Page 2 of Before Dawn

Five fucking years.

That’s how long I spent in a relationship that slowly suffocated me. The first ten months with Joshua had been decent—a love I tried to believe was enough. But the last four years? A nightmare.

His drinking became a storm that never passed. I told myself it was just a phase we’d get through. I was wrong.

I begged, cried, pleaded for him to see what it was doing—to us, to me, to himself. I stayed up countless nights, watching over him as he stumbled in, reeking of alcohol, mumbling empty apologies. I dragged him to therapy, got him into AA, stood by his side through every failed attempt to sober up. But nothing changed.

He always found his way back—to the bottle, the drugs, the bad habits, and most painful of all, the women who weren’t me.

It broke me to watch him slip further away, the man I once loved buried under addiction. I tried to pull him out, but he resisted, blaming me for things beyond my control. He said it was the alcohol speaking, that he didn’t mean it—but the damage was done.

How many times can you try to fix something broken before realizing it will never be the same?

The final blow came when I discovered he’d been cheating. He didn’t even deny it, brushing it off like it meant nothing.Like I meant nothing.

But it meant everything to me.

I wasn’t just fighting his addiction or his infidelity—I was fighting the man he had become. The one who once called me his world now treated me like an inconvenience. Every time he hurt me, he found an excuse, never taking responsibility. I had been drowning in his demons, but it was time to save myself.

Once, he would have held my hand tightly on our adventures. Now, his bright hazel eyes only stirred fear. His touch, once a comfort, sent shivers down my spine.

Those moments were gone. Now, every touch from him filled me with nothing but disgust.

And just when I thought the pain couldn’t get worse, my phone buzzed.

Joshua:Where r u? Need u here now. Can’t believe u r leaving without saying goodbye. U r good for nothing but running. Typical. Just forget about us, huh? Fine. Enjoy ur little adventure. Just don’t expect me to be here when u get back.

Tears burned my eyes as I read his message, each word cutting deeper into an already shattered soul. I needed to break free from his suffocating grip.

Was moving to New York the right choice?

What if I ended up stuck in the same cycle?

What if I couldn’t make it on my own?

Lost in my spiraling thoughts, a deep yet soothing voice broke through the chaos.

I looked up, and froze.

“Hey, are you okay? What’s a pretty woman like you doing here crying?”

Fuck that. I didn’t just see a man.I saw him.

Towering at least 6’3, he had a muscular build and the most mesmerizing tattoos I’d ever seen. His rugged features—a hint of stubble, defined jawline, and piercing honey-brown eyes that seemed to hold entire galaxies—only added to his allure. He carried himself with effortless confidence, his gym-sculpted frame dominating the space beside me. Behind his glasses, his gaze was warm yet laced with concern.

I tried to respond, but my emotions betrayed me, leaving me speechless.

Sensing my struggle, he sat beside me, his presence oddly grounding. The rich scent of grapefruit, patchouli, and ambergris wrapped around me—impossible to forget.

“Whatever has you crying isn’t worth it.” His words slipped past my defenses, stirring something deep within. “Someone as beautiful as you shouldn’t be shedding tears of hurt; those green eyes should only light up with pleasure.”

“T-Thank you,” I managed to murmur, heat rising to my cheeks as I met his understanding gaze.

His lips quivered with amusement. “I’m glad I could be the one to tell you.”

Before I could respond, the overhead speakers crackled to life, announcing my flight. I turned to share a grateful glance, but he was already gone, leaving nothing but the memory of his kindness and a small but undeniable flutter in my chest.

As I made my way to Gate 37, I felt a mix of trepidation and liberation.

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