“Are you feeling better now? No more tears, okay?”

Crystal lets you nuzzle into her chest, hooking her chin over your head as her fingers rub circles on your back. You’re distraught. Understandably so. Your partner recently broke up with you, after all, and you haven’t had a clue why. They’d block you on all social media accounts and even went as far as ignoring your calls before they finally blocked your number before you could even demand an answer.

You didn’t have anyone to turn to except Crystal. She’s your best friend. Albeit, the two of you had grown distant the moment you got into a relationship. She still feels the bitterness she felt that day. The day you chose someone else over her.

It’s almost laughable, really. Seeing you clinging onto him as she soothes you with forehead kisses and warm hugs.

Thought your actions wrenches her heart, twists it so painfully with each admonition, she reminds herself that this was her reward for her efforts. It was so easy to chase your current partner away. They’re the same as everyone else, a domino effect one after another. Easy to manipulate with something to hold something over them. It’s not difficult to find dirt on anyone if you try hard enough. They cave; hold secrets from you until they finally couldn’t bear it and they’d go and disappear without a trace.

At the end of the day, you return into the safety of her arms.

Just as you were always meant to do. Crystal hopes that this’ll be the last time you’ll betray her for another—a lesson learned with the price of your broken heart.