I have been home all day, cleaning and painting. I’ve been working on an assignment for my art class. The theme of the assignment is emotion, either the emotion you feel while making the work or the emotion you have for someone. I wanted it to be simple because I was calm while doing it, so I painted a misty landscape with mountains and forests. The trees made me feel alive and healthy, while the mountains made me feel relaxed and blissful.

I hate being alone in a house, though. I want to go out, but everyone is either at a party or busy with other plans. I unlocked my phone and checked Instagram to see if anyone was home or wasn’t busy, but then I saw a post of one of my close friends at a party. Then I remembered a party my boyfriend was going to with his friends. I told him I wasn’t going to go, but I changed my mind, so I decided to surprise him by going.

I liked my friends post and closed my phone. I put on my dress. I started to do my hair, makeup, and any other necessities. Once finished with everything, I got my car keys and got into the car, then drove off to the address because I had gone there before. 

(After arriving)

Once I arrived at the house that the party was being hosted at, I went inside. The music inside was loud, loud enough to bust out your eardrums.

I plugged my ears with my two pointer fingers and walked around the house trying to find my boyfriend. I asked multiple people if they had seen him, but they all said they didn’t see him. I guessed he wasn’t there and was about to leave until someone tapped on my shoulder. I turned around and realized they were one of the people I asked about my boyfriend. She said nothing to me but pointed to something or someone. I turned the way she was pointing and couldn’t believe what I was seeing. 

It was my boyfriend with another girl. But it wasn’t in a friendly way; he had his hands and arms wrapped around her waist and was kissing her with his eyes closed. I can tell he was liking it.

My eyes filled up with tears, and my throat tightened—so tight I couldn’t talk. My so-called boyfriend opened his eyes and looked right into my watery eyes. Tears came out of my eyes mixing with my mascara, turning into black tears. And as the tears run down my face, it leaves a trail of black. I run outside before anyone can notice me, and before now my ex can talk to me. I get into my car, start it, then drive off. I look at my rear view mirror and see my ex standing there. 

(Arriving home)

I arrive home and go into my room. I jumped into my bed and was rethinking what just happened. I started crying again because I was in disbelief. I kept crying until I fell asleep.

(The next morning)

I woke up, my pillow wet from catching my tears. I get up, and I realize I’m still in my dress. I get up from my bed and go into the bathroom. I look in the mirror, and I see my red, puffy eyes, my messy hair, and my messed-up dress. And I once again start to cry. I feel betrayed. I feel so much pain. I can’t bear to keep looking at myself. I walk away to my desk and get a new canvas, and I paint a dark forest. A dark forest for my dark, broken heart.