It’s been about a week since you’ve cut contact with Noel. She hasn’t tried to initiate any contact herself which is a little saddening but there is not much to be done about it, besides that would defy the whole point of your little break if she contacted you.

Flare however did pick up on the fact that she hadn’t seen the two of you together for a while and you could only tell her a shoddy excuse but thankfully she didn’t press any further than that, probably sensing something deeper was afoot and it’s times like these were you really appreciate Flare and her tact.

Other than that, you’ve been overmoon with joy. On the weekdays you just played games, watched movies and just did whatever you felt like doing in the moment. During the weekend you met up with some friends and did the same exact thing with them. A rather uneventful week but you carried a smile day in, day out. It has to be the happiest you've been in a long time, maybe the happiest ever. You were stumped as to why this week was so different as you didn’t really do anything particularly extravagant or exhilarating but the answer couldn’t be any more obvious.

You didn’t have someone constantly hounding you with a barrage of insults for the first time in your life. For once you weren’t beat down verbally. No one tried to ruin your mood, even remotely. You can’t believe it took this long for you to realise that maybe having someone as toxic as Noel in your life could negatively impact your life. It’s laughable in fact, but it’s also a pretty saddening realization. Even now you still love Noel, you cling desperately to the good times you had with her and the fact that you spent the majority of your life with her. But you can’t let this realization go to waste. You need to talk to Noel about this. If you want this happiness to continue in life, either Noel changes or you leave her behind. A tough ultimatum however it’s for the best.

Just as you’re about to text Noel, you’re interrupted by the doorbell. You weren’t expecting any visitors nor did you order anything so there is no clue to who it could be. All you know is that they’re incredibly impatient as they mash the doorbell button like there’s no tomorrow. You head over to the door as fast as you can just so you stop that incessant ringing. You open the door and it’s the last person you expect but the first person you wanted to see.

Noel. As soon you open the door she barges past you into your apartment without so much as a greeting. It’s almost eerie how she showed up just as you were about to confront her but that makes things easier and quicker so you aren’t one to complain.

You follow after Noel into your living room where you see Noel sprawled on your sofa. She’s wearing a skirt so you can see her panties clearly but she doesn’t seem to care.

“Noel, it's so great to see you! How have you been?” You ask. “Cut the bullshit small talk. Why have you been avoiding me?” She demands answers in a coarse tone. She is definitely very angry right now. Better tread lightly.

You explain to her that how she's been treating you recently has taken a heavy toll on your mental health and how you want her to be less mean to you and treat you more like a friend. It’s incredibly scary doing so as she does not make so much as a sound when you explain your situation to her, she only watches you with dead eyes.

After you finish talking there is nothing but silence. It’s unbearable. She is still staring at you. A cold unwavering stare. She’s obviously in front of you but somehow it feels like she just isn’t there, like the lights were on but no one was home.

Only after what it seems like an eternity, Noel makes a move. She stands up and approaches you. Noel is a lot shorter than you but that doesn’t mean she can’t be intimidating; She’s down right horrific. You can’t help but shudder as she approaches slowly.

She stands barely an inch before you. Her knight cup breasts as she likes to call them squish against you. In any other circumstance that would be extremely arousing but you’re too terrified to even think to react to the simulation.

She finally breaks that seemingly infinite silence. “Who the FUCK do you think you are?” You don’t respond, you only try to back up but your back is already up against the wall. You are trapped.

“Do you really think you can break off a relationship just like that? HUH HUH?” She roars. “No, Noel I’m just suggesting- ““I don’t care what you’re suggesting! I won’t let you do this!” She takes a step back and turns her back to lament, her hand on her forehead. “You are SUCH a pain in the ass.”

It’s now or never. If you don’t say anything here. If you don’t stand your ground, your chance at a happy life will be gone. You can’t go back to constant abuse after getting a brief taste of freedom. You gotta stand the fear, overcome it even for a few seconds just for the sake of a better future.

Mustering all the little confidence you have left you shout “NOEL!” She turns to face you, shock and confusion spreads across her face. You’ve never raised your voice against her so this must be a huge surprise to her. “I won’t stand for- “You didn’t even get to start your grand statement as you feel her knuckle drive hard and fast into the center of your face, blowing you backwards in a daze.

What? What the fuck? What the actual FUCK? How could she hit you? Doesn’t she have ANY respect for you? How could she pummel you? Her supposed best friend without any shred of remorse or hesitation. WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH HER? You’ve never felt such unbridled rage towards someone but also such sorrow. You want to cry not just because it hurts. It hurts like a real bitch, your nose is broken for sure, no doubt about that and blood slowly trails out covering parts of your lips and chin in a red hue. You want to cry because you feel betrayed. Just how could she do that? Verbal abuse is one thing; you can stomach it no matter how gross it may be but physical abuse? There is no coming back from that.

You look up to face your assaulter. She is absolutely mortified. Not the look you were expecting but you don’t care how it looks.

The monster slowly approaches you. It reaches out a hand, not used to commit malice but a hand to comfort. You’re confused but it’s action for a mere second before your eyes widen. This brings back the fading rage and turns it into a violent eruption of fury.

“WHO THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM!” You scream. You slap its hand away with all the force you can gather. Your throat is coarse, breathing is heavy and everything aches.

It recoils in reaction to your words and actions before returning its arm back to its side. Another silence only this time you couldn’t care less.

It finally takes action again. This time it rushes toward the door, seeking exit. You start to hear wailing from outside the apartment, until it slowly fades into the distance.

You slide down against the wall and you meet the floor. How the hell did it come to this?