The Digital Shadows: Love, Lies, and Longing (Part 8)

 

The Emotional Burden of His Presence

Jacee had always dreamed of building a future for herself. As she entered her seventh semester, she worked tirelessly, balancing studies, placement preparations, and the hunt for an internship. After months of struggle, she finally secured a three-month internship at a well-reputed company. It should have been a moment of pure joy, but a shadow loomed over her happiness—Aaric.

Aaric, the boy she once thought she loved, was in a neighboring city, pursuing his courses. She had endured so much for him—his words that cut deeper than knives, his hands that left unseen bruises, his love that felt more like a cage than a comfort. Yet, every weekend, she still found herself pleading with him to meet her. Some weekends, he agreed. Others, he refused without reason. And when he was in a mood, he would demand that she skip work just to spend time with him. If she resisted, the fights would begin—relentless, draining, suffocating.

As the weeks passed, she saw him for who he truly was. He was consumed by his vices, his world revolving around smoke-filled rooms, half-empty bottles, and reckless nights. She knew she had made the wrong choice, but breaking free was easier said than done. Every time she tried, he found a way to pull her back in. After every argument, he would return with a feeble "sorry," a crooked smile, and an empty promise.

Jacee had always been reserved, shy around men. But Aaric pushed her into situations that made her skin crawl. He made her sit among groups of his male friends, forcing beer into her hands until she loosened up. But the moment she started talking, he would lash out, accusing her of being too friendly, too easy. She felt trapped, never knowing when he would turn against her.

Despite everything, she painted a different picture for the world. She told her friends that Aaric was kind, that he cared for her, that he was the person she could rely on. But in the deepest corners of her heart, she knew she was only lying to herself.

February 14—The Night Everything Changed

Valentine’s Day. A day of love, of promises, of new beginnings. Jacee clung to the fragile hope that things would be different. Aaric invited her to his apartment, and she went with a heart full of dreams.

That night, they drank together. She reminded him over and over to drink within limits—she had work the next morning, and she needed him to wake up early and drop her at her PG. He nodded, smiled, and promised.

She believed him.

But as the morning light filtered through the curtains, reality crashed down on her. Aaric didn’t wake up. No matter how many times she shook him, pleaded with him, he remained buried in sleep. Panic surged through her. She had to get to work. She had to leave.

She tried again, but this time, he woke up with rage in his eyes. His voice, once filled with fake sweetness, turned sharp, laced with venom. He cursed her, hurled abuses, and called her names that made her insides curl. The argument escalated like wildfire, and before she could react, his hands were around her throat, pushing her against the cold wall.

He grabbed the money from her bag and shoved her to the floor. When she tried to get up, he pinned her down, his grip bruising her wrists. She tried to call his roommate for help, but he closed her mouth and slapped her hard.

"Why are you calling him? Did you sleep with him? Did you give him a blowjob? Is that why you’re so desperate to reach him?" he spat, his face twisted with cruelty.

She felt herself breaking apart, her heart shattering into a thousand irreparable pieces.

With whatever strength she had left, she fought back. She scrambled to her feet, grabbing onto the one thing that still mattered—a diary she had once gifted him. A diary filled with pages of love, dreams, and words she had written for him with so much devotion. But now, she wanted it back. He didn’t deserve to keep any part of her anymore.

Aaric eventually dropped her at the bus stop, as if nothing had happened. But Jacee knew—this was the end. Something inside her had finally shattered beyond repair.

She had survived him. Now, she had to survive herself.