After four years of marriage, Alexandra learns that her husband is cheating on her. Devastated, she is forced to restart her life from scratch. She finds refuge with her lifelong friend, Carine. After a week in black blur, she decides to find a job in this great city, that is New York City. Will she succeed to get back on feet and pursue her ambitions?

“I cannot believe my eyes! How can you do this to me? To me?”

“Wait! Alex ... I will explain it all to you! Sweetie, wait! Alexandra!!”

“I do not want to listen to you! Your actions speak for themselves! I never want to see Ed!”

With that said, the woman slammed the door in the face of the man who she thought was the love of her life. Ed, red hair with blue eyes, heir of one the largest companies in New York City, is twenty-six. Five years ago, his eyes got caught on a charming brunette with brown eyes who asked him for directions on the campus of Columbia University. Since he was a last year student, he offered her a guided tour of the campus. He felt honored when the beautiful strangers accepted. Since that day, he could not get her out of his head. Her name was Alexandra.

They went out together for a year before getting married. Blinded by love, Alexandra had dropped her ambitions of become a journalist to devote herself to her man. It was the most beautiful moments of her life, until she found him bed with her best friend, who was also their best woman. She could not believe her eyes.

 Four years living together wasted. Now aged twenty-two, Alexandra does not know what to do with her life. With only her purse and mobile phone, she left her ... well, now it’s only Ed’s home.

After walking for fifteen minutes, she finally came across a taxi.

“Where can I drop you ma'am?”

“Central Park please.”

“No worries.”

Well seated, Alexandra took her phone and try to call her childhood friend. She could not remember exactly why they stopped seeing each other few months after graduating high school. Probably because she had advised you not to give up all for Ed, shot her subconscious. When she was about to hang up, a voice sounded in her ear.

“Alex?” the sound of the familiar voice draws a smile on Alex’s face.

“Hey, Carine?” replied the woman with a small voice.

“Yes, that’s me, are you alright?”

“Not much. I’m on my way to Central Park, can we meet up there? I really need to talk to someone,” she said while biting her cheeks to prevent herself from busting into tears. Don’t you dare burst in tears in that damn taxi, you’re better than that!, shouted the small voice within herself.

“No problem,” Carine replied with a comforting voice “Actually I’m there. Would be okay for you if I wait by the fountain?”

“Sure, I’ll meet you there. Thanks for being a good friend.” Alex sighed. Thank God she’s still talking to me, she said in her mind.

“’Kay, no problem. See you soon.”

When the call ended, Alex had a last look at her screen, 5 text messages, all from Ed and 10 miss calls. There is no way that Alex is going to reply. After locking her screen, she shoved her phone in the pockets of her Levis blue jeans. Soon she is lost in her thoughts. Images of her cheating husband came to her mind. Without even realizing it, she’s already at her destination. After paying and getting off the taxi, she started her way to the fountain. Few minutes later, she saw a familiar figure sitting on a park bench, earpieces in her ears.

Dear God, it’s been a long time since the last time I saw her! Alexandra shouted in her mind.

Slowly, full of guilt, she approached the bench. Tears had already took place in her eyes. Certainly due to too much emotions in about an hour; Ed cheating on her, losing whom she thought was her best friend throughout those years and finally reuniting her childhood friend who she left behind for Ed. Suddenly, Carine lifted her head and saw her friend coming straight to her. She jumped to her feet and launch herself towards Alex.

“Oh my God! Alex! It’s really you! Look how much you’ve changed!” said Carine in a high and excited voice.

“Not that much. Well it’s been almost three years since the last time we met. Luckily for me you’re still using the same phone number. I would be completely lost without you.”

“So, do you want talk here or do you want to come over to my place? It’s not that far from here.”

After looking around at the crowded place, and knowing that she might burst in tears, Alex replied: “We would be better at your place, I guess.”

“Let’s get ourselves moving then.”

Since her phone had kept vibrating in her pockets, probably Ed trying to get to explain his actions, Alex turned off the phone to enabled herself some peaceful time with her long lost friend. Twenty minutes later of dead silent walk, except from the noises of the city, they finally arrived to Carine’s building. The building is built up of bricks and does not contain an elevator. Five floors later, both of them goes through a small door marked 5B leading into the sweet home of Carine. The loft is not that big but big enough for a person. The couch seems really comfortable.

Let’s hope she’ll let you crash on her couch for a few days… shot her subconscious.

“So, welcome to my place. Make yourself home. Do you want a beer or something?” asked Carine, being an excellent host.

“A beer would be fine, thanks.”

“Alright, beer it is then.” said Carine while heading to the kitchen.

“So, you live alone?”

“For five months now. I recently got a raise, so that enables me to get a place on my own.” Said Carine from the kitchen.

“I’m happy for you.” said Alexandra while taking place on the couch. It is a relief for her to find out that the couch is actually really comfortable.

“Here you go,” said Carine while handing a beer to Alex. “Now tell me what happened.”

“I don’t even know where to start.” Alexandra said, taking a deep breath then started to tell what happen.

“First of all, I want to apologize for being a crappy friend over these past years.” Alexandra started with.

“No worries sweetie, I get it. You were in love and I was out of line for telling you what to do with your life.” replied Carine in a small voice.

“Actually, you were right. I should have listened to you. Today, my spa appointment got cancelled so I returned home earlier…”

“Oh dear, don’t tell me that Ed was…” said Carine before clasping her hands to her mouth, horror in her eyes.

The tears that Alexandra kept from falling finally let go. “I…I…I went up the stairs…there were voices…”

Carine swiftly moved next to her devastated friend, taking her in her arms. Seeing Alex in tears like that is heartbreaking for her.

“The bastard! I’m so sorry for what happened honey.” she said while patting Alex’s hair.

“I can still hear the “I love you” they were exchanging while making love in our own bed.” said Alex in a high pitched and heartbreaking voice.

That confession brought Carine’s tears too. Cheating is the most devastating thing that can ever happen to someone who devoted herself for the man she thought she knew so well.

“I….I never thought…that…Sarah…”

“That freaking bitch. I can’t believe she would do something like that, especially to you.”

“I can’t believe it myself. I welcomed her to my home when she had nowhere else to go. I wonder if their affair started then, 2 years ago.” Alex sighed. Then the tears flow increased due to the enlightenment she just brought to herself. “How can I be that idiot? I should have seen that coming.”

“Honey, don’t blame yourself. It’s not your fault if she’s a bitch.” Carine said, trying to comfort her friend.

“Thanks for being such a good friend. I wished our reconciliations would have been in better circumstances. Is it okay for you if I crash on your couch for a few days? I have nowhere else to go and if I take a hotel room, Ed will find me too easily.”

“That’s alright, you can stay as many days or even months if you need.”

“Thank you so much.” said Alex through sobs.

It felt like a huge burden has been lifted from her shoulders now that she said what she saw. Also the fact that she finally told Carine how sorry she was for being a crappy friend.

“Well, I think we should finish our beers before it comes sour.” Carine added with a half-smile, trying to lighten up the atmosphere.

“Sure,” added Alex with a small laugh, swiping off the tears of her cheeks. Her red eyed soaked with tears watch the beer. She grabbed it and take a sip. The flow of the alcohol down her throat helps in calming her down.

The Thursday evening went through, Alex and Carine bonding while taking down twelve beers each. The questions of “What am I going to do?”, “Should I forgive Ed?”, and “How could I have been such an idiot?” keeps haunting Alex’s slightly impaired mind. Carine’s voice made her jump off her mind.

“Well, well, well. It’s already eleven and I have to work tomorrow. I’ll get you some pillows and a duvet.” Carine added while getting off the couch and walks to the closet.

“Okay, thank you again.”

“You’ve got to stop thanking me. That’s what friends are for. Even though you forget about them for three years.” Carine added with a half laugh.

“I’m so sorry for that.”

“Chill girl, I’m just teasing you.”

With pillows and a duvet in hands, Carine make her way back to the couch. “Here you go. If my bed was not that small, we could have slept together like the old days.”

“The couch is fine, thanks again…”

“Told you to stop thanking me. Sleep now. Goodnight sweetie.”

With that said, Carine walks to her room. While unfolding the duvet, Alex notices a t-shirt and a pair of pants. How thoughtful. Even Alex hadn’t think about in what she was going to sleep.

“How stupid I am, leaving without any clothes.” said Alex in her mind.

Making her way through the hallway, Alex successfully finds the bathroom. The bathroom is small, but beautifully decorated. Alex places her hand on the sides on the sink and watch her reflection in the mirror.

“Oh look, there’s an idiot staring at you. Never mind, that’s just you.” shot her subconscious.

Turning the faucet on, she splashes water on her face, trying to remove the traces left of her crying.

Without further ado, she changes into the clothes provided. To her astonishment, they fit perfectly. Folding her clothes and taking them in her hands, she walks back to the couch. This is going to be hell of a long night. Right after slipping under the duvet, Alex is fast asleep.

~~

“I love you more than anything babe.”

“I love you too Ed. I can’t live without you anymore.”

“I want to kiss every single inch of your body over again and again. You are my angel, I love you. Never forget that.”

Placing soft kisses on her neck, Ed slowly penetrate Sarah. With soft moans, Sarah grab the bed’s sheet.

“Sarah…” moans Ed.

“I love you Ed.”

“I love you too. I can’t get enough of you.”

Suddenly the door creaks and Alexandra in standing at the door frame. Horror in her eyes and glistering full of tears.

“Ed…Sarah…” are the only word that came out of her mouth.

“Alex, let me explain.” Ed said jumping out of Sarah, and grabs his boxers by the bed’s foot, without breaking eyes contact with those brown eyes now full of tears.

“Alex, honey…”

Alex cannot believe what she just saw. When Ed reaches for her arm, she pulls away from his grasp and leave the room.

“Alex! Wait, look at me!”

Turning her heels, she shouted: “I cannot believe my eyes! How can you do this to me? To me?”

Ed stopped instantaneously. “Baby…”

Without letting Ed finished his explanation, Alex ran down the stairs. Ed’s voice can still be heard from the top of the stair case.

“Wait! Alex ... I will explain it all to you! Sweetie, wait! Alexandra!!”

Just when she finishes grabbing her purse and mobile phone, she feels Ed’s breath right on her shoulder. Turning to face him again, she yelled:

“I do not want to listen to you! Your actions speak for themselves! I never want to see Ed!”

“Baby, don’t leave Me.” sighed Ed.

“It’s too late.”

With that said, Alex went through the door and slams it in the face of a guilty Ed.

“Alex! Alex!”

The feeling of being shaken and cold water on her face wakes Alex from her tormented dream.

“Alex, wake up!”

“What happened?”

“You were shouting in your sleep. Was is that bad of a nightmare?” asked Carine with a now calm voice.

“Yes. The images of Ed and Sarah making love are haunting me.”
“Shhh…it’s okay sweetie.” Carine holds her friend tightly in her arms. “There, there.” She added while patting her back.

The clock on the wall is showing five in the morning.

“You can get some more sleep now. Remember you have to work in later in the morning.”

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be here until it will be time of me to leave. I’m here for you Alex, always.”