I look up to see it is now dark. I must have fallen asleep crying. I hear my phone going off.

Sitting up, I look at it to see it’s Mark. I press Ignore. I do not want to hear from him. Not now, not ever. 

Did you like the pictures? Xx 

Are you okay Megan? Xx 

Megan? Please answer me. Xx 

Hi hun, are you okay? Mark rang me at work to check if you are okay. I’ll be over after work. Xx 

Megan? You are really worrying me. Xx 

I place my phone back down. I can’t read anymore messages. There are twenty-seven texts, all except one from him, and eighteen missed calls. Has he not gotten the picture?

I leave it a little bit before choosing to reply to them. I don’t want Jenny worried.

Mark, I am fine. Leave me alone. 

I am fine Jenny. Mark is sleeping with someone. I am heartbroken. Xx

I leave my phone there, going upstairs, running myself a bath, and needing to get away from it all. Jenny has a key so she will just let herself in. I climb into the bath full of bubbles, lying there, thinking. Why did he not say he was seeing her? Why did he hide it? Why did he take me for a meal where she would be? Are all men the same? 

“MEGANNNNN!” I hear Jenny bellow in the house. 

“Jenny, I am in the bath,” I answer in a calm way. 

“Okay, honey, I’ll make us a cuppa.” 

I slowly climb out of the bath, dry myself, and slip into my pink polka dot pyjamas. While walking along the landing, I shrug into my white dressing gown. Before descending the staircase to join Jenny, I see she is sitting in the kitchen on the black bar stools at the breakfast bar with two cups of tea. 

“Jenny, why?” I question. 

“Hun, I don’t know why he has done it. What did you find out?” 

“He told me to check the photos from the Hope event from last night. There were pictures of that woman I told you about at the restaurant, the blonde one. I searched her name and found articles about him possibly seeing her, along with pictures of them kissing.” 

I grab my phone and log onto the event photos, showing her the pictures. They both stood side-by-side, her hand on his bum, him giggling at her, staring at her from afar. I looked even further through the photos this time and found one of him giving her a kiss on the check. Why? Why did he ask me to look at them? Was this his way of telling me nothing is going to happen?

“Oh, no!” Jenny exclaims.

“I don’t know what to do, Jenny.” 

“Have you spoken to him?”  Jenny enquires.

“No, I don’t want to. I don’t know what to say to him.” 

“Let’s have an early time, face mask, DVD, ice cream. Forget about him,” Jenny suggests.

I just nod, unable to speak for the tears rolling down my face. I numbly walk through to the lounge and take a seat onto the sofa while Jenny moves around and gets the stuff together. I do not know what I would do without Jenny in my life.

Megan, what’s going on? Xx 

Talk to me. Xx 

Megan, what has happened? Xx 

“Right, which film?” Jenny asks. 

“Whichever you want,” I answer, holding back the tears. 

The rest of the night Jenny spends with me, trying to keep me laughing. We did facemasks and painted each other’s fingernails. We just had a girly night. I ended up having to turn off my phone, as Mark was not giving up. Jenny stands up and leaves the room just after her phone goes off. It is Rich. Sitting there being quiet, all I can hear is Jenny’s raised voice. 

“No, listen to me. You hurt my friend. You lied!” 

Oh, no, it is Mark she is talking to. Isn’t it? I suddenly jump from the sofa, heading through to the kitchen. Waving my hand to get Jenny’s attention, she stops and looks at me. 

“LEAVE HER ALONE!” she states before hanging up. 

“Was that Mark?” I question. 

“Yes, sorry.” 

“It’s okay. It is late. I am going to bed,” I tell her, not wanting to talk about him. 

 “I’ll be up soon.” 

“You don’t have to stay. Rich needs to see you.” 

“Are you sure you will be okay if I leave?” Jenny enquires. 

“Yes, Jenny. Go see Rich. I’ll text you tomorrow.” I want to be alone. I want to be able to cry.

Jenny says her goodbyes and leaves, shutting off everything and locking up. I head up the stairs and climb into bed. I have to check my messages to see if there are any from family or friends. 

Yet, another thirteen messages from Mark, all asking if I am okay and why I am not talking. There’s even a voicemail, too. I have to listen to it. 

“Megan, baby, I don’t know what I have done wrong. Please, talk to me. I can’t imagine my life without you.” 

I send him one last message, hoping that he will leave me alone.

Goodnight. 

Curling up in bed, tears come back in full force. I am so happy Jenny left me. I am so hurt. I am never going to be happy. I will never have my happily ever after.