside my classes, texting me constantly, and whenever I didn’t respond quickly enough, his questions became sharper, more demanding.

I could feel him slipping deeper into my life, like a weight I couldn’t shake, and no matter how hard I tried to put distance between us, he wouldn’t let go.

At home, Dad’s behavior didn’t help. His mood seemed to shift constantly—sweet and caring in front of my brothers, but cold and threatening whenever we were alone. He hadn’t touched me since that night at dinner, but I could feel it coming. I could feel his anger simmering just beneath the surface, waiting for the right moment to explode.

The pressure was building, both at home and with Adrian, and I felt like I was trapped in the middle, caught between two forces I couldn’t control.

---

One night, I sat alone in my room, staring at my phone as Adrian’s messages kept coming.

Why didn’t you answer me earlier?

Who were you with after school?

You didn’t tell me you were hanging out with your brothers.

I didn’t have the energy to respond. My wrist still ached from the last time he had grabbed me, and the thought of another confrontation made my stomach churn. I wanted to tell him to stop, to tell him I needed space, but the fear of what he might do—what he might say—kept me silent.

Another buzz.

I’m coming over.

My heart dropped into my stomach. I hadn’t invited him over. I didn’t want him to come, but I knew he would show up whether I wanted him to or not.

I quickly typed back.

I’m tired, Adrian. Please, not tonight.

But he didn’t respond. A few minutes later, I heard the familiar knock at the door.