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Shattered love: The illusion [PART 1]
Chapter 14 -- The mask of pain

Chapter 14 -- The mask of pain

Maya sat in the therapist’s office, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her sweater as she glanced around the minimalist space. The room was warm and inviting, painted in soft hues of blue and cream. A small water fountain trickled softly in the corner, its sound soothing yet doing little to calm her racing thoughts.

Dr. Evelyn Carter, a woman in her mid-forties with a calm demeanor and compassionate eyes, observed Maya patiently from across the room. "Take your time," Dr. Carter said, her voice steady but encouraging.

Maya took a deep breath, her voice barely above a whisper. "I loved Alex," she began, her words tumbling out slowly as if each one weighed heavily on her tongue. "Even when there were doubts, even when my gut told me something was off… I still pushed through because of how much I loved him."

Dr. Carter leaned forward slightly, giving Maya her full attention. "What kind of doubts, Maya?"

"Little things," Maya said, her voice breaking. "His late-night texts, the way he avoided certain questions… it all felt so wrong. But I told myself it was just my insecurities. I convinced myself to trust him because I wanted to believe in us." She paused, staring at the floor. "All along, I knew it was a dream, but for some reason, I couldn’t wake up."

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Dr. Carter nodded, jotting down a note before meeting Maya’s gaze again. "It sounds like you fought hard for a relationship that meant a lot to you. That takes strength, even if it didn’t end the way you hoped."

Maya scoffed, her laughter bitter. "Strength? I feel like a fool. And Sarah…" Her voice faltered as tears began to form in her eyes. "I never expected it from her. She was my best friend, like a sister. I’ve faced heartbreak before, but this—this is different. It’s like I lost two people at once."

Dr. Carter waited for her to continue, sensing there was more Maya needed to say.

Maya wiped her eyes, frustration mingling with her sadness. "And now? I’m just… pretending. Masking my pain with laughter, with jokes, trying to convince everyone I’m fine when I’m not. I don’t want to be the ‘broken girl’ who can’t move on, so I smile. But it’s exhausting."

Dr. Carter tilted her head slightly, her voice soft but firm. "Maya, sometimes the heaviest smiles are worn by those who bear the weight of guilt and grief. Each curve of their lips becomes a mask for the pain they cannot confess."

Maya’s breath hitched as she absorbed the words. She looked up, her tear-streaked face filled with a vulnerability she rarely allowed herself to show. "Do you think I’ll ever stop hurting?"

Dr. Carter offered a small, reassuring smile. "Pain doesn’t vanish overnight, but it transforms. By acknowledging it, by allowing yourself to feel it instead of hiding behind that mask, you give it a chance to heal. It’s okay to not be okay, Maya. And it’s okay to take your time."

For the first time in what felt like ages, Maya felt a small sliver of hope. The burden she carried wasn’t gone, but in the quiet sanctuary of that room, she felt understood, even if just for a moment.

Dr. Carter handed her a tissue. "Let’s take it one step at a time. You don’t have to walk this journey alone."

As Maya left the office later that afternoon, she still felt the weight of her heartbreak, but Dr. Carter’s words stayed with her. Maybe she didn’t have to keep pretending. Maybe, just maybe, it was okay to start putting herself first for once.

To be continued....