There were times in life, like such intensive moments, that consequently paralysed you, slowing everything around several notches. As soon as I was met with the situation I was least expecting, and most dreading, I froze in my spot, appalled.

Mum and Edward looked back at me, mirroring my reaction.

It seemed like that very last page of the story, rooting the reader midway from reading any further towards the ending -- and whatever it held, after being unfolded.

"Michelle, good afternoon," Mum broke the thick silence, trying as hard to keep me at bay from panicking.

As if on instinct, I instantly shot her a crestfallen look. I couldn't bring myself to look at Edward on the other hand, much to my fearfulness but more of disappointment.

I wanted to shout, yell at them, shake some sense into Mum to tell her why she went against my propositions and didn't trust me the most out of all the people, and instead trusted someone who clearly was harmful to us.

I stepped inside, my surfaced calmness and composure, surprising me and everyone else in the room. I silently closed the door behind me, the silent thud filling the quietness of the room whilst I stifled my vulnerabilities under my eerily emotionless surface.

"Michelle, I'm sorry about whatever I did," Edward's raspy voice -- thick with feigning concern -- intervened to my and mum's surprise. "Please can you hear me out?"

The very words stirred some sort of emotion in me that I was already trying so hard to suppress. "Sorry about what?" My voice came off as thicker, probably hurt and pain blending in it. My aching feet were tired of carrying me and rooting me to my spot, but I didn't or probably couldn't move. My eyes swung to and fro between both of them and in some moments, my vision blurred.

I couldn't take it anymore and their fake niceties were not something I was in the state of buying. Without hearing anything either one of them had to say, I marched towards my room, still keeping the façade of adamantine, intact.

"Michelle-" Edward started again, and I instantly came to a halt. "Can we talk?"

And that was the last straw that un-bottled my feelings. "You cursed and manipulated Mum into thinking you're the good person while I'm bad. Shouldn't that be enough for you Edward? I don't think there's anything left to talk now," I spoke slowly, but dangerously calmly.

Both of their reactions transformed into that, of puzzlement and shock. "Michelle I think there has been some kind of misunderstanding..." Mum was the first to comment, and I scoffed loudly at her nerve.

My eyes stung at her obliviousness, making me want to break down and beg her to believe me, but I couldn't. I knew whatever I was going to say would be the same as speaking to the walls. I stared back at Edward watchfully, searching his face for any hint of satisfaction, but all I saw was seriousness and unfamiliar unnameable emotions.

"I don't want to hear anything either of you have to say," I remarked, almost whispering to keep the shuddering in my voice under control. Turning away, I stomped towards my room, in bursting anger, and I slammed my door shut. And before I even knew it, I leaned over the nightstand against my hand, as I steadied my panicky breathing. I broke down again, feeling worse about everything while harshly rubbing my eyes to stop the tears welling. I sank, and buried my sobbing face in my hands, letting out shuddering breaths and the tears endlessly flowing out again.

It was minutes later after I calmed down, and my head begun to slightly hurt as I rubbed my stuffy nose. I still heard some light chatter outside of my room and I climbed over the bed to muffle the voices away. I removed my shoes from my feet simultaneously, and dug out my phone, wanting to call Hayden for assurance. But then I remembered I couldn't. Edward had my phone hacked, I couldn't contact him right now, or else he'll know and accuse me of cheating, to Mum. Feeling frustrated and agitated, I threw my phone on the bed and got up again.

My apprehension was all replaced by furiousness. I was so upset about why Mum would talk to the very person who tried to hurt me and didn't believe whatever I told her. I knew it was because Edward lured her into thinking he was a good person, and for that, I couldn't blame her, but still, it pained me to even think about it.

Perhaps not every problem had a solution after all. And perhaps that was what they called helplessness. And perhaps when they said that time was the only way for it, then maybe what they meant was that it doesn't kill the problem, but instead kills the very thing that had it.

And that was the only thing that had been crossing my mind lately. What made me fearful for life, made me fearless for death. 

I lazily glanced towards the washroom, all kinds of fulfilling thoughts clouding my head. Before I could even shift myself in getting up, and taking action, I heard a soft knock on the door, followed by a voice. "Can I come in?" I heard a faint grunt, and my eyes revolved around the closed door as if trying to make out the person outside alongside their intentions.

I had nothing to lose now -- more specifically life -- and so maybe letting Edward know my last words be the end of it all. I wanted him to regret, to feel guilty for whatever he caused me. I wanted him to pay for everything, and maybe if my presence couldn't seek vengeance, maybe my absence would. Sometimes it was the guilt that killed you more than any other pain could.

I fearlessly unlocked the door from the inside, opening it up wide. I was ready to face it before losing it all. It felt like the last battle I knew I'd be defeated in, but I'd fight either way.

I was met with watery eyes, glazed yet burning into mine. I looked at him from beneath my lashes, my eyes dry from all my shedding tears. And before a waste of another moment, he pulled me into himself, hugging me tight. His breath nuzzled into my hair and I felt his rhythmic heartbeat against my chest. I didn't wrap my arms around him back in return, not wanting to reciprocate. "I'm sorry about whatever I did," He grumbled against my shoulder, kissing my short hair.

I didn't reply, waiting for him to pull away.

"I know no amount of apologies would cut it for what I did but I wanted you to know that I wanted to change for the better, and maybe, just you could give me a second chance for it? I'm so sorry about Hannah and what I did was unforgivable-" Edward started again, after pulling away from the hug, to look back into my eyes. His expression radiated honesty and vulnerability. "-But I can't lose you again Michelle. I just... I love you too much to let go,"

I was all over the place and so were my emotions.

I didn't answer, as I turned away from him and sat on the edge of my messy bed. He stood there for a moment, taking in the surroundings of my room, before walking inside and seating on the carpeted floor. He was levelled lower beneath me, and stared right into me again, probably waiting for me to speak. "So you do admit that you cheated on me," I lowly mumbled in a small voice, a little surprised at his admission. Something about his admission made me feel relieved, and I was taken aback by the feeling myself.

Somehow the closure suddenly felt like the only relief I needed for a solution.

"Yes..." He replied in a beat, his face looking guilt-ridden. He searched my face again where the expression of disappointment slowly began to fade. "Yes, I cheated on you. And I know, what I did was horrible and you would never forgive me for whatever I did, but I wanted to change Michelle. For you, I'll change myself, and I would do anything for it. Anything, I promise,"

The desperation in his tone only lured my gullibility, just wanting to capture all the good moments again and savour them. The moments where I genuinely smiled and felt butterflies in my stomach instead of seeping anxiety. Moments where I, for once, felt cherished, instead of a tossed away crumpled thing. And once again, I wanted to relive those.

"And Hannah wasn't your sister right?" I still maintained a cynical state.

To my surprise, Edward shook his head in a nod, not looking at me. I continued, "Why did you lie to me, Edward?"

"I made a mistake... And I didn't want to lose you. I know that's not an excuse and nothing in the world would cut it for what I did, but I'm just... I'm so sorry." His eyes met mine again, beaming with regret and tiredness.

"Now do you believe that your girlfriend, Hannah," I sceptically spoke, emphasising the last words, "Threatened to kill me, if I didn't stay away from you,"

He didn't look taken aback, but instead, sighed timidly, his Adam's apple bobbing in his neck. "Yes... I do realise that now, and I and my father had a conversation about it with her. I made sure she wouldn't come anywhere near to you... She can be crazy sometimes but, I wouldn't let her hurt you now. I promise,"

"She told everyone I made a complaint about her in university, turning and manipulating everyone against me, and framed me as the bad person," I said, my tone getting a little angrier as I tripped onto my words.

"I know about that, Father told me," He answered, and I gave him a confused look. "Our department's chairman was my dad if you didn't remember. I told him all about you before, and he knew you well. But when he got that complaint from you, he was shocked and disappointed in me and Hannah,"

"Yet he called my mum and told her I was making fake accusations about you and her," I quipped and Edward gulped.

"I mean..." He paused for a moment before continuing. "Actually... Hannah didn't want to get into any trouble, because of her picture-perfect reputation in university. And since there was no proof, she simply denied everything. That doesn't mean whatever she did and caused you wasn't real or anything, I know her. But of course, her father had to believe her over you instead,"

"Her father?" I asked, feeling more disconnected from the reality of the situation.

"I mean my father, sorry." He shook his head reluctantly, closing his eyes. "But she's been dealt with. I made sure that if she pulls off something like that again, then there'll be consequences,"

I paused for a moment, looking at Edward keenly, unsure of his side of the story. I had a feeling he was lying, but at the same time, it all made sense and sounded reasonable, considering he actually admitted whatever happened, and didn't just deny whatever I said, throwing the conversation out of the window.

I resumed. "And was it true, that... that you hacked my phone? My phone's cameras and everything else?"

He took a moment before replying. "It is," I bit my tongue from passing any snide comments and telling him how negatively all of his actions have impacted me. I was surprisingly calm for my liking but I let myself be. "I'm sorry, I just couldn't help it, curiosity got the best of me. I'm sorry,"

"Edward." I breathed, looking away and slightly shaking my head to myself. I was speechless, and moreover upset that he had gone to such disturbing lengths despite everything being so good between us before. My heart ached at the thought, wanting to reach over him and tell him to just stop and be like how everything was before.

"I know... I am such a mess up. I have made too many mistakes, but I want to fix that now."

"You had all my private pictures, knew my whereabouts, and had access to all my personal conversations, especially with Hayden," I noted and he sighed tiredly. "And you might think I was cheating on you because of that but I wasn't,"

"I know Michelle, you're not that. It was my fault. I just got a little too... Obsessive," He confessed, his blue eyes looking sad. "Hayden, was your new friend right?" He asked out of the blue.

"Yes," I told him. "He wasn't the college guy, I told you about. But he said he knew you and was your old friend as well. I'm sure you'd know him though,"

"Doesn't ring any bells... But maybe we could meet sometime if you want," Edward nervously said, and I nodded in slight relief.

It felt like he took all my emotions, crumpled them into his hands and tossed them out the window.

"And why did you... Cursed my mum's meds?"

"What made you think I did?" He cross-questioned, and I just scowled.

"It was obvious... I saw a trail of dead insects around the pill box," I recalled last night's events, a chill running down my spine at the thought. I glanced back at him who stared at me as if he didn't believe what I was saying.

"I..." He paused, probably trying to form a coherent explanation.

"Please don't hurt Mum," I squeaked meekly, feeling the anxiety simmer inside me again. "I wasn't cheating on you, Edward. I would never do that," I explain myself instead. "Hayden was just a friend, and he supported me in everything when you... You weren't there for me anymore,"

"He did?" He asked back, arching his brow questioningly. "You know, I never meant to doubt you, but I can't trust someone else around you so I wasn't sure about him."

Uncomfortably shifting my glance at him, I wondered if Hayden and Edward would even get along and whether it was even a good idea to have them meet each other. I sighed loudly to myself, crouching on the soft mattress and placing my chin in both of my palms. I saw Edward scan the room again, as he stood up from his sitting position, slowly walking about before going towards the nightstand and picking up the golden jewellery in his fingers as he looked at it.

"Who gave you that? It wasn't here before,"

"You sent Drake to give that to me Edward," I responded, and his expression darkened at the mention of it. "He confessed to me and gifted me a bracelet for my birthday. And that actually had a spying camera that I thought you must've put it,"

"Well, I'll be taking it back then," he lowly answered, his eyes not leaving the jewellery, gripping it a little too harshly before tucking it in his jeans pocket. His gaze though was too intense, I had to look away.

"So..." Edward started again, looking around before sitting beside me on the bed again. "Do you want to be back with me again?"

"I don't know Edward..." I trailed off. It was true, I was desperate for him and wanted to feel better, and it was only his presence that made me feel that way. But I didn't know how I could bring myself to say yes after whatever's been happening to me in university.

"I understand... I'm not saying forgive me just like that. I don't deserve that to begin with," He murmured, emphasising every word, and every syllable. "I'm just asking for another chance, to be a part of you in your life. We can just stay like normal friends if that makes you feel okay,"

I considered his words, weighing the pros and cons of my newly made decision. I could already sense Hayden cursing me for giving him another chance, but my impulsivity couldn't be helped.

"I'll see," I simply stated, shifting a bit in my position and wincing at the ache coursing through my muscles.

"Okay, you can take your time to reconsider," Edward nodded in agreement.

"But I want you to stop prying into my stuff okay?"

"I promise I'll change." His dark pupils widened. "Only if you stop ignoring me, and continue to tell me everything about what bothers you,"

"Okay, I'll try," I answered without meaning to.

"No, promise me. Promise me that whenever you are bothered about any action of mine, you will tell me. And I will try to change that yeah?"

I sighed loudly, contemplating his words. "Okay, I promise I'll tell you everything," I blurted, and he returned me an appreciative smile.

He was about to touch my hand but looked at me first if I was comfortable. I let him, nodding at him slightly and his hands enveloped mine, just like they used to, his rings on his fingers passing a cooling sensation across my fingers.

We were interrupted by a light tap on my door, and Edward quickly stood up, looking at me for an answer. I nodded and he opened the door.

Mum stood there, holding two small boxes of pizza and placed them on the nightstand carefully. She passed me a small weary smile, and then to Edward before going away.

"You got me a pizza?" I asked, my expression still bleak.

"Yeah, I didn't know what else I could've done to make this better." He passed me a small grin, and I nodded. "Thank you for believing in me,"

I flashed him a small smile, before laying back in my bed in a corner, leaving enough space for Edward to join me in. I didn't say it, but I missed him, terribly. 

What once felt like the hurt of being betrayed by him now, was overpowered by the hurt of having to leave him. And the latter was more hurting than the former. So I decided to stick with him only to buy myself time with temporary happiness before I would resort to another strategy.