Sophie's POV:
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When Sophie arrived at the office, flustered and out of breath. She was dismayed to find the conference meeting already in full swing. Her boss, a stern woman known for being tough but fair, shot Sophie a pointed look as she slipped quietly into her seat. Her eyes narrowed slightly at Sophie's slightly disheveled appearance.
Sophie mouthed a silent apology and tried to compose herself, but she could tell her boss was not pleased. As soon as the meeting adjourned, her boss beckoned her over.
"Sophie, can I have a word with you?" she asked, her voice firm but controlled. Sophie nodded nervously and followed her into the office, her mind racing with worry.
Inside the office, Sophie stood nervously as her boss silently handed her a letter. Her hands trembled slightly as she took it.
"I'm so sorry, ma'am. I overslept and lost track of time," Sophie stammered, but her boss cut her off.
"It's enough. I've heard you. Let this not repeat itself again," she said curtly.
Sophie nodded quickly, relief flooding her as the conversation came to a close. She bowed respectfully and hurried out of the office, grateful the ordeal was behind her.
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Sophie struggled to concentrate, her exhaustion weighing heavily on her both physically and emotionally. All she could think about was getting home and collapsing into bed.
When she finally walked through the front door, the warm aroma of dinner greeted her. Her mother smiled warmly as Sophie hugged her, though it was clear Sophie's fatigue hadn't gone unnoticed.
"Hey, sweetie, how was your day?" her mother asked, concern lacing her tone.
"It was fine, Mom. Just a long day," Sophie replied, forcing a smile.
As she headed to her room to freshen up, she carelessly left the letter from her boss on the dining table. Her mother, ever observant, noticed the letter and picked it up. As she read it, a deep frown formed on her face.
When Sophie returned looking refreshed, she spotted the letter on the table and the look on her mother's face. Her heart sank.
"Sophie, what's going on? This letter says you've been warned about your tardiness. What happened?" her mother asked.
"I'm sorry, Mom. I just overslept and lost track of time," Sophie replied, her voice trembling with guilt.
Her mother's expression turned stern. "This has never happened before! You've always been so responsible. That job pays our bills, Sophie! What would we do without it?"
Tears stung Sophie's eyes as her mother's words struck deep. But when she looked up again, her mother's face had softened. She reached out and pulled Sophie into a hug.
"My dear, I know it's a lot, but all these struggles will soon be over," she said gently. "Philip is almost done with law school. Once he's done, he'll come and take care of us. You'll get married, and he'll take over the responsibilities. Everything will be fine, okay?"
Sophie felt a wave of guilt crash over her at the mention of Philip. She had completely forgotten she was supposed to video call him that evening. She forced a smile and nodded. "Okay, Mom. I'll talk to him tonight."
After dinner, Sophie rushed to her room, started her laptop, and initiated the call with Philip.
She pasted on a fake smile and laughed, chatting with him as if everything was normal. But inside, she felt hollow, trapped in a life that didn't reflect who she truly was. Her heart sank further with each passing minute.
As the call continued, Sophie's attention began to drift. Her eyes stared blankly at the screen, her thoughts consumed by guilt and confusion. Philip, unaware, kept talking until he finally noticed.
"Sophie? What's wrong? Why does your face look like that?" he asked, concern creeping into his voice.
Sophie didn't respond.
"Sophie!!" he called, louder now. She snapped out of her trance. "Yes! I'm here!" she exclaimed, startled.
"What's wrong?" he asked gently.
She hesitated, unable to tell him the truth. "I'm just tired. It's been a long day. I need to rest," she murmured.
"Okay, my love. Let's end the call for tonight. We'll talk tomorrow," he said softly.
Sophie nodded. "Okay, I'll get some rest."
"Wait, Sophie," Philip added before she could hang up. "If you ever need anything, I'm here for you. Goodnight. I love you."
Sophie swallowed the lump in her throat. "I love you," she replied, the words tasting bitter.
Philip smiled and ended the call.
Alone, Sophie sat in the darkness of her room long after the call ended, her screen now dim, her hands trembled slightly as she closed the device and let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
The silence that followed was deafening, louder than Philip's voice, louder than her mother's disappointment. It pressed against her like a weight, heavy and relentless.
She stared at the ceiling, her thoughts spiraling. "What am I doing? Who am I becoming?"
Each question echoed in her head like a haunting refrain. She had always felt proud about herself on being disciplined, responsible, the daughter her mother could lean on. The dependable fiancée. The perfect employee. But now? She was slipping. And worst of all, she didn't know if she wanted to stop herself.
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. A message from Philip:
"Sleep well, my love. Dream of us."
Sophie didn't reply. She turned the phone over to block the screen and curled up under the blanket, eyes wide open, staring into the darkness. A memory flashed Ethan's smile under the glowing street lights. She hated that she remembered how safe she'd felt beside a stranger.
"It was just one night!" She reminded herself. A mistake. A reckless, drunken mistake.
But deep down, she knew it wasn't just the alcohol. It was her. Something inside her had snapped the moment she let go that night. She had tasted freedom. And now she didn't know how to go back.