In jean shorts, a white wool sweater, and a black headband holding her curly hair in place, Alicia lay on the sofa beside her bed. Her legs were crossed, and her head rested on the arm of the chair. In her arms, she cuddled Fox—her big brown teddy bear, now adorned with a black scarf around its neck.

Fox had been a birthday gift from Jeff two years ago. Alicia had fallen in love with it at first sight, and she couldn’t forget the bright smile that had lit up her face that day. She had made Fox her best friend, hugging it like a child in bed. But after meeting Wilson, she had shoved it away, hiding it because of his jealousy, and forgotten about it.

The fight with Jeff at the hospital, and the way she had treated him afterwards, still throbbed painfully in her chest. When she had heard the sound of his car engine fading away, a wave of longing had swept over her. She ran to the window, watching as his car disappeared into the distance.

After she had a bath that morning, Alicia smiled faintly when her eyes landed on Jeff's sweater hanging in her wardrobe.

It was a memory she couldn’t shake. One evening, when they had been caught in the rain, they had taken shelter under the roof of a small shop. Alicia wrapped her arms around herself, shivering as she sniffled. Fearing she might catch a fever, Jeff had taken off his white sweater and placed it in her arms.

“You might catch a fever; wear it,” he had said, rubbing his arms to warm them.

Alicia had stared at the sweater, unsure of how to respond. She was wearing a long-sleeved jumpsuit, and Jeff had on a sleeveless shirt.

“It’s selfish for me to take it,” Alicia had said, shaking her head. “You’ll catch a fever.”

But Jeff had insisted. “I’m the guy here. Don’t underestimate me. You might catch a cold,” he had said, wrapping the sweater around her neck. “Wear it now, or I’ll wear it for you.”

Alicia had smiled sweetly, remembering that moment as she stared at the sweater in her wardrobe. She decided to wear it for the day, pairing it with a pair of jean shorts.

Later, while cleaning, Alicia had found Fox’s legs peeking from under the bed. She dragged him out, wincing as dust puffed into the air. After a thorough wash and drying, she tied a black scarf around his neck. Satisfied with her work, Alicia congratulated herself for restoring her favourite teddy bear.

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Afterwards, Alicia had grabbed a packet of chocolate cookies and a can of Coca-Cola from the kitchen and plopped onto the sofa beside her bed.

Alicia curled up with Fox in her arms and nibbled on the cookies while the minutes ticked by slowly. The clock read five o'clock, and a wave of loneliness washed over her, filling the space where comfort once existed. She pursed her lips, annoyed that Jeff still hadn’t arrived.

Thoughts of their argument swirled in her mind, but when she reached for her phone, she decided against turning it on. Instead, she grabbed her chocolate and Coke, sinking back into the sofa, with Fox cuddled tightly in her arms. As the minutes passed, her sense of isolation deepened, and eventually, she picked up her phone and switched it on.

The first thing she saw made her stomach tighten with agitation: a picture of her and Wilson.

In the picture, they wore matching sky-blue T-shirts, sneakers, and black pants. Alicia had her hair pulled back into a ponytail, and they both smiled happily. Wilson had his arms around her waist, and she rested her head on his chest. The air around them seemed filled with romance, and the warmth of the moment lingered in the photo.

Alicia’s heart clenched. She deleted the picture immediately, her fingers trembling as she replaced it with a photo of a sunflower field. Still not satisfied, she searched for more pictures of her and Wilson, deleting them one by one.

Time passed, and the evening turned into night. Alicia, feeling drained by the monotony of the day, tossed her phone aside. She closed her eyes and held Fox tighter, wishing she could fall asleep and escape the emotional storm brewing within her.

Seconds dragged into minutes, and just as she was about to drift off, a notification sounded from her phone.

Clank! Clank!

Alicia’s eyes snapped open, her heart racing with hope that it might be Jeff. She grabbed the phone and swiped the screen to unlock it. The picture that appeared made her stomach churn. It was of Alison—sitting on Wilson’s lap, her arms draped around his neck, their faces inches from each other. Alison’s soft smile, so warm, so intimate. The photo had been taken in Mr. White’s garden, the lavish White family mansion in the background.

Alicia’s heart slammed against her ribs. A cold sweat broke out across her skin. Her fingers trembled as she stared at the image, the storm inside her swirling. She could feel her chest tightening, the fury bubbling up from deep within her.

No. Not Alison. Not her.

Her breath came sharp and quick as her mind raced through a whirlwind of thoughts. Why was Alison there? What was she doing with Wilson? The jealousy clawed at her chest, unbearable.

Without thinking, Alicia sprang to her feet. The phone felt heavy in her hand as she tossed it aside, her pulse hammering in her ears. Her movements were quick, almost frantic, as she grabbed her car keys from the table. Every step toward the door was fueled by an angry determination she could no longer suppress.

She had to see this for herself.